Advice for someone who hates cleaning

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I’m very fortunate to have been able to afford a cleaner for the last few months. I don’t enjoy cleaning at all so this made me very happy. I’m now back to doing it myself (badly) and absolutely hating it. I’m looking for advice on equipment/products that make a job you hate a little bit easier.
Or if there’s a more general tip on something else that has made it easier/less boring for you. I already listen to podcasts while I clean.

Think about all the time and energy you waste feeling guilty about it, the constant drag on your well-being

Realise you can put to rest all these bad feelings and guilt in an hour only (I don’t know your living situation, but in 1h, you can make a dent) and feel great about yourself and have a clean house to enjoy. All it takes is an hour of effort to be the person you want to be. It’s not a bad ratio at all …

As Nike says “Just do it”. And feel proud after :)

I also hate cleaning so I'm following for tips.

My main strategy is minimise clutter/stuff. The less clutter, the easier it is to clean. That includes furniture - if I had it my way I'd be a proper minimalist.

I enjoy cleaning more/hate it slightly less with decent tools that are easy and nice to use. I don't mind sweeping floors and skirting boards every day with a decent soft broom but definitely cba to hoover that often.

I really detest cleaning bathrooms 😩

What about a robot hoover OP?

Wouldn't work in my house but could work for you?

Get an additional job so you can pay for cleaner again

Is there a particular job you hate?

I have a robot vacuum that runs twice a day so noone leaves stuff on the floor anymore!

Cordless vac seems way less hassle too. I sometimes grabs it and dona quick vacuum if I have a few mins before getting kids from school or whatever.

A spray mop means you can get any spills right away. I often mopnmy way out of the house and can leave the mop by the door knowing there's no bucket of water to risk knocking over..

Clean shower while in it- dishmatic dishwand with non scratch head, and a mix of fairy liquid and vinegar is great. Plus if you give shower walls and glass a wipe down with squeegie every day, and give any metal-y bits a wipe over with a microfibre cloth to dry before you get out, you can get away with a monthly deep clean. We have a drain cover to stop hair going down, but put some cleaner down once a month too.

Spot clean windows and mirrors rather than do the whole thing every time.

Oh and I keep a multipurpose cleaner and some cloths upstairs too so if I see something needs cleaned I can do it right away. If I go downstairs for a cloth I'd prob get distracted.

Also do a load of laundry daily.

If it's the routine of it you struggle with, there's loads online. Flylady and the organised mum method come to mind. YouTube has loads of review videos.

I have one power hour a day (use a timer for 5 mins per room, but some like kitchen get 10, and I have a laundry 5mins in there)and then just need to do dishes and any quick spot cleans outside of that.

@stargazer02 I like the power hour idea

A slob comes clean is a helpful guide

Minimal clutter so it’s easy

packets of wipes in bathrooms / kitchens mess doesn’t build up

A timetable of when you do it. Little and often. If you hate it you won’t just get to it

And low-ish standards 😁

Get some of those glass cleaning cloths (like microfibre but smooth) for cleaning mirrors and windows. They really make that job easy (just clean the mirror/window with soapy water, or just water, then dry with the cloth).

Agree with the tip about shower - I have a squeegee in the shower and always remove the water droplets from the tiles and shower door before I get out.

I would much rather clean than take on an additional job 😁 just goes to show we're all different.

I just mentioned on another thread about using ecover and other plant based cleaning products and I would suggest this if you hate cleaning too- they smell so nice it actually makes me want to use them. Ecover, method and even M&S do some really good ones.

Honestly I think the best strategy is just to keep on it 100% of the time- keep it tidy, don't let it get bad. It's so much easier just to do little and often and keep it up together.

I have a rota

Monday - bathroom
Tuesday-dust downstairs
Wednesday -dust upstairs
Thursday -hoover
Friday - any additional cleaning jobs such as cleaning the dishwasher
Saturday- put washing away
Sunday- hoover and mop

They all take roughly 30 min. I do them while tea is cooking. Then every morning I empty the dishwasher whilst making breakfast. I put pots in as used. I also take any wet washing out machine and hang to dry. After tea I put dishwasher and washing machine on and take dry clothes upstairs.

Dh works long hours in the week but does help with any extra jobs at weekends.

Read 'A monks guide to a clean house and mind'.
It really made me view cleaning differently!

Buy quality tools that feel nice to hold and make you smile when you look at them. Same for sprays/liquids, buy something that makes the job quick and smells nice.
Do a little bit everyday rather than a whole day once per week. If things are kept on top of, you hen deep cleaning really can be once a year and only mean deep cleaning the big stuff like curtains.
Open windows daily, fresh air is free, easy to get and makes everything smell better if you just cannot face any cleaning whatsoever.
Don’t put jobs off, eg if you see that the bin needs a wipe, whilst making a brew - do it there and then, don’t put it off.
Have a list of chores you do weekly, eg empty every bin the night before bin day, or refill jars/tubs etc at the beginning of the working week or Friday is mop the floor day.
If this doesn’t help then, Stop paying for something you don’t need or use or could do yourself and pay for a cleaner again! 😱🤣