Make Spring Cleaning a Year-Round Habit

The weather’s turning sunny and it’s the perfect opportunity to clear out your entire house – but if you find yourself feeling daunted by the prospect of a marathon cleaning session, why not plan to make spring cleaning an all-season goal? These steps will help you keep on top of your big cleaning chores from spring all the way to winter, so you spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying the sunshine.

1. Make a list of your big cleaning chores

You probably have a regular cleaning schedule for your counters and floors, but there are parts of your home that don’t get tackled very regularly. Take the time to list out the places you don’t often get to, such as the top of your fridge or the spot behind your toilet. Think about the chores that are more time intensive, such as changing air filters or deep-cleaning your carpets.

2. Track your chores on a yearly schedule

Spring cleaning is a great opportunity to tackle some underserved areas of your home, but it can be overwhelming to tackle everything at once. Instead, spread out the list of your annual or semi-annual cleaning projects so that you only tackle one a month. This way, you don’t get intimidated by your to-do list and you keep a regular eye on the hidden corners of your home, so there are no surprises come spring.

3. Plan your time wisely

An often overlooked part of cleaning is thinking about how much time each task takes. When putting your cleaning schedule together, mixing and matching tasks of different time-intensities will keep things even month to month. Or maybe you expect certain times of the year to be busier than the others, in which case you’ll be able to manage your chore list and time as effectively as possible.

4. Find your favourite way to stay on track

Now that you’ve got yourself organized, you have to stick to your schedule! But making a plan is one thing and sticking to it can be hard after the first couple of months. Be sure to utilize the tracking system that works for you – you might like a wall chart to easily visualize what needs to be done, or a phone calendar with regular notifications. And if rewards keep you on track, then be sure to treat yourself when you cross something off your list!

5. Teamwork makes the dream work

Whether you live with roommates or want to split chores among your kids, having more than one set of hands can make keeping the house clean a breeze. Think about whether it would be better if each person alternated months or if everyone should take a chore – this might be the better option if younger helpers need supervision!

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