Spring cleaning tips for busy families

Spring cleaning tips for busy families

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Spring has arrived and for many of us that brings to mind the idea of doing a nice Spring cleaning of our homes. But what if you and your family are very busy? Perhaps you don’t have an entire weekend to set aside for a deep clean. Or maybe you start a cleaning challenge but stop prematurely when the hectic-ness of life gets in the way.

I hear you! I love the idea of a nice, deep cleaning of the house from top to bottom; but in practice… it never happens.

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If you’re busy like we are, don’t be discouraged! You can still take advantage of the nicer spring weather to clean your home. Here are seven spring cleaning tips for busy families.

1. Write down your cleaning list

I highly recommend writing down a cleaning list with everything you would ideally love to achieve during your spring cleaning. Don’t worry about the feasibility of it yet just get it all down on paper.

If you need to, feel free to use a free cleaning checklist as a guide but think about the items before putting them on your list. Sometimes what is necessary for others will not apply to your life or your home.

2. Prioritize your cleaning list

When time is limited, you need to prioritize. Review your cleaning list and determine which items are:

  • must do
  • should do
  • would be nice to do.

This will allow you to see which items need to be completed sooner and which ones could be scheduled for a later time. This will help you use your limited time wisely.

Maybe you are most concerned with actual cleaning and decide the sorting items to keep, donate, or trash can wait.

3. Break your cleaning list up into smaller tasks

You know your schedule best, when you have free time or when you can squeeze in a cleaning task. Maybe you only have one full day off you can dedicate to cleaning or maybe you can do an hour each evening for a week.

By breaking up your list into smaller tasks, you can schedule your cleaning for the times that work best for you.

An added bonus is that putting cleaning tasks on the calendar can help busy families stay on track.

4. Choose the cleaning method that works for you

There are many different cleaning methods: room-by-room, doing like tasks together, doing big tasks first, etc. You can follow a method that you like or mix-and-match to fit your needs.

When dealing with limited time, I find it is easiest to schedule cleaning by how much time a task will take. A single bathroom may usually take five minutes for a quick, weekly clean but it may take twenty or thirty minutes to do a deep spring cleaning that includes cleaning showers/tubs, mopping the floor, organizing the cabinets, etc.

Spring cleaning for busy families: This house was clean yesterday. We're sorry you missed it!

5. Get the entire family involved

I believe that it is the responsibility of every member of a family to assist with the upkeep of the home. One person should not be solely responsible for the day-to-day cleaning and home maintenance, and likewise, one person should not be solely responsible for spring cleaning.

Get the entire family involved by delegating tasks (age and skill-level appropriate, of course) and setting family goals. As the family achieves the goals, celebrate in some way: perhaps a family game or movie night, maybe order in pizza or go to a restaurant. Think about a reward or celebration that would motivate and encourage your family.

6. Ask for help

If you are a single parent, your spouse is on military deployment, you do not have the support of another adult at home, or you are experiencing challenges/crisis in your life, do not be ashamed to ask for help from your circle of friends or from members of your church.

There is nothing wrong with asking for help. There are many kind-hearted and generous people out there who would love to volunteer an hour or two of their time to help you.

7. Hire professionals

While I am definitely an advocate for budgeting and saving money, there are times when it may be in your family’s best interest (and yours, too!) to outsource the cleaning tasks to the professionals.

Perhaps your yard is a disaster after a long winter. You could look into a landscaping service that offers a one-time cleanup deal. Maybe you are not very mobile due to a physical injury or health challenge. Check to see if a local cleaning service is offering a spring cleaning package.

Not sure where to begin? Amazon Home Services is a great place to start. They have already vetted the highest rated pros in your local area, all prices are upfront so you won’t get caught off guard with fees or addendums, and they make scheduling an appointment a breeze.

Motivational Quotes

As you begin your spring cleaning journey, remember to give yourself grace and resist the temptation to compare your home with others. To help motivate you, here are quotes on the topic of cleaning.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.
William Morris

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a dreaded list of chores. It can be a rewarding experience that helps provide some structure and organization in your life.
Peter Walsh

The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.
Marie Kondo

Is your life currently really busy? What are your spring cleaning tips?
Share in the comments below!

7 spring cleaning tips for busy families

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