March 20 officially marked the start of Spring, which means the approach of annual spring cleaning habits is inevitable. We put together our top tips for making spring cleaning as easy as possible!

Break It Down & Make A Schedule

Spring cleaning can seem like an insurmountable behemoth of a task. The best way to start is by making a list and breaking down your tasks into small bites. Split up your tasks room by room and determine a schedule. If the thought of spending a full day cleaning makes your skin crawl, establish attainable goals. Start with just 20 minutes per day cleaning - set a timer, start cleaning, and when the timer goes off, stop. Chances are when the timer stops, you’ll have enough motivation to keep going anyway.

De-Clutter & Donate

It’s okay to let go of your junior high cheer t-shirts or the fortieth drawing of dinosaurs from your kid. Your aunt will never know if that well-intentioned but misinformed birthday gift from three years ago ends up at the thrift store. Give yourself permission to let go. If you have boxes of letters dating back to 2006 that are taking over your home office, digitize them and say goodbye - all you have to do is take a picture to keep the memory forever and move on. Set aside items in decent condition to take to your local thrift store or homeless shelter - those less fortunate will be grateful to take the clutter off your hands, and you'll be grateful for the extra space!

Be Mindful of Your Limits

Give yourself a break every once in a while, and check-in with your mind and body. If that back injury from a decade ago starts flaring up, take a rest for a while. If stirring up dust is triggering your allergies, stop and take a shower to start fresh, free of allergens. If you can only devote 20 minutes a day to cleaning, make the most of that, and give yourself a pat on the back for making it that far - even the smallest accomplishments are worth celebrating.

Simplify your Cleaning Products

Unless you’re living in a house that should have its own special on TLC, you don’t need a different specialty product for each individual cleaning task. Invest in one good multi-purpose cleaner and some microfiber cloths - this will cover the cleaning for the majority of surfaces in your home. Not having to remember which spray is used on which surface will fast-track your cleaning success.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Humans are not solitary creatures, and there is no shame in needing help. Engage the other folks in your household to pitch in where they can. Many hands make light work! If there are children in your household, you can incentivize cleaning work with prizes or allowance (hot tip: this also works to incentivize cleaning for unmotivated adults). It’s okay if you can’t do it alone, and it’s a display of strength to ask for help when you need it.

Maybe you have some messes in your home that some Windex and a broom won’t fix… or maybe your family is ready for a home that better suits your needs. In these instances where spring cleaning as a solution just won’t cut it, Sunrise is here to help. Contact our New Homes Specialists today to learn how you can get started on your dream home.