With stay-at-home orders going into effect across the country as we ride out the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are finding ourselves spending a lot of extra time at home. This unexpected free time can be the perfect opportunity to start your spring cleaning, as having a clean, organized home can help uplift your mood while making you feel productive. Here are five tips to help you kickstart your spring cleaning:
Create a schedule that is easy to stick to. When tackling spring cleaning, it may seem daunting to take on what seems like a million and one projects. Having a plan for how you will take on spring cleaning projects, however, will help you stay focused and organized as you conquer each cleaning task one at a time. Make sure you’re not overwhelming yourself with projects either, and instead, break your schedule down into easy-to-manage chunks of time that will help you stay accountable while being highly productive.
Declutter, declutter, declutter. If it seems like your house is never truly spotless, one reason for this could be all of that extra clutter spilling out of closets and from underneath beds. Almost everyone experiences a natural urge in the springtime to get rid of extra clothes, school papers and work documents, and other items lying around the house. Use that to your advantage and throw away or donate all that clutter so you can start fresh! If you can’t make it to your donation drop-off center of choice, set aside a closet or designated space to store all your unnecessary items until you get the chance to give them away.
Get the whole family involved. If cleaning the entire house seems like a little too much to handle on your own, it’s never a bad idea to get your family involved. Tackling spring cleaning projects together as a family is a great way to enjoy quality bonding time while knocking out tasks quickly. If you are finding that some of your little helpers are reluctant to join in, find ways to make cleaning more engaging by listening to fun music or promising incentives for completing tasks. Ice cream after cleaning out the garage, anyone?
Don’t forget to disinfect your tech. It can be easy to overlook, but our technology carries a lot more germs than you might think. While you should be cleaning more commonly-used devices like your smartphone daily, spring cleaning is the perfect time to deep clean your laptop, gaming devices, remotes and any other tech gadgets you use regularly. Try to avoid using harsh cleaning products like antibacterial wipes or sprays that you usually use while cleaning, as your gadgets are delicate and can be damaged even by water. Instead, use products that are specifically designed for cleaning tech products to avoid scratching or internally harming your tech.
Establish cleaning habits that will last you year round. Make future spring cleanings a little bit easier on yourself by establishing habits to help keep your spaces clean and fresh throughout the year. By dedicating even just half-an-hour every few days to cleaning out your fridge or tidying up a closet, you will save yourself time and hassle in the long run!