When I think about spring cleaning, I have mixed emotions. On one side, there’s the joy and hope of flowers, beautiful weather, and a cleaner house.  On the other side, I feel frustrated that I must clean the house yet again. Why doesn’t it just stay clean? It all comes down to the concept of entropy. 

Entropy is a fancy word that describes how messy everything gets. This is because everything in the universe wants to be as disorganized as possible, which means that things will naturally spread out and become more disordered over time. When we clean our homes, we’re essentially reducing entropy by putting things in their place, wiping surfaces, and removing dirt and dust. However, over time, everything naturally start to get messy again. That means cleaning is an ongoing process that we have to do to keep our living spaces tidy. Reminding myself about entropy makes me feel better when my home gets messy.

As a busy parent, finding the time and energy to keep things clean and organized can be challenging. But by recognizing that cleaning is an ongoing process, we can approach it with a sense of acceptance and appreciation for the effort it takes to maintain a tidy home. With that in mind, here are some tips to help make spring cleaning more manageable and enjoyable for you and your family.

Make a plan

Before you begin, take some time to make a realistic plan. Decide which areas of your home need the most attention and make a list of the tasks that need to be completed. This will help you stay focused and organized as you clean. 

Get the whole family involved

Spring cleaning doesn't have to be a one-person job. Get your family involved and turn it into a fun activity. Assign tasks to each family member and make it a competition to see who can clean the fastest or who can do the best job. See this video on how we divide up tasks as a family. 

Declutter

One of the biggest challenges of spring cleaning is dealing with clutter. Start by going through each room or closet and getting rid of things that you no longer need or use. You can donate items to charity or sell them online. Decluttering will make your home feel more spacious and organized.

Set a timer

Cleaning can be overwhelming, but setting a timer for each task can help you stay on track. It can also help you avoid burnout and keep you motivated. Set the timer for 15-20 minutes and see how much you can get done in that time. Take a short break before moving on to the next task.

Clean room by room or project by project

Rather than trying to clean your entire home all at once, try cleaning one room at a time. You can also work on smaller projects like organizing the linen closet, the pantry, or your kids’ clothes. Tackling one task at a time will help you stay motivated and focused. And don’t feel like every room in your house has to be perfectly clean all at the same time; after all, it will just get messy again anyway! 

Get creative with storage

If you're struggling to find space for all your belongings, get creative with storage. Use baskets, shelves, and other organizational tools to maximize your space. You can also use hidden storage, such as storage containers that slide under the bed. Focus on organizational fixes that will help you keep things in their place long term. For example, my husband and I just finished assembling new storage and filing systems for our home offices that will help us keep our paperwork organized. 

Make it fun

Spring cleaning doesn't have to be a chore. Make it fun by playing music, dancing, or setting up a reward system for yourself and your family. For example, you can treat yourself to your favorite dessert after you finish cleaning a room. Celebrate your progress and enjoy the process.

Don't be too hard on yourself

Remember that spring cleaning is a process, and it's okay if you don't get everything done in one day. Spread the work out over several days or weekends as needed. Take breaks when you need to, and don't be too hard on yourself if you don't meet all your cleaning goals. 

As we’ve seen, spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By making a plan, getting your family involved, decluttering, cleaning room by room, and making it fun, you can make spring cleaning more manageable and enjoyable. So put on some music, grab a timer, and get ready to welcome the new season with a fresh, clean home.