This Should be the Final Step of Any Chore—And It Has Nothing to Do With Cleaning

As a cleaning editor, I’ve had plenty of people tell me they just don’t like cleaning. Guess what? Nobody likes cleaning. And people who seem to like cleaning? They really just like being done with cleaning. Enjoying a clean space is not the same as actually enjoying the act.

That’s why, in my opinion, the most important step of any cleaning project is the last one: Enjoying the space.

You don’t want to rush the final step. You want to savor it. Take pictures of your living room with all the toys and books put away to share with your group chat for kudos (you deserve them). Stand in front of the organized closet with the door open for a while and examine that beautiful still life like it was hung in a museum.

And, if you’re doing the Cure, you should treat yourself at the end of each long week with some flowers that help you see your space for what it really is: A home that you care deeply about and want to shower with attention and gifts.

Yep that’s right, if you’re new to the Cure, we treat ourselves to flowers every Friday, right after finishing a Big Clean. Let’s go…

First, get yourself some flowers, and place them in a prominent spot where you’ll notice them again and again. You can buy your flowers from a market or pick them from your garden, or opt for a houseplant, cut branches, or a bowl of fruit if that better suits your lifestyle.

Then, clean the floors throughout your home. Vacuum or beat your rugs and sweep and mop all the floors, moving things out of the way as needed as you go to get a truly thorough clean.

I’ll see you all back here on Monday! Congratulations on finishing week one of the Cure!

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