Are you overwhelmed by the thought of even starting your spring cleaning? What spring cleaning means and what you think you should do this spring are probably totally different.
Let’s find your spring cleaning motivation without the overwhelm and take the pressure off from doing it perfectly.
These easy spring cleaning tips are going to show you how to spring clean without the overwhelm. Spring cleaning motivation doesn’t come from waiting until you feel ready to tackle something. It comes from starting a small task even when you feel overwhelmed by cleaning.
As busy moms there is always something to do, but taking it slow and adding in a few small items at a time and your spring cleaning will be done in no time. If you are struggling with cleaning because you feel like your home is too messy to clean, start with one task at a time.
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Stop Trying To Do All Your Spring Cleaning At Once
One of the biggest reasons spring cleaning feels overwhelming is because we think it has to be done all at once.
Somewhere along the way, we picked up the idea that spring cleaning means deep cleaning the entire house in one weekend. Every cupboard emptied. Every skirting board scrubbed. Every drawer reorganised.
No wonder you feel overwhelmed before you even begin.
Instead of creating a giant checklist that makes you want to give up, focus on building a simple spring cleaning plan that actually fits your real life. A simple spring cleaning schedule for busy moms is going to make all the difference.
A realistic spring cleaning schedule does not mean blocking out eight hours on a Saturday. It means looking at the time you genuinely have and working with that.
For example, a simple week might look like this:
- Monday: Wipe down kitchen cupboard fronts
- Tuesday: Declutter one bathroom drawer
- Wednesday: Wash bedding and rotate mattresses
- Thursday: Clear one kitchen counter and only put back what belongs there
- Friday: Vacuum under sofa cushions
That is it.
Five small tasks across five days. No marathon cleaning session. No burnout.
This is how you avoid spring cleaning burnout while still getting your home deep cleaned over time.
If you need ideas for manageable tasks, you can browse these easy spring cleaning tips to choose one small job at a time. And if you are refreshing wardrobes as the seasons change, swapping clothes out seasonally is a perfect example of a focused spring task that makes a big difference without overwhelming you.
Spring cleaning motivation grows when your plan feels achievable. When your schedule fits into your life, you are far more likely to follow through.
The goal is not speed. The goal is consistency.
Cleaning Tools For Spring Cleaning
If you are looking for the tools you will need to do your spring cleaning here are my suggestions:
The 10 Minute Cleaning Method For Instant Motivation
Sometimes you need motivation to even start your cleaning. I get it, you’re tired. The last thing you want to do is clean. But, motivation only kicks in once you have actually started.
So, setting up cleaning sessions that last just 10 minutes will give you the satisfaction of getting started and completing the task too.
Each quick win builds momentum and helps you rebuild the habit of taking action. Often, our habits are built around not taking action and then adding on the pressure that you are lazy or not good enough. That kind of self-talk makes it even harder to start.
But, all you have done is create bad habits, not doing the tasks you planned. If you need more information on habits you really need to read Atomic Habits by James Clear. He really digs into habit stacking and the idea that action creates the motivation you need to start.
Start With What Bothers You The Most
When it comes to any cleaning, I hate a dirty floor, it bugs me so much that I go against every advice out there and always start with the floor. A quick vacuum and it looks better and this allows me to tackle the other areas in that room before finishing off with the floor again.
Tackle the visual things first, things that you can see. Clear any visible clutter first. This gives you instant visual satisfaction and momentum.
I don’t start in the guest bedroom because it’s rarely used. I tackle those high impact areas first before moving on to the areas in my home that are less frequented.
It could be:
- Floors, like mine
- Laundry
- Kitchen Counters
- Dishes
- Bathroom sink
There are plenty of places you can choose to start. The easiest room to start your spring cleaning is the kitchen, it’s a place that you probably spend a lot of time in and it’s easy to slip in a small cleaning task.
Don’t forget your garage when you are spring cleaning, there are some great garage organization ideas here.
Choose One Spring Cleaning Task At A Time
The goal is not to pile more onto your plate. You already have enough to think about.
Trying to tackle multiple spring cleaning tasks at once might feel productive, but it usually has the opposite effect. When you jump between jobs, your focus is split and everything starts to feel harder than it needs to be.
I’ve been listening to The Mindset Mentor podcast by Rob Dial, it’s available on YouTube too. He talks a lot about the importance of focusing on one task at a time. When your brain is constantly switching between tasks, it drains your energy and makes it harder to stay consistent. That is exactly what happens when you try to declutter a drawer, deep clean the oven, reorganise a cupboard, and sort laundry all in the same afternoon.
Instead, choose one simple spring cleaning task and finish it before moving on.
That might look like:
- Cleaning just the skirting boards in one room
- Decluttering one kitchen drawer
- Washing and rotating bedding
- Wiping down all the light switches in your home
- Deep cleaning the bathroom sink
Notice how each one is specific and contained.
You are already doing daily cleaning. You are washing dishes, wiping counters, picking things up. Spring cleaning should not feel like doubling your workload. It should feel like adding one focused task to your normal routine.
This is how you create a manageable cleaning routine instead of overwhelming yourself with a massive spring cleaning checklist.
If you need ideas for small, focused jobs, these easy spring cleaning tips break tasks down into realistic chunks that are easy to fit into your week.
The key is simple. One task. One focus. One win.
And once that one task is done, you can stop without guilt.
Motivation Boosters That Actually Help
If you’re waiting to feel motivated before you start, you might be waiting a long time.
The truth is simple. Motivation usually comes after you begin, not before. But there are small things you can do to make starting feel easier and to keep yourself going once you’ve begun.
Here are a few simple motivation boosters that actually work.
Listen to music
Music can instantly shift your mood. Put on something upbeat and let it carry you through the task. Instead of focusing on how much you don’t want to clean, you’re focusing on the song. Before you know it, you’ve made progress without overthinking it.
Play your favourite podcast
A good podcast works in the same way. It gives your brain something interesting to focus on while your hands get on with the job. This is especially helpful if you struggle with cleaning motivation because it stops you dwelling on the task itself.
Open a window
Fresh air can completely reset how you feel. A cooler breeze can wake you up and give you a burst of energy. Even five minutes of fresh air can make a room feel lighter and make the task feel less overwhelming.
Set a timer for 5 minutes
If 10 minutes feels like too much, start with five. Tell yourself you only have to clean until the timer goes off. Most of the time, once you’ve started, you’ll want to keep going. Even if you don’t, five minutes is still progress.
This works especially well if you pair it with a small, focused routine. For example, your daily bathroom cleaning routine is a great reminder that keeping on top of one small area consistently prevents it from turning into a huge spring cleaning job later. Spring cleaning doesn’t always mean doing more. Sometimes it means doing small things more consistently.
Clean virtually alongside a friend
Cleaning alongside someone else, even virtually, can make a huge difference. Whether it’s a video call, a voice note check-in, or even messaging each other before and after, accountability helps you take action.
It’s not about doing everything perfectly. It’s about getting moving.
When you combine one small task with one simple motivation booster, you make spring cleaning feel manageable instead of exhausting. And once you’ve started, momentum begins to build.
Realistic Spring Cleaning For Busy Moms
When clean is good enough, that is enough. An Instagram perfect home all the time simply isn’t realistic. Your home is lived in, it’s not going to be picture perfect all the time.
Done is so much better than perfect, progress no matter how small counts on all fronts. What is important is that you celebrate your successes.
It’s so easy to get burnt out, trying to do all the cleaning and adding in to the mix all the soring cleaning too, you are heading for disaster. The concept I follow allows you to clean without the burn out by setting realistic spring cleaning goals and plans.
A Simple Micro Spring Cleaning Plan
It’s not about perfection or even doing everything in one go, It’s not about perfection… it’s about making progress.
Spring cleaning is a goal, it’s a deep clean of your home in the spring, so it is fresh and clean from the changing of seasons.
It doesn’t matter how much you can get done in a day, or how quickly you can complete your cleaning. It’s about working out a routine that works for you and your family.
An example of a micro spring cleaning plan, you can switch the days around to fit your week, this plan adapts to your schedule, not the other way around.
- Day 1: Remove everything off one kitchen counter and wipe it down before putting only things that belong there back.
- Day 2: Remove everything off the other kitchen counter and do the same as yesterday and wipe everything down and put back only what belongs there.
- Day 3: Do all the dishes and then deep clean your kitchen sink.
- Day 4: Wipe down the fronts of your kitchen cupboard doors.
- Day 5: Clean the stove top
It really is this simple. Not only will you get a clean home, but it works for busy moms who don’t want to add more to their day. You don’t have to do a major deep clean if you don’t have the actual time to do it, a quick spring home reset is fine too!
Spring Cleaning Motivation When Overwhelmed
Let’s recap what we have learnt:
- Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be done in one go
- Fitting it into your life and schedule is important
- Done is good enough
Want even more ways to make spring cleaning manageable? Check out these articles for easy, practical tips that fit into your busy mom schedule: