Spring is a time of rebirth and has long been recognized as a time for fresh starts. Spring is also a time when many people find motivation to clean and refresh after a long winter inside. According to Psychology Today, cleaning can give people a sense of control over their environment which can decrease stress and improve motivation. They also found that for each hour of cleaning per week there is a 53% boost in happiness. Decluttering is also an important part of spring cleaning. Multiple studies find that too much clutter can negatively impact mental health. Eliminating clutter can relieve stress and improve one’s mood. Psychology aside, spring cleaning often just feels good and according to Forbes, a whopping 80% of households partake in this!
Make this year’s spring cleaning a family affair by getting everyone involved. Here are some pointers for making spring cleaning a fun and productive activity for your family.
1. Find the Time. This is often the biggest struggle for busy families. Finding one day or weekend to dedicate to spring cleaning is ideal. However, if you can’t find a solid day to get this done, spend a couple hours each weekend to dedicate to the effort. Tackle a few tasks each weekend until your cleaning is complete.
2. Make it rewarding. Before you start, talk to your children about something fun your family can do when all the cleaning has been done. If you have small children, you may want to decide on some smaller rewards that can be motivating for them.
3. Make a list. Write down all the tasks you want to complete in your spring cleaning overhaul. Go through the list and assign duties to each family member. The smaller kids will probably need to be supervised so pair them up with someone who can help them.
4. Gather the supplies. Get all your cleaning supplies and put them out. Make sure there are gloves and some kid-friendly tools for the little ones. Give your children a small tutorial on how to use the supplies to complete each task.
5. Get to work. Demonstrate the proper way to complete each task. Praise your children when you see them doing it correctly and give them corrective feedback when they need it. As the tasks are complete, have the family member who completed put a check near it with their initials. When a task is checked off, this would be a great time to give those smaller children a little reward or treat.
6. Take frequent breaks. Make sure everyone takes breaks frequently to get outside for fresh air, rehydrate or refuel with a snack.
7. Have a cleaning scavenger hunt. Hide small prizes throughout the house for people to find as they clean. You could hide candy, small amounts of money or other prizes. Tell everyone beforehand that they may find a prize along the way. Watch their motivation factor increase by
8. Make tasks fun with games. Make it a friendly competition to see who can finish their task first, making sure they do a good job. Going through old clothes? Make it into a fashion show to see if they still like the clothes.
9. Decluttering goals. Set a goal when going through old toys, clothes and other items. Tell everyone they must find at least 10 items to donate. Have a lot to give away? You could give an extra incentive by telling them the person who donates the most items, will win a prize.
10. Enjoy! Now that you are finished, enjoy the benefits of your clean home! Also, take the time to schedule your family activity that you set as a reward in the beginning. As you do the activity, soak up those precious moments you get with your family!
Sources:
Psychology Today. Franchell Richard-Hamilton M.D. Why Spring Cleaning Is Good for Your Health. Four health benefits of spring cleaning. Posted April 5, 2022
Forbes. Terri Williams. 80% of Households are Spring Cleaning. Here’s How to Make it Easier. Posted March 26, 2024
