How To Tackle Spring Cleaning Without Feeling Overwhelmed

Spring cleaning can be one of the most time consuming and overwhelming seasonal tasks. I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency to just “hide under the covers” and skip doing anything when I get overwhelmed by a task that seems too daunting. Yet that means also missing out on the rewards of a thoroughly clean home. Much like New Year’s Resolutions, spring cleaning helps you get a clean slate. And just like with a big resolution like losing weight or getting out of debt, it helps to break it down into baby steps and use some other “tricks” to help you stay on task. Here are five strategies to help you tackle spring cleaning without overwhelm. Give It A Time Limit Make a list of all the rooms, closets and spaces you need to clean. Estimate how much time you think it’ll take to get each space clean. For example, your pantry might take 40 minutes. When cleaning the space make sure you stick to the time limit. When cleaning, it’s easy to get distracted. It’s easy to let the job take much longer than it should. When you set a time limit you’ll stay focused on the job. Remember to take breaks in between each space too. This will help you stay energetic and motivated. Create A Checklist Checklists help you stay focused. They eliminate overwhelm. You can simply go down the list, check tasks off and finish your spring cleaning quickly and efficiently. Spread It Out Rather than tackle cleaning your entire home in a day or a weekend, spread it out. Tackle on big job each weekend. Tackle smaller jobs during the week. For example, spring cleaning your kitchen is a big job. Schedule it on the weekend. Cleaning your coat closet shouldn’t take more than an hour. It’s something you can do in an evening. Gather Supplies First Before you clean any space in your home, gather all the supplies you’ll need. Consider getting a tote box for cleaning supplies. Assign a tote box for each space. For example, your bathroom will have a designated cleaning supplies box. Your kitchen will have another. In addition to the cleaning products you will also need tools. For example, you might want a used toothbrush to clean the grout from your shower tile. Collecting the supplies before you clean means you won’t have to stop in the middle of a task to hunt down the necessary equipment.   5. Create a system. Systems ensure an efficient process. One efficient system to consider is grouping like tasks. For example, when you’re vacuuming the carpets, also vacuum the air vents, the corners of the ceiling and the blinds or window treatments. It saves time and energy.   Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be an overwhelming job. With a few simple strategies you can enjoy the benefits of spring cleaning without the stress and anxiety. Find the strategies that work for you and create a workable plan.