There is something about the turn of the seasons that makes me want to get my home in tip-top shape. With the holidays upon us, life starts to get busy for our family like I’m sure it does yours too! It’s so nice to go into all the holiday craziness with a home that’s ready to host family gatherings and holiday get-togethers.
I really try to do a little more deep cleaning in my home a few times each year. As the seasons change seems to be a great time to get these semi-annual tasks accomplished. However, it can be overwhelming trying to remember all the tasks that need to be completed. And the time it can take from our already busy lives can make us want to forget it all together.
But there are a few things I do to simplify my seasonal cleaning tasks around my home so I can accomplish it all and enjoy more time with my family and friends.
1. I keep my to-do list short.
Here’s the deal. There is ALWAYS going to be more you can do around your home. Everything isn’t always going to be done at the same time. And that’s okay.
I pick the most important tasks in each room and keep my to-do list short.
2. I minimize my cleaning supplies.
While there are literally thousands of cleaning products on the market, I try to keep my supplies simple. For most of my deep cleaning, I prefer to use my general purpose eCloths and water. I find this is the best way to clean most surfaces including light fixtures, ceiling fans, baseboards, walls, cabinets, appliances, and furniture.
Whether you make your own cleaning products, use simple eCloths and water like me, or just stick with the basics, keeping your supplies simple and minimal will help you as you work your way around your home.
3. I work quickly and set a timer.
My time is limited, but sometimes I come across small chunks of time that I can either waste away looking at my phone (please tell me I’m not the only one!) or I can get to work and get something done!
I like to use the timer on my phone and set it for 10-20 minutes. I work quickly and get as much done as I can in the time frame. When the timer goes off it’s usually time for me to move onto something else. And that’s okay. I’m making use of the time I do have.
This is probably my biggest secret weapon when it comes to cleaning my home. Using little chunks of time throughout the day to get stuff done is the easiest way to maintain a clean home on a regular basis. Because I don’t know many people who can dedicate several hours each week to housework! Do you?!
4. I work one task at a time.
In the past, I’ve tried to finish an entire room before moving onto the next. But for some reason an entire room seems to overwhelm me. And when I can’t get the entire thing done, I don’t even want to start. Can you relate?
Instead, I try to work one task at a time. I might not be able to deep clean my living room in 20 minutes, but I can probably clean all of the ceiling fans in my house (we have 4) in 20 minutes or less and mark that task off my to do list.
5. I’m not strict with my schedule.
I’ve seen some really creative checklists that give you certain tasks to do each day of the week for a few weeks. They look wonderful, but they just don’t work for me. My life doesn’t flow with that strict of a schedule.
Instead, I make a short to-do list for my home. I work when I can and try to get things done as quickly as possible. It might take me a week to get all of the cleaning done. It might take me a month. That’s okay. Life happens. Kids get sick. Sports and activities get thrown into the mix. School lets out early. You decide to go hiking on Saturday instead of clean. All of these things are much more important than a clean home.
6. I do what I can and leave the rest.
While I do make a to-do list of cleaning tasks I hope to accomplish during any given season, I’m not rigid about getting everything done. I know which ones NEED to be done and try to do those first. But every single time I’ve done seasonal cleaning, there are tasks I just never get around to doing. And that’s okay. Because cleaning something is better than cleaning nothing. And because there are more important things in life than a perfectly clean home.
I hope you’ve found some inspiration to simplify your seasonal cleaning this year. Don’t forget to head over to the eCloth website and grab some general purpose cloths to get you started on your seasonal cleaning this fall.
Looking for a printable Fall Cleaning Checklist? I’ve got you covered. Head over to this post where you can grab the link to download your copy for free!
Debbie A Cash says
I love the dusting glove you are wearing to clean the ceiling fan. What a great idea! Where can I purchase one??
Kaitlin says
Thanks! It’s made by eCloth and works great! I got mine from their website. You can find it at http://www.thesimplyorganizedhome.com/ecloth.
Amanda Siceloff says
Hi! I was wondering if you will be doing a Budget Binder for 2020?
Kaitlin says
Yes! The 2020 Budget Binder will be released in mid-November. 🙂