When spring finally rolls around this year, families everywhere will be ready to embrace the season and all it has to offer: sunny days, higher temperatures and finally getting back outside.
But a long winter means your home has some serious spring cleaning needs, which can cause serious stress when one person – Mom – has to handle it by herself.
Sixty-two percent of mothers handle all household chores, according to a recent Roper study. And on average, moms spend more than 14 hours per week cleaning and maintaining the home.
“Family cooperation is key,” says Alison Gutterman, mother of two and president of Jelmar, maker of CLR cleaning products. “If you share the responsibility for chores, they’ll not only get done faster, but there will be less stress for the whole family.”
Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to create a chore-sharing plan before your flock flies the coop. Create a rotating schedule of chore assignments so no one gets stuck cleaning the toilet each time. But most of all, keep these simple spring cleaning tips in mind so doing “the chores” doesn’t have to be a chore.
* Organize: Group rooms that need sprucing up into “sectors” that use similar products and methods to help break up your to-do list and tackle projects quickly.
* Prioritize: If cleaning the garage has been neglected for years, chances are it’s not a priority. Save those tough jobs until you get through the rooms you know have to get done.
* Quick refresh: Have guests coming today? If you don’t have time for a deep clean, quickly freshen up each room by spraying fabric softener on drapes and curtains, and toss the pillows and couch covers in the dryer with a dryer sheet.
* Use cleaning multi-taskers: Maintaining that huge supply of specialized cleaners under the sink is a waste of time and space – look for products that can tackle three or four jobs instead of just one. For example, CLR Bath & Kitchen Cleaner cleans caked-on grime from ceramic tile, shower doors, toilet bowls, kitchen counter tops and more with just a spray and swipe.
* Create a finish line: Cleaning can go on forever if you let it. By establishing some cleaning goals before you start, you can manage your time and know when to say “enough’s enough.” Once you’re done, get back to enjoying the season and your family.
Summer is the biggest moving time for Americans, according to Moving.com. With low housing prices continuing and the recent first-time homebuyers credit that ended in June, plenty of Americans will be unpacking boxes in new homes this summer and fall.
