Published March 27, 2024

Spring Cleaning Lite: For the Busy Person (and Who Isn’t?!)

Written by Shenandoah Nieuwsma

Spring Cleaning Lite: For the Busy Person (and Who Isn’t?!) header image.

Spring is officially here! And you know what that means: the (dreaded) spring cleaning time has arrived along with it. If you’re a busy bee like us, this is one of those things that brings out your procrastinating or down-right grumpy side. We get it! It takes time and energy to freshen up your spaces.

To help you out, we’ve put together what we like to call our “spring cleaning lite” guide: easy tips and tasks you can do to clean things up a little, plus ways to make the process more manageable and efficient, even when you’re as busy as ever!

Make a Plan. Before diving in, take a few minutes to create a plan for what exactly you want to accomplish with your spring cleaning. Everyone (and every home) needs different things! Identify which areas of your home need the most attention and prioritize tasks accordingly. Then break it down into manageable steps - maybe you do two tasks one weekend and two tasks the next. Whatever feels do-able for you!

Set a Timer & MOVE. Time is a funny thing - it will stretch or shrink to fit the length you think it will take to do a task. So we encourage you to set a timer for 15-30 minutes and focus on cleaning or doing a specific task for that designated time period, with no distractions (yes, that means put your phone away!). You'd be surprised how much you can accomplish in such a short amount of time when you're focused and motivated!

Use Photos for Motivation. One trick I’ve been using recently when I’m depressed about the state of my house is to use photos to get me motivated. I take a picture of a problem area, set a timer for 10 minutes, then take another picture. I can see just how much of a difference I made in 10 minutes, and it helps me to keep going.

Focus on High-Traffic Areas. If you're short on time, focus your efforts on cleaning high-traffic areas like the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms. These parts of your home tend to get dirtier faster and cleaning those will have the biggest impact on the overall look and feel of your home.

Make it more fun! Look for ways to make cleaning more enjoyable - like throwing on feel-good music or listening to a podcast or audiobook (we know you have some saved you’ve been wanting to get around to!). Open the windows too to let some fresh air and sunshine in - your mood will lift almost immediately!

Reward Yourself. Now, this is a tip we can get behind!! When you’re done cleaning, treat yourself to something you enjoy, like a favorite snack, a relaxing bath, or some well-deserved downtime in your freshly cleaned home!

And if all else fails - or you just don’t have time to clean those pesky windows or carpets yourself - get some help!

Don't be afraid to ask for help from family members OR pay professionals to come in and do it for you! That way, you save time and know it will be done well (probably better than you could’ve done yourself!). If you need a few recs for people that can help, we’ve got your back. Below are service providers we recommend to our clients because we’ve either had a great experience with them ourselves or our clients have! So you can rest assured the job will get done well.

If you use someone, please tell them Shenandoah Realty sent you!

Carpet Cleaners:

Spotless Clean and Carpet Care

919-246-5930

spotlesscleancc.com

One of a Kind

David Stiles, 919-251-1887

oneofakindcarpet.com

Windows:

C.E. Creative Glass Design, LLC

Chad Crittendon, 336-350-3212

Rice’s Glass