Take the Sting out of Spring Cleaning

Oh, we get it, we don’t love the process ourselves. We love to see the results of a great spring clean, but we hate the steps needed to get there. Over the years, we’ve learned a few tricks that make the process just a little less horrible and a lot more joyful.

Take a look at these tips that will help you to dread spring cleaning just a little less.

·         Get the right tools for the job. A high quality feather duster works wonders on tight spaces. A great scrub brush can cut down on the amount of elbow grease you’ll need to use. A blinds attachment on your vacuum will make the job of window cleaning take half the time it did before. The right tools make all the difference. Make sure your cleaning caddy is set up with the right tools to do the jobs you’ll need to do.

·         Treat yourself to some fun new cleaning products. Beautifully scented all-purpose cleaner can make the job of scrubbing cabinet doors just a little nicer. Treat yourself to some fun new cleaning products you wouldn’t usually buy. Not only do these products make the job a little more fun more fun, you might discover a product that cuts grease like you’ve never used before!

·         Listen while you work. Set up your playlists with the best music that gets you in a great mood. Or, if you’re more of a podcaster/audiobook listener, take the day you’ll spend cleaning to listen to something you’ve never heard before. The time will pass so much more quickly with audio companions.

·         Create a map. An organized spring cleaning session will be much less painful. Write out a map of your house with the tasks needed for each area. You’ll be able to see a bird’s eye view of what needs to be done and can more easily tackle each chore.

·         Purge as you go. It feels so good to throw away junk you don’t need. Take a large bag into each area of your home. Purge items as you’re cleaning. Not only does this mean you’ll have less to clean around next spring, it will also give you an extra sense of accomplishment as you complete each area.

·         Don’t do it all at once. Who says spring cleaning needs to be done in one day? Nobody. Take your time and spread the chores over multiple days. Taking breaks is good for any crew, especially a spring cleaning crew.

·         Open up and air out. Fling open your windows. You’ll air out any musty smells, give the dust a place to go, and will probably improve your mood a little bit. (Who doesn’t love the sound of springtime birds chirping outside?)

·         Give yourself incentives. Maybe it’s a family movie night once the house has been scrubbed. Or maybe you’ll treat yourself to a new spring outfit. Whatever works for you! Just give yourself an incentive to work towards. You’ll work harder and faster to reach your goal if you know there’s a prize at the end of the day.

·         Say goodbye to perfectionism. Of course we all want perfectly clean houses! But, the perfect can become the enemy of the good. Don’t stress out over removing every speck of dirt. More often than not, you’ll put off a spring cleaning project until it can be done “perfectly.” The result is that you’ll end up pushing the task to the bottom of the list waiting to be able to do it perfectly. The problem is that it’ll likely never get done. Do your best as you can. Your home may not be perfect after your spring cleaning, but it’ll be better than if you hadn’t cleaned at all!

We hope this list helps take the pain out of this unavoidable chore. Take a deep breath, grab that all-purpose cleaner, and put on your favorite podcast- it’s time to spring clean!