It’s now Spring! Or at least it is “officially”… it’s still raining buckets here in Seattle! Regardless, we should all rejoice over the sunny days that are to come! However, Springtime also means Spring Cleaning. And that can be a real drag. Especially if you don’t have a plan or the proper tools to help you! So I’ve teamed up with Wayfair to bring you not only some awesome tips and tricks to make Spring Cleaning as painless as possible, but I’m also giving you the inside scoop on my favorite cleaning and organization products! Let’s hop to it 🙂
Step 1: DECLUTTER IT
When starting your Spring Cleaning to-dos, a crucial first step is to toss out old/broken items and declutter as much as possible before your hand even touches a broom or mop. The actual cleaning portion of Spring Cleaning will be so much easier and much less painful if you aren’t trying to work around a bunch of stuff you’ll just end up tossing anyway! Go through your closet, your junk drawer, your kids toys, your bookshelf, your garage – basically every nook and cranny of your house – and throw out or donate anything you are no longer using or is in disrepair.
Make it fun by:
- Having a slam dunk contest with old items and the garbage bin
- Picking out gently used toys and clothes to donate to needy children
- Read books about decluttering like The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Step 2: CLEAN IT
Now that you’ve decluttered, it’s time to get to cleaning! I find it super helpful to gather all my tools and supplies beforehand so I’m not scrambling for a spare cleaning cloth with dirty hands. Below you’ll find some of my favorite cleaning tools from Wayfair! Crucial supplies include: a good broom, mop, vacuum, duster, cleaning cloths, scrub brushes, and a caddy to carry all your chemicals and cleaners. (Also, I really wish I owned a Roomba.)
Now, how does one making cleaning as fun and painless as possible?? I’ve found that writing out a schedule breaks down tasks and makes them much more manageable – you don’t need to get everything done in a day! Take a couple of weeks or a month to get through everything. Check out my round-up of helpful spring cleaning printables HERE to get started.
As for the fun part, here are some easy suggestions:
- Put on your fave CD and boogie away while you clean
- See how fast you can clean and try to break your previous records
- Set up a rewards system – if you finish your tasks you get that ice cream cone, glass of wine, trip to the mall, etc.
Step 3: ORGANIZE IT
I personally really love organizing – like I find it fun and would happily spend hours organizing. I even find myself doing it at other people’s houses! Now, if you aren’t a weirdo like me, you may be dreading organizing once the cleaning is all said and done. But it doesn’t have to be that way! The first key step is making sure you have the right products and furniture pieces to help you get organized. Below you’ll find some of my faves from Wayfair!
Baskets and bins are my go-to storage and organization items. Simply toss stuff in and store! They are great for keeping things orderly while keeping things like toys, blankets, and supplies handy. If you don’t have a lot of closet space in your home, also look for storage furniture like benches, cabinets, and organizer systems that you can either mount on a wall or set up in a cupboard. To make organizing painless just like cleaning, make up a schedule and stick to it. Tackle one room at a time and be sure to get kids and significant others in on it so you don’t feel like you’re doing all the work alone.
Now make it fun! 🙂
- Challenge kids to organize their toys by type or color
- See how much you can squeeze into a closet while still remaining organized
- Again, reward yourself! If you check off all the tasks on your list you deserve that treat!
That’s not so bad, is it? With a little bit of a plan and some tips to make it fun, you too can make Spring Cleaning painless and even *gasp* dare I say it fun 😉 Happy cleaning, and please send Seattle some sunshine if you happen to have any extra!
Love all your tips and storage ideas. from Wayfair Homemakers
Thank you so much, Rebecca! 🙂
These are great tips! I am not a fan of cleaning, but I love a clean house. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to pay someone to clean for me. Last year I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and it was so helpful. I need to read it again though.
I wish I could afford someone to clean for me too! I haven’t read the KonMari book, but it’s on my to-read list – I’m glad to hear it was helpful 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!