Spring cleaning

Take a slow spring clean.  

We live in a world obsessed with hustle and bustle. We want everything to be done quickly and efficiently, especially our household chores and spring cleaning. I am so one of them.

This year, however, I am going to make my spring cleaning a slow cleaning – a more mindful approach to preparing our homes for the warmer months that prioritises spring cleaning without getting overwhelmed rather than quick.

There are many benefits for both your home and your mind.

What is slow cleaning?

The practice of slow cleaning is one where you don’t focus on cleaning everything as fast as you can to tick it off your spring cleaning checklist, but rather take your time and enjoy the process while you clean. Removing the pressures off ourselves, however, still creates the desired results.

By doing this slow approach you can make it more mindful or use it as a time for practising gratitude, it can certainly help to make the experience more relaxing and enjoyable – especially when dealing with the most forgotten spring cleaning dirt spots.

Here are four ways to use slow cleaning.

1. Try one task a day

You might have heard of the different day, different room housekeeping tip, but how about the one-task, one-day schedule to tackle your spring-cleaning checklist?

The one cleaning method I use is to perform one small cleaning task a day. This ensures that things don’t build up over time and you’re left with a mess that can cause anxiety and seem far more overwhelming. Break up your cleaning over the week,  so that you focus on one thing per day.

2. Make it a mindful exercise

If you want to create a more mindful home and lifestyle, your spring-cleaning routine is a great place to start, instead of viewing cleaning as a chore, approach it with a sense of intention.

Put on some calming music, light a scented candle, and focus on the satisfaction of creating a clean and organised space. Don’t push yourself too hard. Listen to your body and take breaks when needed. A clean space should support your well-being, not hamper it.

3. Focus on mindful decluttering

Decluttering can be stressful, but there is a great benefit to having fewer items cluttering up counters and cabinets.

The best way to stay on top of things is to have less clutter. By getting rid of things around the house that you don’t use, you’ll have more space and less cleaning to do. Once you’ve done this, you’ll have more time to focus on the important things around your house and ensure that they are always clean and that your rooms are clutter-free.

4. Try the Pomodoro method

Whether you are looking to spring clean your house in one day or are spreading a series of tasks over a few weeks, using something like the Pomodoro timer can ensure that you take frequent breaks to avoid wearing yourself out.

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It uses a kitchen timer to break work into intervals, typically 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks.

For example, set an intention to clear the kitchen set a timer for 25mintues, when it rings stop and rest for 5 minutes then reset repeating this maybe in blocks of 4. Which end up taken 100 minutes of active cleaning time. If you do this once a week, in about a month you’ll see an incredible transformation of your home.

When preparing for spring cleaning, considering a slow cleaning approach from the beginning will help you plan your tasks to ensure you do not miss anything. Even noting down all the areas to do however best work for you room by room or more detailed.

Spring cleaning is a man-made concept and do what is right for you, your times scale and abilities. Get others to help too, let’s make it more fun and enjoyable.   

Want to learn more about decluttering, tidying and organising read this blog too read it here.

If you want more help and support on organising, decluttering, please reach out Contact me