4 Strategies for Spring Cleaning

Spring officially began on Thursday, March 19, but with everything going on in the world and in our communities, it’s not surprising that this day came and went without attention. People everywhere are facing a unique set of circumstances this year as we enter the Spring season, and while the specifics still differ from person to person, one uniting factor is that most (if not all) of us are spending more time at home.

For some, this may feel like a rare and exciting chance to establish new home routines and relationships, while for others, this is a time of extreme boredom or frustration. No matter how you’re feeling, you should feel empowered to make your home a comfortable and safe space to continue living life, and what better way to do so than by partaking in a little Spring Cleaning? It’s amazing what a fresh and tidy environment can do for a person, both physically and mentally, but it’s not always easy to know how to begin. With that in mind, here are 4 strategies to help you get started and follow through with Spring Cleaning.

Set Realistic Goals

A quick Google search will reveal that 30 day Spring Cleaning challenges are wildly popular. They often come with cute print-off schedules or festive stickers to help get you inspired (or maybe to distract you from the giant list of tasks they require in a short amount of time). While this type of cleaning frenzy may be the perfect solution for some who want to power through their to-do list and quickly reap the rewards, it isn’t a realistic goal for everyone.

There are thirteen weeks of Spring. Why not take advantage of them all? By adding two or three extra tasks to your weekly cleaning routine, you can effectively deep clean your entire home by the end of the season. Dusting your baseboards two days or two weeks after cleaning your window sills is still the same accomplishment, no matter what the cute print-offs try to make you think.

Whether you enjoy the challenge of a thirty-day cleaning spree or prefer a slower pace, the important thing is that you set a realistic goal for yourself that takes into account any and all other responsibilities and priorities. If you know you’ll have a full house of people trying to eat snacks and meals throughout the day, it may not be the best time to challenge yourself to deep clean and sanitize your entire kitchen. But you could commit to washing the inside of your trash can or tossing out old storage containers that don’t have lids. Small, specific goals will help you stay motivated and feel accomplished, whereas you’re likely to feel demoralized and burned out after repeatedly failing to hit large or vague goals.

Start with the Clutter

Spring Cleaning is most often associated with deep cleaning, or rather, a thorough cleaning of the home, including areas that aren’t typically included in normal cleaning routines. But Spring Cleaning doesn’t have to just utilize a mop or duster. It can also refer to any kind of organizational or purging project, and in fact, that is often the best place to start.

There’s a reason why the KonMari method is growing in popularity. People are learning the effects of clutter and the value of minimalism. This in itself is reason enough to think about Spring Cleaning as a time to get rid of what you don’t need, but it’s also the important first step to being able to truly deep clean.

One common Spring Cleaning task is thoroughly cleaning your kitchen pantry, however, before you can set off to wipe down and disinfect the shelves, you must first sort through everything in it. This is the perfect time to throw out those half-eaten boxes of expired food, or combine three boxes of packaged snacks into one container. Another chore on your to-do list may be to vacuum and mop underneath your bed, but step one is actually sorting through the boxes of shoes and clothes you’ve been storing there.

Don’t forget to factor in decluttering when setting your goals for Spring Cleaning, as this will help you keep your goals realistic. For example, you wouldn’t want to block off thirty minutes on your schedule to deep clean your bathroom closet and neglect to add in the additional time it takes to first purge the shelves.

Schedule Breaks and Leisure

All work and no play is exhausting, even for those who like to keep busy. Bodies and minds need time to relax and recharge, so even if you’re one of the lucky ones that truly enjoys cleaning, make sure you schedule breaks and ample time to rest. Spring Cleaning is physically demanding. You’re often on your feet, reaching in awkward positions, carrying heavy objects, and getting in a lot of steps. While this is an extra benefit, it’s also very important to take care of yourself. If you need to sit down for a few minutes, pour yourself a glass of water and read an article, play a quick game on your phone, check social media, or whatever it is you like to do for fun. And after completing that dreaded task you’ve been avoiding all year, be sure to treat yourself to a reward. Plan a fun-day with family or friends, watch that movie you’ve been hearing about, or schedule time to chat with an old friend. It’s just as important to plan your breaks as it is to plan your work.

Track Accomplishments

Some people love the satisfaction of checking things off a physical to-do list. Others prefer to keep mental notes. And still others tend to wing it without a plan. While you’re probably more likely to complete tasks that are thought out ahead of time, regardless of your planning style, try to at least keep track of what you accomplish, no matter how big or little. Even in times of crisis, we tend to move at a fast pace, and one consequence is that it’s easy to feel like every step forward comes at the price of two steps back. We’re quick to point out our failures, and just as quick to forget our accomplishments, which is why it’s important to acknowledge and highlight them when they happen.

It may feel disheartening that on Monday you were only able to clean out the dresser when that was only one out of three goals for the day. But if you also reorganized your closet on Wednesday, deep cleaned the ceiling fan and rotated your mattress on Thursday, and spent the weekend cleaning the rug and mopping the floor, you’ve actually made a ton of progress deep cleaning your bedroom just in one week! Don’t forget to track what you’ve done so you can celebrate your accomplishments.

There are tons of online resources you can use to help you decide what your priorities should be and how to clean effectively, but using these four strategies will hopefully help you get started and stay on track, no matter the size or schedule of your Spring Cleaning checklist. And if Spring Cleaning still doesn’t seem appealing, that’s okay, too. You can always hire a cleaning professional to get the job done for you! To schedule an estimate with C&T Clean Team, press “Book the Clean Team” at the top of the page.