Even with the best intentions, sometimes Spring Cleaning turns into Summer Cleaning… and sometimes even that turns into Late Summer Cleaning. Better late than never, right? Absolutely!
You’ll enjoy having an organized and clean living space no matter what time of year you get around to rolling up your sleeves.
There’s an App For That
If you find yourself unsure of where to start, don’t be discouraged! Someone has already done that legwork for you––you just need to find the app or checklist that best meets your needs. Here are some great places to look for that burst of inspiration.
- This 30-Day Declutter Challenge allows you to take baby steps towards a tidy living space. Some steps are simple, like the first one: find a box to keep by your door that you can fill with items to discard or donate. Other tasks are a bit more involved, such as going through your closet to look for clothes you never wear. If you stick to one action item per day, you’ll have a much more comfortable home environment in 30 days!
- Some of us may not consider decluttering to be very much fun. That’s why The Minimalists decided to make it a game! The 30-Day Minimalism Game harnesses momentum as well as accountability. The first step is to find a buddy who also needs to declutter. Make a wager, such as a meal, or even cash if you’re willing. Then on Day 1, you get rid of one item. On Day 2, you get rid of two items. By Day 17 (you guessed it) you’re getting rid of 17 items. Anything goes––clothing, kitchen supplies, electronics, cables, books––as long as you can part with it, it leaves. Whoever makes it the longest wins the bet. If you make it to Day 30, you’ll get rid of approximately 500 items! And yes… there’s an app for this too!
- Decluttering is the first step to cleaning. Once you’re organized and ready to clean, there’s no shortage of help there, either! Check out this list from House Beautiful of some top-rated cleaning apps that work with you to help you break down your cleaning tasks into bite-sized chunks. These apps can prompt you to take care of some of the easy-to-forget stuff such as changing your air conditioning filter. Program it once and never have to think of it again!
- If you’re a more analog person, no worries. There are literally hundreds of free cleaning checklists available online. Just search “cleaning checklist” and take your pick! This checklist from Molly Maid will help you get professional cleaning results, even if you’re doing it all yourself.
Back to School
If you’re the parent of a school-age child, you know what August means! Here are some tips to help streamline the transition from summer break to serious learning.
- The biggest struggle when transitioning back to school is the change in schedule. To help make this easier, this list from Child Educational Services recommends starting to enforce a school-appropriate bedtime routine two whole weeks before school starts. There are many other fun tips on the list, like using an egg timer to help your child focus for a set amount of time and allowing them to choose a planner they like for organizational tasks.
- If your child struggles with mental health while reentering academics, the Child Mind Institute has some helpful tips for you, such as the fact that your child’s anxiety may stem from your own anxiety. “A child usually starts school no calmer than their least-relaxed parent.” Perhaps easier said than done.
- Keep yourself as organized as possible. Entrepreneur.com suggests putting these important dates on your calendar as soon as possible: the first day of school, school vacations, big events, and deadlines for enrollment-related necessities like obtaining and presenting vaccination documents. Have a look at the school’s online calendar and use it to fill out your own so you’re never caught off-guard.
Summer isn’t over quite yet, so keep enjoying the long days and sunshine.