Ahh, spring is in the air! It has been a long and dreary winter, and, like you, I am enjoying the warmer temperatures and the greening of the landscapes around me.
I love the long hours of daylight, but the spring season tends to take a toll on my mental health.
A busier schedule, added outdoor chores, and lawn care makes the season extra active.
While I will gladly swap the extra tasks for those cold winter days stuck inside, getting all of my chores completed is trickier.
Every spring, I know I need to find ways to streamline my spring cleaning routine.
A few tried-and-true strategies work for me each year, and I am happy to share with you to help boost your spring season!
• Stock Up On Supplies: I don’t know about you, but I love buying cleaning supplies, especially ones that offer up fresh seasonal scents.
Spring is a great time to restock your cleaning cabinet with new supplies and tools — and while you are taking inventory, make sure you use it as an opportunity to organize at the same time.
Buy a caddie for each floor of your home and stock it with everyday cleaning items.
I grab my caddie that has just a few key things and whether I need a quick spruce up or heavy-duty cleaning, it suits my needs just fine.
Unsure what is an essential item? Try stocking up with antibacterial microfiber cloths, an easy eraser, a dust and wash microfiber mitt, window cloths, a bottle of all-purpose cleaner (Method has some great options that smell amazing), and get to work.
• Put the Fun In Your Daily Chores: One of the things that I have found is that when I schedule cleaning into my week, I make it a treat.
Since we are always on the go, I remind myself that I get to stay home, stay in comfortable clothes and enjoy the home we work so hard for!
I turn on my favorite playlist, crank it up and get cleaning.
I also always reward myself after a good solid morning of cleaning with some couch time and a glass of my favorite red wine.
This incentivized me to get my work done, and I have earned a little extra downtime.
That way, I can enjoy the fruits of my labor — with my feet propped up in my freshly cleaned living room!
• Share the Load: Do you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list?
Why bear it alone if you have others that live with you?
Whether you have a spouse, roommate or kids at home, there are ways to make sure that the daily chores get done without being responsible for it.
You can create a whiteboard daily chore chart and offer incentives to those who get the job done.
While teaching your kids to be accountable members of your household is already a good priority, you can sweeten the deal by making it fun.
Perhaps they get a gold star for each chore they check off and can trade in their stars for extra electronics, a special dessert, or a trip to the store.
Older kids can use it for allowance or money to go to the movies with friends.
If you live alone, try to streamline your chores, so they do not feel so overwhelming by dedicating five minutes each day to one small chore.
Perhaps Mondays are for dusting, Tuesdays are for clean sinks and toilets, etc.
Keeping up with the clutter and dirt should help you keep your house from ever really getting too dirty.
• Cut the Clutter: Nothing slows me down more than all the clutter that I have to clean up before I can clean a single surface.
Picking up puppy toys from the floor or clearing countertops might take longer than vacuuming or mopping!
If you can keep surfaces clean and purge the things that end up on those surfaces, you will find that your home is easier to clean and a lot less cluttered to look at, too!
A less cluttered living space will give you so much happiness — and will take you less time to maintain!
(Editor’s Note: Kristine George is a freelance journalist who resides in Easton.)