In times past, houses were closed up all winter long. To stay warm, of course, fire was used. As such, the inside of the house became covered with ash and dust. Come springtime, households needed to open up and clear aaaallllll that out. Thank goodness that’s not what spring cleaning means today. Though there still is some truth to opening up our houses to fresh air after a long stretch of cold. Instead, most of us think of spring and freshness and want to freshen up our own living spaces.
Of course, as most of you now know, involved cleaning jobs get much harder with little ones around. And your focus has likely shifted. So what might you need to consider when spring cleaning with kids?
Clothes and toys – It’s amazing how much STUFF we acquire, especially once we have kids. From here on out your mantra will be reduce, reduce, reduce. Here’s a study about how having too many toys can be harmful to kids.
But think about YOU. Toys can overwhelm PARENTS – they clutter your view and your mind, they take energy to avoid stepping on, caring and maintaining toys no one enjoys takes YOUR mental energy.
Clear out without kids around – if they’re younger, it’s easier and will go more quickly. You can make executive decisions about most things and perhaps keep a few things that the children can decide. whether to keep or give. Or ask “Would taking a photo of it make it easier to say goodbye to it?”
Make it a lesson in giving – If your kids are older and you choose to have them involved, look at items and ask “Is there a kid who could get more use out of this now?”
Have a yard sale – Once my kids realized they could get MONEY for their stuff, they were on board. Yard sales also encourage great skills and lessons: giving, marketing, math, and delayed gratification!
Get a fresh start on your approach to general cleaning and chores – Evaluate what’s working for you and what’s not. Is it time to reassign chores to better match your kids’ ages and stages? Is it time to just START having your kids help out more? Is there a task they’re NOT doing well that could use some of your attention? Is it time to introduce the House Fairy?
Make Spring Cleaning a part of a Spring Welcoming – open windows, make iced tea, eat fruit, get flowers. Decorate for 
spring! Plan something special to do or have AFTER the cleaning is done.
Trade days with a friend – either trade babysitting days so each get a day of focused cleaning. OR help each other with a project that will go much faster with help.
Wear that baby – get out that back carrier and get to work, especially if babysitting isn’t really possible.
Take the cleaning to the NEXT Level – Since you’re already busy tackling the house cleaning, why not get the nitty-gritty maintenance jobs out of the way as well? You want your home to be in top shape no matter the time of year, so it’s important to schedule these maintenance checks once or twice a year so you can sleep soundly at night, knowing your home is in optimal condition. Maintenance projects can include having your roof checked for leaks (your kids can help by walking around the house and trying to spot any signs of leakages), cleaning the gutters, or even utilizing the service of your plumbing company in harford county. By getting these things out of the way, you’ll be set for the year ahead and not need to worry about them any longer!
Be realistic – maybe right now you’re more likely to do a Spring Touch Up than a full cleaning. That’s OK. Prioritize and do what you can. Or skip it altogether. Maybe this year you’ll do a Fall Cleaning!
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