Hi ya’ll! Spring cleaning season is upon us once again! And by golly it can feel extremely overwhelming. But with these spring cleaning tips it doesn’t have to be!
I used to think that I needed to “spring clean” the entire house in one day, maybe two tops. Let me tell you, I was thoroughly exhausted…and that was before having 3 kids interrupting the process! Once the kids came along, I must admit, I may have skipped the actual spring cleaning routine for a couple years. (I was not proud of myself for that😋.)
My mom is a GREAT housekeeper/homemaker and somehow she managed to keep the house spotless with 3 kids of her own, along with multiple foster kids! But somehow I couldn’t manage to get the floor swept with just a set of twins! Then I realized I was putting too much pressure on myself. Spring cleaning, or even cleaning in general, does not have to be super time consuming. Creating a daily, or weekly plan, is much easier to accomplish!
So, I am going to break down how I attack my spring cleaning schedule. Plus share some spring cleaning tips that have helped me, even with kids still underfoot!
P.S.- put the kiddos to work! It may not be perfect but it’ll be better than it was! Plus it’s a great learning experience for everyone! (Kids = life skills. Mom = patience.)
Disclaimer- I am not a professional organizer, life coach, or housekeeper. These are simply tips and tactics that work for me and my family. If you are looking for a professional opinion please quit reading now. But if you would like some helpful tips please read on!
What Is The Difference Between Spring Cleaning And A Deep-Clean?
Spring cleaning is basically a “deep- clean” of your home that is traditionally done in the spring of the year. There is a lot of history behind “why and where” this tradition started. (Read this article for a more information on the origin story.) However, the reason I deep-clean my home in the spring is because that is when I open my windows after many months and I see all of the grime winter has left behind in my window sills!
When Should I Start Spring Cleaning?
To be honest I usually don’t have time to start cleaning on the first day of spring. But I do try to start before the hot summer months begin. Because once I close the windows and turn on the air conditioner, I completely forget about the mess still lurking in all of the nooks and crannies.
So I would suggest to start as soon as possible, even if it’s just starting with 1 window or 1 fan. This will help get you in the groove and motivate you to complete your spring cleaning list!
FREE CLEANING CHECKLIST BUNDLE!
5 Spring Cleaning Tips To Complete Your Tasks Faster
The most important thing to remember is spring cleaning is a marathon- not a sprint! Keeping that in mind you will be able to accomplish your goals and have a fresh, clean home for spring!
STEP 1: prioritize the rooms
When you take time to prioritize the rooms you are helping to set yourself up for success!
So, to get started simply pick any room in the house. I generally like to start with the living room because there’s not a lot of “extra” cleaning to do! The living room is one of the most used rooms in the house so it gets cleaned pretty often.
By starting somewhere that’s not in desperate need of cleaning helps me feel more motivated, even though I know it’s an easy accomplishment.
However, you can choose to tackle the dirtiest room first. Maybe that room has been overwhelming your mind and you are ready to tackle it…go for it! There is no right or wrong room to start with. Simply starting is what is important!
STEP 2: Spring clean one room at a time
Looking at the big picture isn’t always the best approach when it’s a relatively large task, such as spring cleaning.
I have heard, even tried, cleaning one thing at a time throughout the entire house. (Example: I cleaned the windows in every room. Then cleaned the lights/fans in every room…etc.) But I have found that prioritizing the rooms and cleaning one room at a time helps to narrow my focus and keeps me from feeling overwhelmed or giving up. Because as I do each room I am seeing a finished product and my hard work doesn’t feel in vain.
STEP 3: Make a list of spring cleaning supplies
Making a list of cleaning supplies before you start is probably the most important out of all of the spring cleaning tips that I can offer!
I personally like to have a list for each room. This helps eliminate distractions and saves time because you won’t have to keep walking back and forth for supplies.
Plus, being prepared will also help to keep you on track and checking off your spring cleaning goals!
STEP 4: Set daily or weekly spring cleaning goals
By setting daily, or even weekly goals you will get to the finish line a lot faster and with more ease. Goals are meant to encourage us to stay on track, not to discourage us because we may miss a day. So, start small. Set goals that you know you will be able to accomplish.
As a mom I know life can throw curveballs and you can’t always keep an exact routine or schedule…that’s ok! If you are unable to complete the spring cleaning task today, try to work it in tomorrow or even another day that week. But the most important thing is to not give up.
There is no rule out there that says goals have to take an hour to complete and must be done by 5 o’clock. Make spring cleaning work for you on your time!
STEP 5: Stay focused
Once you have prioritized the rooms, gathered supplies, and set a schedule or checklist, it is time to get focused and determined. We can plan and prepare for days but if we never start all of that preparing is in vain.
One thing that helps is me is to only look at the tasks I have set for that day. Don’t overwhelm yourself with tomorrow’s tasks. That will make you lose focus and feel defeated. Our focus can make or break our goals. So stay focused on the positive (you will have a clean house that you aren’t embarrassed of) and not on the negative (it’s TOO much work)!
Room By Room Spring Cleaning Tips
Basic Spring Cleaning Tip: Clean each room starting at the top and working your way down. (This will keep dust from your ceiling lights from falling onto your newly mopped floors.)
LIVING ROOM-
The first thing I like to do is clean the ceiling fan/light. Secondly, I wipe the walls/trim down. However, I don’t always “wash” the walls in here because there’s not any grime buildup. Maybe just a rouge sticky hand print here and there. Thirdly, I attack what is by far my least favorite- windows sills! However, I have found a few non-typical cleaning tools to help make the job a little easier: q-tips, toothpicks, and a toothbrush. A wet q-tip makes cleaning the corners of the sill out a hundred times easier and the toothpicks removes the gunk from the narrow cracks that the toothbrush can’t reach!
Lastly, I dust off all of my stands, picture frames, etc. Then finish by sweeping under couches and stands.
Checklist:
- Clean/dust ceiling fan/light.
- Wash walls, baseboard, trim, and doors.
- Clean windows and sills.
- Dust furniture.
- Sweep and deodorize sofa.
- Sweep and mop floors (if mopping applies).
BATHROOM-
This is also another room that gets cleaned regularly, which makes it easier for spring cleaning.
Start by spraying cleaner on the shower. While letting the cleaner work its magic go ahead and wipe down the walls. Then, go back to your shower. By this point it should wipe clean fairly easy; if not, feel free to spray and let it sit another round.
Now you are ready to clean the widow and sill (if you have a window in there). However, if the window is in the shower, I recommend cleaning it before you clean the shower, to keep from creating a mess and cleaning it twice!
Then wipe down the cabinet, counter, and mirror before sweeping and mopping the floor.
Checklist:
- Clean/dust ceiling fan/light.
- Wash walls, baseboard, trim, and doors.
- Clean windows and sills.
- Clean shower. (Spray before washing walls.)
- Wipe down the cabinet(s).
- Clean counter and mirror(s).
- Sweep and mop the floor.
KITCHEN-
The kitchen is probably my least favorite room to clean. Grim has built up on the walls, char spots are on the oven, and the cabinets somehow end up food splattered. This can certainly feel like an overwhelming job. However, when broken down you can accomplish a lot fairly quickly!
First, I start by spraying the oven, it usually has to sit for about 2 hours. (This is only if you don’t have an automatic cleaning oven.) I also like to turn my dishwasher on the cleaning cycle at this point. Then my second task is the walls and cabinets. Once that is done the oven (step 3) should be ready to scrub!
Your fourth step will once again be the dreaded windows and sills. But it gets a little easier after that when you move onto the small appliances and refrigerator (step 5). Then you will want to sanitize the counters and sinks (step 6). And your last step will be sweeping and mopping the floor!
Checklist:
- Spray oven.
- Clean dishwasher. (I like to use Finish Dual Action Dishwasher Cleaner.)
- Wash walls, baseboards, trim, and doors.
- Wash down the cabinets.
- Clean the oven (inside and out).
- Clean windows and sills.
- Wipe down the microwave and all small appliances.
- Clear out the refrigerator and wipe down.
- Sanitize counters and sink.
- Sweep and mop the floor (if mopping applies).
DINNING ROOM-
- Clean/dust ceiling fan/light.
- Wash walls, baseboard, trim, and doors.
- Clean windows and sills.
- Clean table and chairs.
- Dust furniture.
- Sweep and mop floors.
BEDROOMS-
So, here comes the fun part! (I’m totally being sarcastic.) These rooms will need double the work- a decluttering and a cleaning! I would suggest to NOT try both in one day, unless you are kid free and have a clear schedule. However, I do recommend to declutter before cleaning (less things to clean around).
I try to break it down by how much time do I have and are the kids occupied? Decluttering can be time consuming. However, it helps to break it up by either toys/clothes or closet/living space. Another helpful hint is to go through the toys when kids aren’t home or are at least preoccupied. That way they can’t try to keep their “favorite” toy that they haven’t played with in 6 months.
And the same rules can also apply to your bedroom! Sometimes we forget that mom and dad’s room can collect random clutter as well.
Checklist:
- Declutter.
- Clean/dust ceiling fan/light.
- Wash walls, baseboard, trim, and doors.
- Wash windows and sills.
- Dust furniture.
- Change bedding and sanitize mattresses.
- Sweep and mop the floor. (If mopping applies.)
Conclusion
The layout for these spring cleaning tips is pretty similar for each room, making it easier to get in a grove and stay motivated. When you know what to expect you are more confident, which leads to a higher rate of accomplishment! Spring cleaning for moms is no small feat, so take a minute to pat yourself on the back. Then prop up your feet in the sunshine, while sipping some lemonade!
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