Spring Cleaning Tips

My Mother-in-law is visiting in three weeks, and my house is in desperate need of a spring cleaning. I don’t know where to begin, and I’m feeling so unmotivated. Any advice?

Is it surface level stuff or are you talking about deep cleaning of closets and piles of stuff? In other words, what’s the scope of what you’re trying to accomplish? How long will she be around and is she nosey (will she look in closets, basements, etc.?

The house isn’t cluttered, but more dirty- I know that sounds gross. Closets and drawers could use a straightening. Im not sure how nosy she is.

Can you afford to hire a Merry Maids type outfit to come in and get it done in one fell swoop?

You could then focus your energies on straightening as opposed to cleaning. The nice thing about hiring it out is being able to have a house that is totally clean top to bottom right before your MIL arrives.

Also, enlist any family members by doling out tasks to them. It shouldn’t fall just on you.

Hiring Merry Maids sounds so nice. I was thinking about hiring someone to do the windows, they are really dingy. I’ll definitely think about the possibility of hiring help. And you are right- the kids can help too.

And your husband, after all, it’s his mother! :smiley:

Yes, he is definitely available on the weekends, but He may need to be yard work guy. :wink:

If I’m doing some basic cleaning and don’t want to or don’t have time to turn the house completely upside down here’s what I’d do:

  • surface declutter - room by room, get rid of table clutter, piles on floors, etc. At least public rooms.
  • start at the top. Get a broom or long duster and run it along all ceiling edges and ceiling/wall corners to get cobwebs.
  • clean bathrooms: shower/bathtub, toilets, mirrors, floor/baseboards
  • dust all other furniture with Method wood cleaner or similar
  • clean all floors - thorough vacuum or sweep/wash WELL.
  • bucket of soapy water and a rag to clean all baseboards.

Also if time:

  • spend a little time in the kitchen - clear clutter and WASH all countertops. Clean out and refrigerator and wash down.
  • whatever is your main entry from outside. Hang a pretty wreath and put a hanging basket or pot of flowers out.

Finally, put a couple extra touches in the room she will stay in - if she is staying overnight.

Is that too much???

My mother-in-law is staying a few days. Thanks for the tips! I need a place to start and this sounds like a good strategy. I don’t think it is too much, this sounds about right for spring cleaning. I will try to get to the first floor windows as well.

If it’s me - who hardly ever pays for someone else to do housework for me - pay someone to do the windows!!! :slight_smile:

Sometimes “getting ready” for the hired house cleaners is itself a problem. When you hire them, you could just have them clean certain rooms or the first floor the first time and then clean the whole house the second time.

When I’m spring cleaning, I clean every surface. So all woodwork is wiped down. Every knick knack is cleaned by either dusting, using windex, or washing. Whatever is appropriate for the item. I’ve been known to take a bunch of things to the driveway and then hose them down. (Stoneware, silk plants, etc.)

Furniture is dusted on all vertical surfaces as well as horizontal surfaces. Sometimes a toothbrush is used for corners or small spaces dust collects.

Picture frames are dusted and glass fronts are windexed. Be careful to use minimal windex so it doesn’t seep behind the glass.

Lamps are completely dusted, including lightbulb, and shades are vacuumed.

All upholstered furniture is vacuumed including under the cushions and the pillows.

Carpet or floors are completely cleaned, including behind and/or under furniture.

Even though I think I keep my house clean, it’s amazing how much cleaner the room looks when I do this. I believe I’m the only one who notices, though, but I do it for me.

Also, since you are overwhelmed by the thought of getting ready, give yourself permission to only work 15 minutes. Set the timer. When it goes off, you completed your goal. But if you feel like working a little longer, go ahead.

But it’s so much easier to get started if you know you only have to work a short time.

Yes, procrastination is definitely part of the problem. Just getting started, even if it is only for 15 minutes sounds like a good idea.

I do a lot of my chores in 15-20 minute intervals. It bores me but I can stand anything when I break it down into small time increments. And then it’s kind of fun, like beat the clock. It’s amazing how much you can crank out in that timeframe when you go full throttle because you know you can take a break when the timer goes off!

“Sometimes “getting ready” for the hired house cleaners is itself a problem.”

I think of it more as a blessing because it gives me an incentive and deadline for clearing off surfaces and de-cluttering.

When working FT and with two small children, I found a cleaning person who came in 3 hours every Friday and did a great job. Back then my home was picked up and not cluttered; and it helped me keep it uncluttered and every week I was ready for her to come in. Freed us up to do other chores/tasks over the weekend, or just enjoy doing things with the family.

If I return to FT work, I definitely will try to get where I was and find someone to do the cleaning. I know housekeeping people who work FT for institutions, and would gladly love to earn some extra $$.

Some strategies for motivation…

-Reward yourself. “When I’ve finished a room I get to eat ice cream/watch a half hour of bad TV/spend 20 minutes on CC.”

-Make a game out of it. “Can I finish cleaning the fridge before hubby gets home? Can I throw out 50 items in the next hour? How much can I get done before hubby gets out of the shower?” It’s meaningless but getting a little competitive can distract you from the cleaning.

-Put on music. Loud music no one else in your family likes. Sing your heart out. It helps keep you going and makes cleaning feel less like drudgery.

-Watch an episode of “Hoarders.” Seriously, it will disgust you so much you’ll want to do nothing but clean for the next 3 hours.

-Set manageable goals. You don’t need to think of this as cleaning the house, just one tiny piece of it. Once you get that one piece done you’ll feel good about yourself and it will be easier to do the next.

-Set a time limit. Tell yourself you only have to clean for 20 minutes before you get a break or you only have to clean for 30 minutes an hour.

-Combine strategies. “If I can get more than a half hour’s work done during this episode of Hoarders I’ll get Starbucks.”

Good luck. You’ve inspired me to follow my own advice and get some deep cleaning done! :smiley:

Hire a company to clean the windows.
Hire a company to do a deep clean of the house.
Hire a lawncare company to clean up the yard.

Before any of them arrive to work, buy some rubbermaid 18 gallon (or whatever size and brand you can find) totes with lids. BE SURE they are NOT the kind you can see through. (nobody should see what is in there without opening them.

Take a day and brutally clear out all the clutter that is in sight: everything that is out on countertops, on tables, displayed, etc. Put it all in the totes.

After the window and maid service have cleaned everything, replace a few items (be sure they are clean and dusted), but not everything. Store the totes, neatly stacked, in a corner of your basement or garage, or wherever you have storage space.

Straighten out a few kitchen drawers and cupboards at might be opened. Clean out the drawers and/ or storage spece in the bathrooms she might expect to use.

“Fluff” the bedroom she will use.

That should get you through a visit, and give you a good start to keep things clean moving forward. Before you replace any of the stored items question whether to keep them or not.

Find a window washer and get on his list today for the week she will be arriving. If you are on a budget have him skip the windows on the north side. Your MIL will notice bathrooms, refrigerators (inside and out), crumbs in the silverware drawer and the lack of a kleenex box in the guest bedroom and guest bathroom. Open up the closet she will be using and let it air out for a few days and don’t forget a tiny bouquet of flowers for her room.

Make a list and tell the kids that they need to help AND as a special treat they get to each pick their own 5 chores:)

How did you know about my silverware with toast crumbs in it? I’m going to clean it right now-first 15 minute chore. Thanks for the inspiration everyone.