Spring Cleaning for People Who Have No Time

It’s April, which means that “Spring Cleaning” season is upon us. Spring Cleaning is one of those things that I absolutely want to have done, but I don’t actually want to do it. And the more I try to educate myself on the matter, the more overwhelmed I get. I search the internet only to find long checklists that I don’t have time to accomplish; videos that inform me of problems that I didn’t even think I had in the first place; and advertisements for niche cleaning products that I don’t actually need. None of this is all that helpful when I’m just trying to start small. So I set out on a mission to make spring cleaning easier and faster. Here is what I found.

5 Tips for Fast & Easy Spring Cleaning

1. Name your priorities.

First of all, please know that you don’t have to do spring cleaning. A clean house is not a moral issue, just a logistical one. And there are many levels of cleanliness in which families can live, survive, and even thrive. Just because you see somebody else cleaning something doesn’t mean that you have to clean it too. (Or at least, not urgently.)

On the other hand, if you want to Spring Clean but you don’t feel like you have the time, think about it this way: You have time. You have 24 hours in a day, just like everyone else. You may, however, have competing priorities. Different people have different priorities, and that’s okay. So it’s not so much a black-and-white question of whether or not you have time. Rather, it’s a gray area of determining how much of a priority Spring Cleaning is to you right now.

I suggest you name your priorities. Last year, I had a newborn baby, a potty-training toddler, a new job, and terminally ill loved-one. Spring Cleaning was absolutely not a priority for me. However, this year, I have more time, and Spring Cleaning is higher on the list.

Maybe Spring Cleaning makes the cut for you this year, or maybe not. But if you can name your priorities, whatever they may be, you can more confidently move forward either towards or away from this task. Then, when you see someone else doing a task that you’re not going to get to this year, you don’t have to worry about it. You named your priorities, and you can be confident that you are using your time the best way for you and your family right now.

2. Scope down.

So Spring Cleaning is a priority? Now it’s time to prioritize some more. Choose a few items that your house needs the most…things that are bugging you, things that have never been done, etc. You can consult a comprehensive Spring Cleaning list from the internet if you really want, but you might be able to do a better job of identifying what your house needs than the cleaning experts. They may know cleaning, but they don’t know your house like you do.

As you narrow down your list, start small. Truly tiny. Like, I’m talking 1 or 2 tasks. You can always do more later, but starting small is key for ensuring the highest priority items get done first.

3. Delegate.

Delegate, delegate, delegate. Ask your partner to do one of the tasks. Ask a friend or family member to do a task with you–not only do you get the benefit of working at twice the speed, but you also get quality time together.

And consider hiring something out if you can. This is not something to feel guilty about! Hiring help for around your house gives you the gift of time, and it supports local businesses. This is a great, great option if you can afford it.

4. Displace recurring tasks.

The only way to make time for something new is to eliminate something else. If you don’t have tons of leisure time to fill, then it needs to be one of your existing activities. Consider displacing something else with a Spring Cleaning task, especially something that is recurring and somewhat “skippable” (but not sleep!).

• Can you skip a daily or weekly cleaning task? Like dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the shower, etc.? Yes, it’s not ideal, but you can pick it back up next time.
• Can you skip a workout? If the cleaning is rigorous, it basically acts as a workout in and of itself. 😉
• Can you reschedule a Date Night for a “Date Project”? Or time with a friend? You can still spend time with your people, but you can work together on your Spring Cleaning task instead.
• Can you watch your favorite TV show or listen to a podcast or audiobook while you do the work? Then instead of crashing on the couch at the end of the night, you can consume your media while getting something done.

Once you decide how you’re going to make time for your Spring Cleaning, put it on the calendar. Time Block it. Don’t just add it to your to-do list, but name when it’s going to get done.

5. Rip off the band-aid.

Once you know what you’re going to do and when you’re going to do it, it’s time to get down to business. Don’t procrastinate. Cleaning tasks are usually undesirable, but the longer you let them sit, the more intimidating they become. The sooner you get it out of the way, the sooner you can rest or move on to other priorities.

A few techniques I like to use to fight cleaning procrastination include:

• Set a timer. Commit to working for a set amount of time (maybe 20 minutes). Often starting is the hardest part. Once you have momentum, you may even feel comfortable to keep going past the original commitment. But if not, that’s fine too! Progress over perfection.
• Set a stopwatch. Time how long it takes you to do something. Not only does this help you be efficient about your work (it’s like racing yourself!), but it also will help you get over the mental barrier of spring cleaning tasks. For example, if you know that vacuuming your car only takes 6 minutes, you’ll be way less likely to procrastinate it in the future!
• Task stack. If you’re already tidying up in one area, it’s easy to fold in a related Spring Cleaning task. For example, wipe down your fridge while you’re cleaning it out and putting away new groceries.
• Make the task enjoyable. As suggested above, do it with someone else. Or watch your favorite TV show or listen to a podcast or audiobook to keep yourself entertained and pass the time more quickly.
• Reward yourself. Treat yourself to something you’ve been wanting once you get your project done. Maybe this is just something small from the pantry. Or maybe it’s something bigger, like a pedicure or a massage. As long as it’s within your boundaries for regular life (ex. budget, diet, etc.), pairing a difficult task with a reward is a great way to motivate yourself.

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Good luck, and happy Spring Cleaning! 🙂