How I'm Prepping for Spring Cleaning this Spring

Hello and happy Thursday friends! I don't know about you, but when the weather gets warm in Michigan I just get the urge to clean. There’s just something about a little bit of warmth that makes me want to open the windows, light a fresh candle, and reset my entire life. 😂 The sunshine starts peeking through again, and suddenly I can see the dust.

If you’re anything like me, spring cleaning can feel overwhelming… but it doesn’t have to be. Over the years, I’ve learned that keeping it simple (and realistic!) makes all the difference. So today I’m sharing my easy, low-stress approach to organizing and decluttering for spring — plus some checklists you can use as a starting point.

Let’s make our homes feel fresh without burning ourselves out 💛

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links — at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely love and use in my own home. Thank you so much for supporting my blog! ✨

---

Step 1: Start With a Plan (Not a Panic)

Before I touch a single drawer, I like to:

• Walk through each room
• Make a short list of “problem areas”
• Decide what actually needs attention this month

Instead of saying “I’m deep cleaning the whole house,” I break it down into small zones.

For example:

• Week 1: Kitchen
• Week 2: Bedroom + Closet
• Week 3: Bathroom
• Week 4: Living Areas
• Week 5 and beyond: Other less accessed living spaces like the basement and the garage

You can adjust this based on your schedule, but having a loose plan makes everything feel so much more manageable. Or if you have an area that you want to focus more heavily on, maybe give yourself a few weeks on that area instead of just the one week. 

---

Step 2: My Go-To Decluttering Method

When I’m decluttering, I keep it simple with three categories:

• Keep
• Donate
• Toss/Recycle

If I haven’t used it, worn it, or thought about it in the last year… it’s probably time to let it go. (I say this lovingly as someone who used to keep everything “just in case.”)

If I do not have a box handy to use for donations, I'll either use a clothing hamper or clear tote to organize everything as I go. If you're detailed like I am, I will even put a label on each one so that I don't accidentally put something in the wrong bin. 

A few questions I ask myself:

• Do I actually use this?
• Would I buy this again today?
• Does this add value to my daily life?

If I am not 100% certain I am ready to part with something, I will make a note for myself to check back in about six months and if I haven't used or needed that item in six months, it's likely time to say goodbye. Obviously, sentimental and heirloom items do not fall in this category. Those will be organized and stored until they can be passed down. 

---

March Spring Cleaning Checklist

To help make the Spring Cleaning process easier, I created a little checklist you can use to keep track of things for yourself this Spring. To download the file and print it off, all you have to do is click the image below and you'll be taken to my Google drive to download a copy for yourself. 

---

Easy Strategies That Make It Feel Less Overwhelming

Here are a few things that help me actually stick to spring cleaning:

1. Set a Timer

I’ll set a 20–30 minute timer and focus on just one space. When the timer goes off, I’m done. No spiraling into reorganizing my entire existence. To help myself from getting distracted on my phone, I have used little timers from Amazon that make it so I'm not watching my phone. 

2. Clean While Listening to Something Cozy

This is when I put on:

• An audiobook
• A comfort show in the background
• A podcast

Depending on how much time I have, I will pick what I listen to based on that. If I have only an hour or so, I'll grab a podcast that is about that long and clean/organize until the episode ends. If I am just going with no end time, I'll either do music or listen to my latest audiobook. It makes it feel less like a chore and more like productive self-care.

3. Don’t Aim for Perfection

My home doesn’t need to look like a magazine spread. It just needs to feel peaceful and functional. That mindset shift has been huge for me. I feel like once I released myself from the need for perfection, I was able to really enjoy my space. Plus, I have been finding that the less I have in my house that I don't need, the less overwhelmed that I feel. 

---

The Real Goal of Spring Cleaning

For me, spring cleaning isn’t about having a perfectly aesthetic house. It’s about creating a space that feels calm, fresh, and ready for a new season.

March feels like a reset button — and cleaning is part of that reset.

Even if you just clear off one counter or donate one bag of clothes, that still counts. Progress > perfection.

---

If you’re doing spring cleaning this month, tell me:

• What room are you tackling first?
• What’s the hardest area for you to declutter?
• Are you team “all in one weekend” or “little by little”?

Let’s motivate each other 🌷✨

Have a wonderful day,
Jackie
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above may be affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.