Some people like to spread out their spring cleaning. They do a couple of hours here, a weekend there, and it never gets done.
Cleaning isn’t fun. But much like dinner with the in-laws, it’s sometimes necessary (and you probably want to knock it over as quickly as possible so you can get back to living your gosh darn life).
If you’d rather rip the band-aid off when it comes to spring cleaning, follow this plan of attack to complete your tasks in one day. Because at least half the weekend should be fun*, right?
*Fun is subjective and might include activities such as petting your dog, kicking a ball, or eating pizza in bed.
Gather Your Supplies
The night before the big day, gather all your cleaning supplies in a bucket ready to rock. You don’t want to be wasting time hunting down those rubber gloves – a bit of preparation will save you time scrambling for your cleaning stuff on the day.
Some of the cleaning supplies you need might include:
- Feather duster or microfibre cloths
- Sponges
- Tea towels
- Scrubbing brush for bathroom and oven
- Multipurpose household spray
- Glass and window spray
- Oven cleaner
- Vacuum
- Wet mop
- Bucket
- Rubber gloves.
Make a List of Jobs
Knowing where to start can be half the battle. Another easy way to save time come cleaning day is to make a list of all the chores you want to get done. This way, you’ll have some guidance and a plan instead of feeling overwhelmed.
It might look a little something like this:
| Kitchen | Bathroom | Lounge Room | Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove out-of-date items from fridge | Scrub toilet | Wipe dust off ceiling fans | Wipe dust off ceiling fans |
| Clean oven range hood | Scrub shower and bath | Dust and wipe down all surfaces | Wash and replace all bedding |
| Wipe down cupboards and benches | Wipe down vanity sink and bench | Clean windowsills and windows | Dust and wipe down all surfaces |
| Scrub oven and stovetop | Clean mirrors | Wash cushion covers and rugs | Clean windowsills and windows |
| Clean exhaust fan grates | Clean exhaust fan grates | Wipe down TV and other electronics with microfibre cloth | Clean mirrors |
| Vacuum and mop | Vacuum and mop | Vacuum | Vacuum |
Motivate Your Helpers
While inspirational quotes will tell you you can do anything you set your mind to, you probably can’t complete an entire home’s spring cleaning in one day on your own.
Recruit your team members (your partner, kids, neighbours, Shirley from the office) and find a way to motivate them. This might mean turning the day into a tournament, using challenges, games, or even a scoring system to make cleaning more fun (and a little bit competitive).
Add a prize or two to keep everyone going. For example, the person with the cleanest room might get to choose what’s for dinner!
Assign a Room to Each Helper
Make the most of having a few sets of hands on board by assigning a room to each helper. Give each person a list of tasks to complete in their room to ensure it’s done thoroughly. Or if you’re using a table like our previous example, colour-code it based on who’s responsible for each column.
Spray and Walk Away
Kitchens and bathrooms are prone to some pretty stubborn build-up, whether it’s grease, grime, or soap-scum. Forget scrubbing away at those tough spots; let your cleaning products soak in for 10 minutes before you pull out the scrubbing brush or cloth. Use this 10 minutes to do other jobs, like putting on a load of laundry. This should make them much easier to clean, and require less elbow-grease.
Clean Top to Bottom
Nothing wastes time like double-handling. If you do the floors first, you’ll end up having to go back over them once you’ve dusted and wiped down the other surfaces in the room. Always clean from top to bottom to avoid dirtying freshly cleaned surfaces. Don’t forget the fan blades!
Reward Yourself
Whether it’s chocolate, wine or a night on the town, having a reward to look forward to will give you and your helpers incentive to smash your spring cleaning in one burst of energy. Treat. Yo. Self.
Too busy to dedicate a whole day to your spring cleaning? Check out our spring cleaning guide for busy parents to find out how you can fit a clean home into your hectic schedule.
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