Well, we are well on our way into spring and you know what that means! Spring cleaning! By now you’ve probably seen a thousand articles around about the best ways to spring clean and what the “tried and true” methods are but if you’re anything like me, you like to find your own way that works for you. As I’ve said over and over again, planning is personal and planning for cleaning is no different! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you figure out how you want to approach your clean and easy tips to help you get the most out of it!
Decide
Just because it’s called “spring cleaning” doesn’t mean you actually have to do it in spring. If you find you’ve more time later in the year or you prefer to do your cleaning at a certain time, then do it then! Create a list of what you want to achieve and what you want to clean. This will help you visualize how you will tackle it. Cleaning, like everything, needs your full attention. Ensure you aren’t being pulled thirty different ways while also trying to figure out whether you’ll keep that old sweater that your grandmother’s best friend “just loved”. And you’re having trouble finding time in your schedule, check our time management tips!
Determine
Once you’ve decided on when you’re going to tackle it, you’ll need to figure out exactly how long it’s going to take. Depending on how you work, you may find it easier to knock it off in one afternoon and just get it out of the way. Alternatively, if you work better in smaller, more regular blocks (hello, Pomodoro technique!), breaking it up into 20 or 30 minutes blocks throughout the week will help you keep your focus on the task at hand.
Delegate
Take a look at that list you created and have a think about whether you can delegate tasks to anyone else. This is especially helpful if you don’t think you’ll have enough hours in all of spring to achieve what you want! Ask your partner, kids or other family members to lend a hand. You can even make a fun family activity out of it by creating deadlines, divvying out tasks and prizes for whoever finishes theirs first!
Declutter
This is the time where you dive into it! Be mindful of what you need in your life and what is simply still in the house due to sentimental or family reasons. There will, of course, be items that you can’t part with and that’s absolutely fine but this is the time to really think about the reason things are still in your house. For example, when you’re tackling your wardrobe, think of the last time you wore something and if it wasn’t within the last six months, it goes! Be intentional and methodical with your approach and remember, having an organised home can help with our productivity so get decluttering!
Donate
We’re all familiar with the saying “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and it’s a cliche because it’s true. In 2016, the UK generated 221.0 million tonnes of total waste so anything we can do to reduce wastage is always a good thing! By donating your unwanted items, you create new opportunities for reuse and recyclability while also decluttering your own home. It’s a win-win!
Carving out intentional time for your spring cleaning and putting your own spin on the way you do approach it will help you achieve your cleaning goals while also keeping your stress levels low and productivity high! By blocking out time and getting others to help, you’ll be finished that cleaning to-do list in no time and before you know it, you’ll be sitting in your decluttered lounge room marveling at all the space you didn’t know you had!
Ready to roll up your sleeves? Tag us on Instagram so we can cheer you on!
