Spring cleaning has been a tradition in the US for decades, and historians believe the origin dates back to ancient Jewish practices. Now I will save you a history lesson (If you are interested in the details, you can read this article by Country Living.), and dive right into why spring cleaning can be a refreshing way to kick off the season and how to make this daunting task a little more fun.

With the winter blues behind us, it is time to brighten things up a little bit, but if you are like most of us, then winter brought a lot of grey and dinge. Without being able to open the windows to let the fresh breeze in you, may have noticed a musty smell, or that fireplace that you love so much may have left a little layer of soot on the area surrounding it. Now is the time to let that crisp breeze flow through the house, break out your favorite cleaning products and let the brightness of spring illuminate the house! That may not sound fun, but we promise you and your entire family will be happier and peppier after a deep clean plus, these 3 tips will have you enjoying the process more than you can imagine.

1. Make it a Family Event

   It sounds standard but you can have a lot of fun with making it a family event. Set a date on the calendar, come up with some fun competitions with prizes, and if you want, you can even buy fun t-shirts. Designate zones and whoever completes their zone to the highest of standards wins no chores for a month, or whoever comes up with the best project to tackle and completes it wins their choice of eating out that night. If you have little kids, then encourage them to clean out their old toys, and if they can fill a container full with things to give away you will purchase a toy of their choosing (within a given price range). Making it a household chore sounds boring, but when you make it a healthy competition, then you have some opportunities for great family memories.

2. Purge Purge Purge

   Nothing feels better than getting rid of all the things you have been shoving in closets, attics, and basements. Plus it can bring up some great memories and experiences. Diving into the closet getting rid of clothes you never wear just to stumble upon that blue dress you were wearing when the love of your life asked you to marry them, or that pair of shoes you were wearing when you and your best girlfriend decided to dance the night away in Vegas. Not all the memories you stumble on will be good, but it is very therapeutic to send them to the local thrift store or trash center.

3. Focus on One Space at a Time

   It is easy to get overwhelmed by the big picture, but if you set your sites on one area then you can celebrate the “win” of completing an area multiple times all day. Who does not love to celebrate! Every time you complete a space reward yourself. Maybe it’s a break outside or a bite of your favorite treat. Whatever it is, make it a nice celebration. Also, share your victory with your significant other or a friend. They will be your greatest cheerleader and that will have you back out there pushing to finish another room.

These are only a few tips on making spring cleaning a fun task. It is never fun to think about the chores at hand but with a little creativity, you will have tackled the job and have a feeling of freshness.