Spring is here and many take this change in season as the perfect opportunity to spring clean their entire home. While it may be necessary, it’s a task that you may dread because it’s time consuming and isn’t the most fun thing to do. Thankfully, we’re here to help you figure out how to tackle your spring cleaning effectively and efficiently.
1. Create a plan
One of the biggest mistakes is going into spring cleaning without a clear plan. When you think about all the things you have to do, it can easily overwhelm you or convince you to not do your spring cleaning, despite how necessary it is.
To keep yourself from becoming overwhelmed, make a list of what needs to be cleaned the most and what areas of your home only need a little extra attention. This will not only help you complete your spring cleaning in an organized way but will also keep you from being overwhelmed before you even begin.
2. Schedule your spring cleaning
Some people prefer to get all their spring cleaning done in a single day, while others prefer to divide their spring cleaning over several days. Depending on your schedule and cleaning style, you may prefer one method over the other- and that’s okay.
Regardless of whether you prefer to do it in one day, or over the course of several days, it’s a good idea to schedule a time for it to be completed. Put a reminder in your phone, write it in your planner, or make a note of it somewhere visible.
3. Declutter your entire home
A lot of homeowners are guilty of having too much stuff. It’s easy to let clutter pile up over time until it begins to stress you out. Fortunately, spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to declutter.
Before you start cleaning, take some time to go through every room and declutter it as much as possible. Stay organized while you do it, grouping things by what items need to be thrown out, what items can be donated, and what items you will keep. Before you know it, your house will be clutter free!
4. Start small
With the number of different things to do on your spring-cleaning list, it can feel daunting just thinking about, let alone trying to do. If you let yourself get overwhelmed, you can find yourself procrastinating or avoiding it altogether.
To avoid getting overwhelmed, start small. Begin with one smaller task (i.e., cleaning out your closet, organizing your pantry, etc.) at a time. From there, move on to completing bigger tasks on your spring-cleaning list until everything has been completed.
5. Have all your products and tools prepared beforehand
A common mistake when it comes to spring cleaning is not having everything you need handy before you begin. You may not realize that you’re out of certain cleaners, or that you need a new mop or vacuum cleaner until you look at everything you have. Realizing that you’re missing some essentials tools and supplies after you’ve started can be frustrating.
It’s a good idea to take inventory of your cleaning supplies and tools before you begin your spring cleaning. Make a list of anything you’re missing or need to replace, and then buy it. That way, you will be able to start, and finish, your spring cleaning without unnecessary setbacks.
6. Work from top to bottom
It’s important to remember to be efficient during your cleaning. You don’t want to accidentally miss a spot or have to reclean something that you’ve already cleaned. You want to get your spring cleaning done quickly and in a way that makes the most sense.
The best way to avoid having to reclean is by always cleaning from top to bottom. When you clean a room, start with the ceiling before moving to furniture and floors. That way if any dirt or debris from the ceiling falls, it isn’t undoing your work on the rest of the room, saving you time and frustration.
7. Clean room by room
Typically speaking, the goal of spring cleaning is to clean your entire house. While this is a good idea, it can feel overwhelming.
To keep from getting overwhelmed, and to keep things efficient, start by cleaning one room at a time. Instead of cleaning the whole house at once, it’s a better idea to clean one room completely before moving on to another. This way will not only prevent you from becoming overwhelmed but can even inspire you to keep cleaning!
8. Do chores that you typically procrastinate about
We all have chores that we always procrastinate about and put off doing. Spring cleaning is an opportunity to make sure they get done.
As you make you cleaning to-do list, make sure to add in the chores you’ve been procrastinating about to the list. It’s the perfect opportunity to cross off those specific chores that you haven’t gotten around to doing yet. Not only will you get more stuff done, but you’ll feel even more accomplished getting long-procrastinated chores completed.
9. Prioritize labour-intensive chores
When creating a spring-cleaning to-do list, you probably have an idea on how you want to prioritize it. You may want to do your favourite chores first because you enjoy doing them the most, or the other hand, you may choose to do your least favourite chores first just so you can get them done and out of the way. You could choose to do the easiest chores first, or the hardest chores first.
When creating your spring cleaning to do list it’s a good idea to prioritize labour-intensive chores first. Chores include cleaning windows, lawn mowing, and vacuuming are examples of these types of chores. When you prioritize labour-intensive chores, you’re able to complete the chores that generally take the most amount of time and effort earlier when you are more likely to have increased energy.
10. Create new cleaning habits for your next spring cleaning
Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to clean your entire home thoroughly, But that’s not the only thing it’s good for. It can also benefit you and your home in the long run.
Spring cleaning can help you create new and better cleaning habits. When you do your spring cleaning this year, you may realize that some of your old cleaning methods don’t work for you. You may realize that you’re better off tackling your spring cleaning over the course of several days as opposed to one day- or vice versa. The point is that you’ll be able to create new cleaning habits that will work better for you next time.