The time is here for spring cleaning, but I have to be honest…my house has been out of control for far longer than just the winter. It’s time for an intervention. I love to set goals, but a busy life and unrealistic expectations have caused so many of my goals to fall by the wayside.
When my husband asked me what I love so much about Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, I told him I like that they don’t make it seem like a quick fix. The families on the show “tidy up” for the span of an entire month. I’ve realized that focusing on tidying, cleaning, and decluttering a little bit EVERY DAY is the only way that we are going to reclaim control over our home. So, I took my forever-long to-do list and divided it into a 30-day cleaning challenge.
Remember:
- This is a lifestyle, not a chore.
- Anything that involves your kids’ things can involve your kids’ help!
- Make sure to only focus on the task at hand; don’t get distracted.
- Everyone’s situation is different, so work at the speed you need.
Here’s my 30-day cleaning challenge to myself—I hope you’ll join me!
DAY 1 | Address your closet: purge, donate, store out-of-season pieces. Don’t forget that you can recycle shabby clothes and shoes. Just bag them up and take them to a drop-off bin (there’s one in the parking lot of every school in my neighborhood…).
DAY 2 | Dust all shelves, frames.
DAY 3 | Fridge and freezer: Check expirations, deep clean, and organize.
DAY 4 | Sanitize all light switches in doorknobs in the home (wipe down the doors, while you are at at!).
DAY 5 | Organize bathroom drawers and get rid of old/unused makeup and products.
DAY 6 | Change air filters and wipe all vents.
DAY 7 | What have you been putting off that’s not on this list? Pick your own project!
DAY 8 | Kid clothes: check sizes, donate, recycle, and store out-of-season pieces.
DAY 9 | Wipe down baseboards and fans (and cabinet fronts if you’re feeling energized).
DAY 10 | Pantry: Check expirations and organize.
DAY 11 | Clean microwave, stove, and toaster oven.
DAY 12 | Book and magazine purge. Before tossing anything, think of who in the community could use it: art teachers, your neighborhood Little Free Library, Half Price Books, etc.
DAY 13 | Clean and sanitize all bathrooms.
DAY 14 & 15 | Kid toys: Purge and donate.
DAY 16 | Kitchen cabinets and drawers: edit and organize. Only keep what you use/need. If you have a junk drawer, now is the time.
DAY 17 | Clean interior windows and dust blinds/curtains.
DAY 18 | Medicine cabinet: check expirations and organize.
DAY 19 | Vacuum under sofa/chair cushions and vacuum under furniture.
DAY 20 | Kid shoes: check sizes, donate, recycle, and store.
DAY 21 | Sanitize kitchen counters and sink.
DAY 22 & 23 | Tidy up car and garage.
DAY 24 | Pick a closet (or two!) and organize. Think about totes and luggage, art supplies, gift wrap…any of those types of collections that can get jumbly.
DAY 25 | Sort mail and important documents.
DAY 26 | Clean under all beds.
DAY 27 | Wash bedding and wipe down beds and cribs.
DAY 28 | Mop and vacuum all floors.
DAY 29 | Sort and store sentimental items, including going through your photos. Send some to get printed!
DAY 30 | And you’re done! Use today to make a list of future home projects or anything else you want to tackle in the future (exterior projects maybe??).
I can’t wait to see how the 30-day spring cleaning challenge will change our lives!
{Related: More 30-Day Challenges to Try This Spring}
