Lately, around the web and in magazines I have started to see a lot of information on spring cleaning. The urge is starting to hit me as well. Lightening the load of stuff you find yourself surrounded by is good for the soul. It is amazing what a little cleaning can do to make you fall in love with your home all over again.
Schedule Time
The first obstacle in getting to the spring cleaning is to put it higher on the priority list. That can be easier said than done. To jump this hurdle try scheduling time in your calendar devoted to spring cleaning, just as you would any other activity. If you can make it work, you may even want to block off 1 or 2 entire weekends to get it done and move on.
For others, including myself, taking a weekend may not be the best solution. For instance because you have young kids and weekend or not you need to tend to them. Or your weekends are too booked up. Try scheduling one task at a time, and spread it out over the next month or 2. Better to take a while, than not at all. That’s what I’m telling myself. J In fact, when my husband gets home I am going to try to set a time with him for us to clean the garage, the place where everything seems to end up. As well as get the kids play room painted.
Set Goals & Keep Positive
It may sound like a really long time, but I am hoping to get through things around the house one by one, and be done by the end of April. Setting a goal may be helpful in accomplishing what you want to get done. But as I said in my last post Lists, be careful to set a realistic amount you can accomplish each day to avoid burn out, and still find time for things that make you happy. While cleaning try to focus on what makes you happy about it. Keep your attention there as much as possible. For me I find that very challenging when cleaning bathrooms. Think about it like a really good mind strength training technique.
Make Organizational Boxes
Keep boxes or bags in an easy to get to location for Give Away/Donate, Garbage and Sell. It is better to have these out in the open to motivate you as you come across things over the next month to toss into the appropriate boxes. Think of it as a constant reminder to help keep you motivated even though spring cleaning can be a large task. Doing whatever you can to stay motivated over a long period of time if you can’t devote a few whole days to it, is key in accomplishing your goal.
With all the extra dust around in the corners from spending more time indoors over the winter, I think you’ll find you breathe easier when the work is done. Here is a cleaning/dusting find I picked up for $1 at my local Save On Foods and has proven to be a good buy.
Schedule Time
The first obstacle in getting to the spring cleaning is to put it higher on the priority list. That can be easier said than done. To jump this hurdle try scheduling time in your calendar devoted to spring cleaning, just as you would any other activity. If you can make it work, you may even want to block off 1 or 2 entire weekends to get it done and move on.
For others, including myself, taking a weekend may not be the best solution. For instance because you have young kids and weekend or not you need to tend to them. Or your weekends are too booked up. Try scheduling one task at a time, and spread it out over the next month or 2. Better to take a while, than not at all. That’s what I’m telling myself. J In fact, when my husband gets home I am going to try to set a time with him for us to clean the garage, the place where everything seems to end up. As well as get the kids play room painted.
Set Goals & Keep Positive
It may sound like a really long time, but I am hoping to get through things around the house one by one, and be done by the end of April. Setting a goal may be helpful in accomplishing what you want to get done. But as I said in my last post Lists, be careful to set a realistic amount you can accomplish each day to avoid burn out, and still find time for things that make you happy. While cleaning try to focus on what makes you happy about it. Keep your attention there as much as possible. For me I find that very challenging when cleaning bathrooms. Think about it like a really good mind strength training technique.
Make Organizational Boxes
Keep boxes or bags in an easy to get to location for Give Away/Donate, Garbage and Sell. It is better to have these out in the open to motivate you as you come across things over the next month to toss into the appropriate boxes. Think of it as a constant reminder to help keep you motivated even though spring cleaning can be a large task. Doing whatever you can to stay motivated over a long period of time if you can’t devote a few whole days to it, is key in accomplishing your goal.
With all the extra dust around in the corners from spending more time indoors over the winter, I think you’ll find you breathe easier when the work is done. Here is a cleaning/dusting find I picked up for $1 at my local Save On Foods and has proven to be a good buy.
There are two reasons I love this cleaning mitt. The first is because it stays on my hand well while cleaning. That may sound silly but it works great for getting behind things without losing the cloth back there.
The second reason I love it is because you can really use your finger to scrap off sticky spots without getting any of the grime under your nails. Along the same lines of using your finger, you can clean off very small areas, or reach easily into corners.
To take care of the cleaning mitt all you do is rinse it in warm soapy water and let it air dry. Really easy to do at the end of the day before bed, giving it time to dry for morning.
However, spring cleaning isn’t about finding magical tools that will get it all done for you. Believe me I wish it were because sometimes I think it would be easier if I just had...
When it comes down to it, spring cleaning takes elbow grease. The best part ... that’s good for your heart!
What place in your home could really use a good clean?
The second reason I love it is because you can really use your finger to scrap off sticky spots without getting any of the grime under your nails. Along the same lines of using your finger, you can clean off very small areas, or reach easily into corners.
To take care of the cleaning mitt all you do is rinse it in warm soapy water and let it air dry. Really easy to do at the end of the day before bed, giving it time to dry for morning.
However, spring cleaning isn’t about finding magical tools that will get it all done for you. Believe me I wish it were because sometimes I think it would be easier if I just had...
When it comes down to it, spring cleaning takes elbow grease. The best part ... that’s good for your heart!
What place in your home could really use a good clean?