5 things professional cleaners always do to overcome a cleaning roadblock – they're surefire ways to feel 'motivated and clear-headed' experts say

We all know the feeling of a cleaning roadblock all too well. One day you're happily dusting, spraying, and mopping, and the next your cleaning to-do list just feels completely impossible.

So, how do the pros, who clean for a living, overcome these tricky roadblocks? Here, they share the cleaning tips they rely on for getting things back on track, so you can resume resetting your space without the feeling of freezing up.

Things professional cleaners always do to overcome a cleaning roadblock

1. Start small

The simple advice of start small is often recommended by pros, especially when struggling to clean when feeling overwhelmed. To Carolina Kazimierski, president and co-owner of Sophia's Cleaning Service, setting these achievable goals is the way forward when it comes to banishing chore procrastination and overcoming a cleaning roadblock.

'I definitely recommend starting small,' she says. 'Even if it means that specific area that's giving me trouble is just a little bit cleaner, that's sometimes enough to make it more approachable.'

For example, you might pick a specific area, like cleaning a specific shelf or dusting your light fixtures with a Scrub Daddy Damp Duster available at Amazon, or focus on completing just one, singular cleaning task in a specific time frame, such as a day, or even a week.

2. Declutter first

This might seem counterintuitive, especially if you feel your cleaning to-do list growing before your eyes, but Karina Toner, cleaning expert and operations manager at Spekless highlights the importance of employing some decluttering tips before you even begin cleaning.

She shares, 'Before I even think about scrubbing or wiping anything, I always do a quick pass to get stuff out of the way. I'll grab a storage basket and collect anything that doesn't belong – mail, random chargers, yesterday's coffee mug, whatever. You can’t clean properly if you're constantly working around clutter.

'I keep a ClearSpace Clear Plastic Storage Bin, available at Amazon, nearby just to toss random things into while I clean, then I deal with it later. It keeps the momentum going as you’re not stopping every two seconds to move things or clear space. And mentally, it’s easier to focus when you’re not looking at visual chaos.'

The 'Take Away 10' method is a great technique to try here – simply find 10 items that don't belong, and then put away, donate, or sell them.

3. Invest in products that really work

Another thing that cleaning expert Carolina relies on to overcome a cleaning roadblock is only keeping and using trusty cleaning supplies.

She advises. 'Invest in cleaning products that make the job easier. For example, if you're avoiding cleaning fan blades because it's a hassle to get the ladder from the garage and set it up, then just buy a duster with a telescoping rod meant for dusting high-up areas like this,' such as the Swiffer Dusters with Extension Pole available at Walmart.

'Sometimes it's worth spending the extra money to make your life easier, and oftentimes it will mean you get these types of annoying jobs done on a more regular schedule – which can prevent them from building up into something that poses this type of cleaning roadblock.'

To Karina, this looks like banishing any cleaning products that are a waste of money, and instead just keeping one cleaner that works on everything.

'I’m all about keeping things simple when motivation is low,' she says. 'I’ll hit the counters, cabinets, doorknobs, even the outside of the fridge with the same spray. It cuts down on decision fatigue – you’re not stopping to switch bottles or figure out what works where. Just spray and go.

'The Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner available at Walmart is a staple for me. It smells amazing and it’s safe for most surfaces, so I can just keep moving without worrying about damaging anything.'

4. Set a timer

If you're really struggling to garner any motivation to clean, trying techniques like the 'try-for-five' method or 'One Hour' cleaning method can really help to get the ball rolling.

Karina shares, 'Sometimes, I’ll challenge myself with a timer or limit like, “Let’s see how much I can clean in 10 minutes". I’ll pick a few rooms and go hard, no distractions, just clean, clean, clean. It’s like turning cleaning into a little game.

'The time limit makes it feel less overwhelming and more like a fun challenge. You stop overthinking and just do. Plus, knowing you’re only cleaning for a short burst makes it easier to start.'

Karina uses a big wall timer she can see from across the room, such as the Sharp Atomic Clock available at Walmart, explaining, 'Seeing the time tick down actually keeps me focused and even a little competitive with myself.'

That being said, any timer you have, like an egg timer or even your mobile phone, will be just as effective.

5. Rest

Finally, sometimes in order to find the right cleaning balance, you need to take a break from cleaning.

Will Cotter, cleaning expert and founder of DeluxeMaid shares, 'I just overcame my cleaning roadblock this past weekend. I had just returned from a three-day trip and was not in the mood to tidy up. And, even if I did want to, I didn’t have the energy to deal with it.

'At the time, we were fully booked, too, so I couldn’t get someone else to clean up. So, I let myself have a whole two-day rest. One day will work, actually, but my body and brain need time to switch out of travel mode before diving into chores.

'Giving myself those solid two days to just rest, unpack slowly, and ease back into things makes a huge difference. When I don’t force it, I actually feel way more motivated and clear-headed once I’m ready to clean.

'Aside from that, I don’t want to do the bare minimum. If I jump on cleaning right away even when I’m not okay, I’ll end up with a bunch of half-done tasks staring me down for days. One good burst of energy beats five lazy attempts every time,' he concludes. And we completely agree.

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All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet our experts

Karina Toner

Karina has been operations manager at Spekless for the last six years, which has left her needing to overcome a cleaning roadblock many more times than once.

Will Cotter

Will Cotter is the founder of various home cleaning services companies, including FreshSpace Cleaning and Deluxe Maid. Professionally cleaning, he regularly faces cleaning roadblocks, and has worked on ways to overcome them both quickly and effectively.

Carolina Kazimierski

Sophia's Cleaning Service was founded in 1984, since becoming one of Chicago's longest-standing and best reviewed cleaning companies, featured in The Spruce, Real Simple, Apartment Therapy and more.

Whether you're struggling to, or recently have overcome your cleaning roadblock, our cleaning library includes something for everyone when it comes to finding what works for you and your space.