This post is sponsored by Kimberly-Clark and The Motherhood. All opinions are honest and my own.
As we’ve been talking about spring cleaning this week, I’ve realized something about myself. As much as I wish I was a person who could pop out of bed one morning and decide that TODAY’S THE DAY to do spring cleaning, that’s just not me. I’m more of a spring cleaning survivalist. I will make it through the process if I’m smart about it. Today I want to share a few of my survival tips with you.
Have a Manageable Plan
I don’t know about you, but I can’t tackle it all in one day. If I tried to do that, I would start the day ambitiously but fizzle mid-morning. Instead, I prefer to break big jobs like this into smaller, bite-sized pieces. I figure the dirt didn’t get there in one day, so there’s no need to remove it all in one day either. 😉
Using this Spring Cleaning Checklist, try splitting the tasks into manageable amounts for each day. Spreading it out can make spring cleaning feel a lot less overwhelming! My plan is to tackle one room each day and do a task or two from the “Throughout the House” section each day.
Planning ahead is the key to make tackling a huge project (like spring cleaning) a little easier.
Gather Your Supplies
Knowing which tasks I’m going to get done is as important as gathering supplies, making sure I have some chocolate stashed for mid-cleaning emergencies… All the important things! But seriously… I mentioned my love of lists yesterday. I’ve also started another list, a cleaning supply list. Being ready with supplies means being able to move from task to task without having to make a run to the store.
I stopped by Walmart the other day to stock up on a few spring cleaning essentials. When there’s a lot of dirt to tackle, I prefer Viva® paper towels because they’re strong and durable like cloth. Plus the Viva® Vantage (with their scrubby texture) hold up well whether I’m scrubbing baseboards, getting toothpaste off of bathroom counters, or degreasing the stovetop. I can choose Viva® Towels for other jobs (including hands and faces!) where their smooth texture works best. I was thrilled to find $1 off coupons stuck on the packages of Viva® Vantage and Towels. Win!
I’ve also got a spray bottle of my all-purpose natural cleaner and a bucket ready. You can find all kinds of great spring cleaning supplies here.
Recruit Some Help
Making spring cleaning a shared job has several benefits. Cleaning as a team makes the job go much quicker. It also helps everyone in the house take ownership of the final product. Maybe helping get the house clean will help everyone keep it cleaner long-term.
Delegation isn’t my strong suit, so this is one I’ll need to work on. I’ve found that laying the day’s to do list on the counter and asking everyone to choose some jobs has worked best in the past. So we’ll be trying that again.
Restock Along the Way
As we clean, we’ll also be taking note of things that need restocked around the house. Having household staples well stocked before summer means fewer trips to the store and more time spent at home.
Walmart is helping everyone stock up with great prices on bath tissues. Cottonelle® is the only brand with CleanRipple Texture. Scott 1000® offers long-lasting value. Either way you can stock up at pocketbook-friendly prices.
Plan for Dinner During Breakfast
If you’re the kind of person who likes to tackle as much of the list as possible in one day, it helps to plan ahead for dinner. After a long day of cleaning, the last thing anyone wants to do is spend time cooking dinner. Taking a few minutes to put dinner in the Crock Pot at the beginning of the day means a home-cooked meal without much prep.
Make it Fun
Cleaning can be tiring and a bit of a drag, but only if you let it. Instead, crank up some music or make a game of it. Have some contests to see who can get their job done quickest. Narrate your tasks with silly voices. Dance through the house while cleaning. The job will feel lighter and get done quicker if it’s fun.
Reward Yourself
Who doesn’t love a good incentive for getting a job done? Rewarding yourself (and your helpers) is a fun way to end your spring cleaning project. Maybe it’s a dinner out, a family game night, or a long soak in a hot (and now sparkling clean!) tub. Do something to give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.
Want more spring cleaning tips and tricks?
Pinterest is full of fabulous cleaning ideas! I’ve gathered a few of my favorites on my spring cleaning board. Enjoy!
Feel free to share your favorite spring cleaning tips in the comments!
