How to reset your Sunday, according to cleaning experts

No one really wants to spend their entire Sunday cleaning, right? There are so many better ways to spend your time: reading a book, going for a long walk, watching a movie that’s been on your list forever, playing “Stardew Valley” for a dozen hours straight, etc. But what if that deep clean you’ve been putting off could actually be good for your mental health… and fun?

In a blog on their website, Koala Eco (an Australian company that makes powerful, plant-based cleaning products) writes, “while cleaning is often viewed as an inevitable means to an end, the act of cleaning and organizing itself comes with some surprising benefits.” They continue, “rather than resenting the task of cleaning, embrace it as a desirable ritual. Approaching everyday tasks like washing the dishes, doing laundry, and cleaning the bathroom with a sense of awareness, intention, and mindfulness can be beneficial in keeping you grounded and reducing stress and anxiety levels.”

Consider this quote from famed Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, excerpted from his book, “At Home in the World: Stories and essential teachings from a monk’s life”:

"To my mind, the idea that doing dishes is unpleasant can occur only when you aren’t doing them. Once you are standing in front of the sink with your sleeves rolled up and your hands in the warm water, it is really quite pleasant. I enjoy taking my time with each dish, being fully aware of the dish, the water, and each movement of my hands. I know that if I hurry in order to be able to finish so I can sit down sooner and eat dessert or enjoy a cup of tea, the time of washing dishes will be unpleasant and not worth living. That would be a pity, for each minute, each second of life is a miracle. The dishes themselves and the fact that I am here washing them are miracles!If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert or a cup of tea, I will be equally incapable of enjoying my dessert or my tea when I finally have them.

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Washing the dishes is at the same time a means and an end. We do the dishes not only in order to have clean dishes, we also do the dishes just to do the dishes, to live fully in each moment while washing them, and to be truly in touch with life."

Cleaning can bring us a sense of peace Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash

However, for some reason, we are forgetting how to clean properly! Gender roles have evolved rapidly over the past 100 years. Whereas before, the cleaning and maintenance of a home traditionally fell within a woman’s dominion, now, labor is more evenly divided and both men and women are expected to "keep house." But what if you never learned how to clean in the first place? On Reddit’s r/CleaningTips, user @Winter-Owl1 asked the following question:

“I’m 33 and I keep a pretty clean house. I’ve been watching a guy clean houses on YouTube and it just randomly occurred to me, nobody ever taught me how to clean… so I guess I sort of figured it out on my own. Who knows if I’m doing anything right lol! It got me curious, are most people ‘taught’ how to clean as kids? Or do people just kinda figure it out as they go, like me?”

Reddit post, from r/CleaningTipsReddit

Luckily, for those in need of a home cleaning bootcamp, we have Jack Callaghan. Also known as @jack.designs on TikTok, the British content creator posts lovely “Super Sunday resets”: wordless, three-minute videos that show him cleaning—or resetting—his entire home after a long week. It’s wonderful because, as opposed to other creators in the “CleanTok” movement, it shows that a home is meant to be lived in. Each video starts with a house that isn’t dirty or unkept, necessarily, but one that certainly contains life. There are no sterile, showroom-like rooms, nor cold living spaces. Clothes are draped over a drying rack. Balloons from a party were left out in the living room. Cups and dishes are strewn, forgotten around the sink. The goal of these videos isn’t to sell us an illusion of the perfect, always clean home, but to remind us that life happens—and that a nice, deep clean can reset both your living space and your life.

Plus, with Jack’s calm demeanor, cozy over-the-ear headphones, and sleek editing skills, simply watching his cleaning videos is enough to inspire one to jump up and get to work. It’s a surprise to no one that the creator has amassed 1.4 million followers on TikTok.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s a room-by-room tutorial to Jack’s “SUPER Sunday reset,” based on his TikTok videos.

Living room

1. Put away the clutter. Before cleaning, make sure that your space is clear: return clothes to their dressers, toss any trash or unwanted objects. Open the blinds for some beautiful sunlight.
2. Tend to the pillows and couches. Take care of your soft objects! Jack flips every pillow (this includes ones on chairs, couches, or love seats) then vacuums them thoroughly. Throw pillows and blankets are straightened and fluffed. For a decadent finish, deploy a spritz (or two) of linen spray.
3. Actually clean your coffee table. Don’t just wipe around the objects—remove everything from the table, then use the appropriate cleaning spray (ex. glass, wood, etc.) This is the only way to ensure the entire table is clean, not just parts of it. Wipe the table down with a microfiber cloth before returning the items. Maybe light a candle, if you’re fancy.
4. It’s rug time. According to lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, “the most highly-trafficked spot in your house is right under your nose—actually, it’s right below your feet. Your rugs gather dirt and debris with every step you take, and require routine care to keep them clean.” This step will vary, depending on the type of rug you have. For Jack (who has a smooth, flat area rug), all he needs is lint roller and a few quick swipes.
5. Dust… the walls? Yup! It sounds a bit farfetched, but grab a duster and start at the top of the wall, then work your way down.
6. Maintain the floors. Vacuum then mop the floors around your living area. Make sure to remove any small, movable objects (like chairs or plants!) to clean under them.

See! Vacuuming can be fun... Giphy

Kitchen

1. Refill your water jug. During an intense day of cleaning, you’ll want to keep hydrated. If you use a water filter (like a Brita), now’s a good time to refill it. But if you don’t, simply use this moment to drink a glass of water!
2. Remove everything from the countertop. Coffee makers, decorative items, toaster ovens, jars with all of your wooden spoons: move them out of the kitchen, so you can reach the entire counterspace.
3. Take care of your dishes. Whatever that looks like for you. Run the dishwasher, hand-wash your plates and cups. Scrub down cutting boards and carefully handle knives.
4. Sanitize sink accessories. “Simply wiping or rinsing surfaces is not enough to kill harmful bacteria that may have spread around your kitchen while you were preparing food,” writes the U.S. Department of Agriculture on their website. Like Jack, the USDA recommends cleaning then sanitizing: a one-two punch that prevents foodborne illness in the kitchen. So, grab that sponge caddy and the sink's drain catcher, and soak them in an antibacterial solution.
5. Wipe down counters. Now that your counters are nice and empty, grab the cleaning solution of your choice and scrub them down. (Jack uses dish soap and a sponge.) Make sure to wipe the counters down and dry them, with either a towel or microfiber cloth.
6. Wash the sink. Sinks need love too! With a sponge in hand, scrub the inside of the sink. Use a soap or specific sink cleaning solution, to get all of the grime. (For an extra clean sink, use an electronic brush tool to scour the drain and sink corners.) Remove the now-sanitized sink accessories and return them to where they belong.
7. Clean your sink using steam. An additional step that will go a long way. By using a handheld steam cleaner on the sink’s inner corners and edges, you’ll be able to blast away stubborn grease, grime, and dirt. Wipe dry with a towel or microfiber towel.
8. Disinfect the appliances. With an all-purpose cleaner, spray the stove top, microwave (the exterior and interior) and both sides of the oven door. Wipe and polish dry with a microfiber cloth.
9. Pay attention to the cabinets. Many people forget this crucial step, but remember, cabinet doors and handles are constantly being touched. Jack uses a special handheld cleaning tool in the video, but this can just as easily be done with a cleaning solution of your choice and a cloth.
10. … And make sure to get those floors, too. Vacuum or sweep, dust, then mop! That’s the secret recipe. And don’t forget to properly clean the rug, if you have one.

Shake that rug out! Giphy

Bedroom

1. Remove everything from the bed. That means, everything. Sheets, comforters, pillows, body pillows, cute stuffed animals that you consider family. Everything. Throw in the washer (or toss in the hamper.)
2. Vacuum the mattress. Stuff gets stuck under the sheets! Make sure what you’re sleeping on is clean.
3. Make your bed. We spend a third of our lives asleep… so, it makes sense that beds should be as comfy as possible. So fluff those pillows and straighten those sheets! Spritz the bed with linen spray, if you so choose.
4. Remove objects from the room. Vacuum, then dust the walls. (And ceilings, if they’re flat and you can reach them!)

This dog gets it. Giphy

Bathroom

1. Clean the shower. Scrub down the walls (and door, if you have one) with the appropriate cleaning spray. Remember to squeegee anything glass. For an extra clean, use a steam cleaner with a brush head extension to get to those stubborn gaps between tiles.
2. Wipe down the sink, thoroughly. You might need gloves for this one! Remove everything from the sink (soap, toothbrushes, etc.) and spray with a disinfecting cleaner. (Don’t forget the faucet!) Scrub, then wash the sink with water. Use a steam cleaner for hard-to-reach places, like the inside of the sink stopper. Wipe down with a cloth.
3. Clean the mirrors before returning items to sink. This way, you’re not coating your precious belongings in cleaning solution!
4. Do the toilet stuff. Certainly not glamorous, but necessary. Load the rim with toilet bowl cleaner.
5. Vacuum and mop the floors. The final step in your ultimate Sunday home reset. Woohoo! Go you.

Phew! You must be tired after all that. Take a break and watch Jack Callaghan’s full “Super Sunday reset” video on TikTok, below.