It’s time to tackle spring cleaning! If you’re not quite sure where to start, here are a few steps that you should take!
1.) Make it Fun
Most people think of spring cleaning as a necessary evil, on par with visiting the dentist or getting your car’s engine fixed. However, I’m a firm believer in the idea that spring cleaning can be fun!
How, you ask? First, start by putting on some fun music! If you have something that you can dance and jive to, it’s much easier to get into the spirit of cleaning. Second, clean for limited periods. Most people get overwhelmed because they try to tackle their entire house in one day. It’s usually easier if you spread it out over the course of several days. It’s much more manageable when you clean little by little! Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day! Third, try to find a cleaning buddy! Help clean each others’ houses. The benefit is twofold: first of all, you have someone to talk to while you’re cleaning (which makes the time pass much faster!) And secondly, you’ll have someone to hold you accountable! Fourth, give yourself rewards after accomplishing specific milestones. Once you’ve cleaned out the garage, for example, celebrate with your favorite kind of ice cream. And after the entire house is done, go out for dinner with your friends!
If you have kids, you can make a game out of spring cleaning. Create timed games for putting away their toys, and give them little prizes when they accomplish certain tasks.
2.) Make a List
It can be hard to remember every single thing that you need to do. So make a checklist of everything that needs to be accomplished! This assures that you won’t forget anything. Plus, you can enjoy the satisfaction of crossing completed items off your list! Not sure where to start? Here’s a helpful list of things to make sure you clean! I love Martha Stewart’s room-by-room checklist, since it helps guarantee you won’t forget important steps in each room!
3.) Check Your Air Quality
Most people clean their dirty household items, but never stop to think about the unseen dangers. Because Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, it’s important to make sure that you have good air quality. Every spring, you should test for radon gas to make sure that you and your family are safe. You should also change your air filters every 90 days to make sure that pollutants are being filtered out of your air. Air filters can remove up to 95% of pollutants from your air, so it’s important to change them regularly so that they can function effectively. If you struggle to remember when to change your filters, consider signing up for an air filter service that will have them automatically sent to your door! Clean your air conditioning vents to make sure that the air can be properly circulated throughout your house.
Hopefully you’re feeling more inspired to start spring cleaning. Remember that it can be fun with the proper technique and attitude!
Andrea Smith is a 30-something mother of three. She enjoys figuring out how to make spring cleaning fun!