Spring Cleaning Ideas: How to Get Started (and Make It Fun)

Do you like spring cleaning?

I hear the Questioners saying, “Why do this in the spring? There’s no magic to that season. It’s an arbitrary choice!”

True. But one of my clutter-clearing aphorisms is “Things that can be done at any time are often done at no time,” so it’s helpful to have a catalyst to undertake a certain effort.

And there’s something about the natural renewal of spring, with its fresh breezes, bright green leaves, and clear sky, that always makes me want to clear out my space.

Why we associate spring with cleaning

Spring cleaning as a tradition has real historical roots. Before central heating, homes accumulated months of soot, smoke residue, and grime over the winter months. When the weather finally warmed enough to open the windows, a thorough cleaning wasn’t just satisfying—it was necessary. The ritual stuck long after the original reason disappeared.

There’s also a psychological dimension worth noting. Longer days and warmer temperatures seem to trigger a natural urge to reset. Spring is a good moment to look around at what’s accumulated and decide what to do with it all.

Spring cleaning ideas to get you started

So where to begin?

Here are some specific, manageable ideas to get you started.

1. Clean out your fridge and freezer. Wipe off the shelves, get rid of anything past its prime, re-organize the bottles jammed into the door (if you’re like my family), and arrange items more neatly. Bonus: put healthier foods in a more prominent position, and put less healthy foods in more inconvenient places—out of sight is best.

2. Go through your closet and choose three items to toss or give away. Yes, three is arbitrary—but it’s the rare person who doesn’t have three things that never get worn.

3. Choose one shelf in your medicine cabinet. Sort through it, toss, consolidate (we had three almost-empty bottles of Advil), and wipe away any stickiness. And speaking of stickiness…

4. Is any part of your house or apartment a bit stinky? The garbage pail, under the kitchen sink, the dog bed? I’m always rolling down the bag of dog food to make sure the smell doesn’t waft up. Bad smells are very distressing, so track them down at their source and put an end to them.

5. Tackle a pile of papers—whether it’s on the kitchen counter, on your desk at work, on the floor of your car, or on the dining room table. Sort, toss, recycle, shred, act.

6. If you want to tackle a bigger project, and you’re so inclined, invite a friend to come over to help you. Especially for Obligers, having company can help them get started and stay on task. Maybe you have a friend like me, a happiness bully who begs to come over and help you clear clutter. (Here are two Happier podcast episodes where you can listen to me “help” Elizabeth clear her closet and her home office). Or maybe you can agree with a friend that you’ll help that person, and then that person will help you. Some people do better alone, but in my observation, many people benefit from an extra pair of hands and a more objective pair of eyes.

7. If you can’t manage anything else, do this: do some internet research or ask around to find out: If you were going to give away some items you no longer need, use, or love, where would you take them? For many people, not knowing where to donate is a big hurdle. Once we know that information, and are reminded that others will benefit from the stuff that’s sitting unused in our house, it’s easier to give things away.

How to make spring cleaning more fun

One of my favorite strategies for getting through a boring task is pairing—combining it with something you enjoy. Reserve a your favorite podcast or a playlist that makes you want to move specifically for cleaning days. If you only get to listen to it while you’re clearing clutter, you’ll actually look forward to it.

Treats help too. Promise yourself something you enjoy once you’re done as a way of acknowledging that you did something that required real effort. It could be as simple as sitting with a good cup of coffee once the kitchen counter is finally clear.

If you tend to run out of steam, try giving yourself a constraint instead of a goal. Get out one bag or box before you begin, and commit only to filling it. Once it’s full, you’re done. 

When I’m in a certain mood, I find it very calming to clear clutter. Seeing the open space gives me a feeling of energy and focus. That’s probably why I had so much fun writing my book Outer Order, Inner Calm. Just thinking about clearing clutter makes me happier!