How to Avoid Spring Cleaning

We've been posting a lot about spring cleaning lately, from eco-friendly tips and enlightening infographics, to advice on how you can achieve that extreme clean. Now that you've scrubbed, mopped, swept, and donated excess clothing in a yellow bin, you can kick back and revel in the accomplishment of having a neat, organized, and clean space.

But maybe the job was more onerous than you thought? No worries. We assembled tips on how to keep the clean going all year round so that you don't find yourself in too deep a hole next year.

Clean Something Small Everyday

Spring cleaning becomes overwhelming when you realize that every nook and cranny in the house is accumulating filth. Tackling all of it simultaneously can be so daunting that people do a substandard job or give up altogether. Make it a priority to do one small cleaning chore everyday instead of trying to tackle them all at once.

• Dust a couple pieces of furniture while you're watching TV.
• Wipe down the bathroom mirror after brushing your teeth.
• If you're making something for dinner that requires a long cook time, clean the kitchen while you wait. Time will fly and you will be rewarded with a warm meal for your efforts!

Set Limits

Another effective way to reduce the amount of spring cleaning in your household is to reduce the amount of stuff you have in the first place. By constantly asking yourself, "do I really need this?" you will realize just how many of your belongings you can do without.

• Decide how many shirts, pairs of pants, shoes, and other pieces of clothing that you actually need. Go through your closet and remove unnecessary items. You can drop any clothes and shoes that didn't make the cut in a yellow Planet Aid bin.
• It's likely that you have multiple kitchen supplies, electronics, and appliances that serve the same function. No reason to keep duplicates! Just make sure you recycle items instead of throwing them in the trash whenever possible.
• Use storage elements to keep from collecting extraneous things. Designate a large plastic bin, a shelf, or a drawer for a specific category of items, and don't let it overflow.

Stick to a Schedule

Use each month as an opportunity to really focus on one room or section of your house in addition to your normal cleaning routine. Here are some examples of how you can break down your housework:

By room or space in your house
JANUARY	FEBRUARY	MARCH	APRIL
Living room cleanup	Bathroom deep clean	Tackle your closet during the seasonal change	Go through storage spaces
MAY	JUNE	JULY	AUGUST
Enjoy the nice weather while cleaning outdoor spaces	Give the kitchen a good scrubbing	Do a bedroom makeover	Clean the nooks and crannies
SEPTEMBER	OCTOBER	NOVEMBER	DECEMBER
Go at your garage	Revitalize your work space or home office	Prepare the dining room for holiday gatherings	Organize the pantry

By category
JANUARY	FEBRAURY	MARCH	APRIL
Toilets and showers	Kitchen drawers and cabinets	Clothing and bedding	Windows and mirrors
MAY	JUNE	JULY	AUGUST
Electronics	Refrigerator	Baseboards and doors	School/office drawers and cabinets
SEPTEMBER	OCTOBER	NOVEMBER	DECEMBER
Rugs, drapes, etc.	Light fixtures, ceiling fans, light switches, door knobs	Bathroom clutter	Cleaning tools-- dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, etc.

Make it Fun

Cleaning can definitely be fun with the right attitude.

• Find a podcast to entertain you while cleaning. You may even find yourself looking forward to routine cleanups just so you can listen to the next episode.
• Give yourself a reward for an hour of cleaning, like dinner from your favorite take-out place or a Netflix binge.
• Make tidying the house a social endeavor. Strike a deal with a "cleaning buddy" to alternate helping each other tackle chores. Having someone to clean with will not only hold you accountable to follow through, but also make boring tasks much more enjoyable.

For more tips, tricks, and spring cleaning ideas, see the rest of our Spring Cleaning Guide!