5 Tricks to Make Spring Cleaning Fun; Decorating & Design Blog, HGTV
Yes, you read that right. We’ve got tips to get the whole family motivated to join in on the seasonal cleaning spree.
Did you know that 54 percent of Americans are completely and utterly overwhelmed by the amount of clutter in their lives? I totally believe it. That’s why we’re so enamored by Pinterest-inspired cleaning hacks and new ways to make this daunting task seem more…well, not so daunting. And if you’ve ever had to wrangle your S.O. or family into seasonal cleaning then you know how much of a firestorm that can be.
The experts over at VarageSale, the virtual garage sale for your phone, have shared some tips on how to motivate your family to join your spring cleaning decluttering mission this year (without using food as bribery). Take a look!
Turn Clutter Into a Vacay Fund
Promise the family a fun trip funded only by the money made from selling your items online. The extravagance of their trip will be determined by how much they sell.
Show The Kids What Their Clutter is Worth
Ask your children to pick five to 10 toys in their room or play area that they’ve outgrown to sell. Once sold, show them the money they’ve made, and divide the loot into streams of spending and saving.
Do a Decluttering Scavenger Hunt
Give each family member a mission to find items in their room within a list of categories (i.e. one pair of shoes, two shirts, three books, etc). The family member to finish first is the winner.
Let’s Make a Deal: Clutter Free Edition
If you buy your child something new, s/he has to find two to five items to part with in exchange. They might start with smaller items, like an old coloring book or just one toy car, and that’s okay. Once the game is established, push them to part with bigger items.
Take the Cake
Start a friendly competition between family members (you can make teams for the little ones) where all sales from their sales go into a communal pot. Whichever team sells the most takes the pot for that contest! Winners get to choose a fun family activity using money from the pot, like going to the movies or getting dinner at their favorite restaurant. The pot starts over the next day or the next time you want to tackle more spring cleaning so kids stay motivated to win.
Dance the Clutter Away
Be realistic and make time for a dance party. Removing the dust and cobwebs of winter can be an overwhelming task. Tackle the job in digestible blocks of time by creating a playlist of four to five of your favorite high-energy songs. Add a sixth song at the end that will inspire you to enjoy a mini dance party break. (Taylor Swift, FTW!)