Photo by Stefano Mortellaro
Spring is in the air. I know some of you still have snow in the backyard, but that doesn’t mean it’s not right around the corner for you. It’s already mid-April, and it’s only getting warmer until the summer heat squelches the spring breeze.
We’ve had our windows open for most of the day the past few weeks, and the blue skies have brightened our indoor walls. Quite frankly, it’s gotten me in the mood to overhaul the house.
The past few weeks, I’ve had a ton of work, and my nose has been to the grindstone. That means my home is now a bit disheveled, and I want to roll up my sleeves and make this place a haven again.
Ironically, I’m actually printing off my own e-book to light a fire under me and provide the guide I need to declutter, clean, and organize.
Care to join me?
From May 4 to 15, I’ll be writing my spring cleaning process, one room at a time.
If you’ve already read my book, you know that it walks you through overhauling your home in about ten days, tackling one area per day. I’ll post Monday through Friday for two weeks, covering each day in the book. And to make it more fun, I’m calling it a Spring Cleaning Party.
I’d love it if you joined me in spring cleaning your home, and then wrote about your experience on your own blog. It’ll keep you accountable, it’ll be motivating to see your own before-and-after photos published, and it’ll be fun, because we’ll be a community making our homes better together. You can share your link here on Simple Mom, and we can all tour the results from each day.
Here’s the Spring Cleaning Party schedule:
- Monday, May 4 – a clean sweep
- Tuesday, May 5 – the living room, part one
- Wednesday, May 6 – the living room, part two
- Thursday, May 7 – the kitchen, part one
- Friday, May 8 – the kitchen, part two
- Monday, May 11 – the bathrooms
- Tuesday, May 12 – the kids’ rooms, part one
- Wednesday, May 13 – the kids’ rooms, part two
- Thursday, May 14 – the master bedroom
- Friday, May 15 – the front entry
The e-book, Spring Cleaning for Normal People, is $7. If you haven’t bought it yet, but would like to join the Party, now’s a good time to go ahead and download your copy, so that you can read it ahead of time and know what to expect. Don’t worry, it’s an easy read of 68 pages.
This giveaway below is now closed.
Get it free!
To kick us off, I’d like to give ten Simple Mom readers a free copy of the e-book! If you’ve already got a copy, you can still enter to win and pass it on to someone you love.
To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post, telling me that you plan on joining the Spring Cleaning Party from May 4-15. In your comment, tell me the area in your home that needs the most TLC right now.
And if you want to let your blog readers know your plans, you can grab this button – just copy and paste the code:
 <a href="http://simplemom.net/spring-cleaning-party/"><img src="http://simplemom.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/spring-cleaning-party1.jpg" alt="simple-mom-spring-cleaning-party" /></a> |
This little giveaway will only be for one day – you’ve got between now and noon EST tomorrow (Saturday, April 18). I look forward to reading your comments!
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I would love to win a copy, my house is in desperate need! I work from home all week sewing for my monogramming business & have 2 kids…my house is always last! Right now, my bedroom is the worst, everything gets shoved in there when I have customers coming to the door!!
I hope we’ve just gotten past our last round of snow storms here, but I’m feeling the spring cleaning buzz myself and would LOVE to own a copy of this e-book! My master bedroom is the catch all for EVERYTHING…it needs the most help!!
I am with ya! I need the most help with storage and my basement.
I’ll definitely join in on this party! The room that most needs some spring cleaning in my house is my office/sewing room. It’s a mess!!
kati´s last blog post…Easter
I would love to join the spring cleaning party! I have been trying to spring clean this week, but now I’ll wait and do it with you. I need guidance! Our bedroom is the worst room in the house right now because it has my office stuff, piles of laundry to fold, kids toys, and more. It needs to be a bedroom again.
Suzanne´s last blog post…A Haircut and a Car Wash
I hope to join in. We’ll see if I have it in me! I need to tackle to storage rooms in my house. I always just shut the doors and pretend everything is fine!
whitney´s last blog post…swimsuit
I look forward to this spring cleaning party! My whole house really needs some help after a long winter on the farm and now a mud filled barnyard!
Kim´s last blog post…Menu Plan Monday~Monday April 13, 2009
Obviously, we’re all pretty interested in this!! Even if I don’t win the book for helps, I’ll try to keep up.
Laura Lou´s last blog post…Back in the Saddlebags Again
I would love to take part in the Spring Cleaning Challenge. Hard to narrow down my biggest cleaning challenge, but I’d say the office, that has morphed into the craft, hobby, toolshed, clutter-monster. I’m going to clear out the clutter now, so when the cleaning challenge starts, I can really get in there and work!
I’d love to join the spring cleaning party because pretty much my entire house needs some love and cleaning after a long, rainy, cold winter here in Seattle.
I will be a part of the Spring Cleaning! I have 3 children 3 and under so you can imagine my entire house is in need of a good clean! But if I had to chose one room it would be the kitchen.
I’ll absolutely be spring cleaning! I think the room in my house that needs attention the most is our master bedroom. It seems to be the last place I ever clean, and therefore doesn’t receive as much attention as it needs.
I”m definately going to join the Spring Cleaning Party!!! Right now our closets are our biggest problem…purge and organize are the name of the game but CLEAN comes first. See you May 4th!
Alison´s last blog post…Happy St. Patricks Day
I’d love a (free!) copy of your book! I could use some assistance. I have a very haphazard cleaning style…just tackling whatever bugs me on a particular day.
Stacey´s last blog post…Amazed
I’m joining the party! My daughter’s bedroom is the worst area in my home. She’s 9 months old and her room is still half nursery/half office!
I love the idea of a spring cleaning party. And would appreciate some cleaning tips. Our tiny house could use a good scrub. I wonder if I could fit in the time to clean after work in the evenings…
Our basement is the most neglected spot right now. Almost to the point where I don’t even know where to begin.
Meredith´s last blog post…toddler, full throttle
My laundry room is horribly in need of a spring cleaning. It becomes the catch-all room during the winter as it is the room that we enter and exit the house through.
This is a great idea – I’m hoping that it will give me the motivation I need to get the whole house ready for my soon-to-be-crawling 9 month old.
Erin Walsh´s last blog post…What’s In Our Book Basket
Thanks for the planning schedule! I always work better when I have a plan and an opportunity to have the plan worked out for me would be great, all I would have to do would be follow along! Would love to check out your e book. Last May, I moved across country 4 weeks after having a new baby so this year’s Spring Cleaning is my opportunity to actually turn my house into a home. No room needs more attention than my kitchen/pantry, I think. No matter how often I clean it I feel I just can’t keep up with the space. Thanks for all your inspirational topics and suggestions, I have been enjoying your blog everyday since I found it a few short weeks ago. Happy Spring!
I’d love to come to your cleaning party. After all the wind we’ve had this spring, everything in my house is covered in grit. Thanks for the offer.
I’ve been trying to buckle myself down to make up my spring cleaning schedule, but…ummm…I haven’t yet. *sheepish grin* So, I’m thankful I can do this with everyone in your readership. I’m nervous though…I think I’m going to have to drag a few RL friends into it with me.
I’d love a copy of that ebook, considering I don’t have a cash category for “Random Books I Really Really Want.”
Tiff @ The Faery Inn´s last blog post…Weekend Links
Forgot to tell you that the room in my house needing the springiest cleaning is probably a tie between the kids’ rooms and our office/homeschooling/craft/sewing/whatever room. (We have a small house.)
I replied to my comment, hoping it doesn’t mess up whatever system you use to pick a commenter to win…
Feel free to just get rid of my comments if you need to.
Tiff @ The Faery Inn´s last blog post…Think I’ll Give it a Try. Maybe.
I’ll join! Right now, the basement is the worst part of my house.
Meg´s last blog post…Got a book from the library
I will join the spring cleaning week – why? because i desperately need to.
This will be my incentive to get it done.
I plan on joining the spring cleaning party on May 4 – 15. My whole house definitely needs a thorough cleaning! But our office is certainly in the worst shape right now.
I haven’t been able to motivate myself, so this could be the incentive I need!
Oh, I would love to win a copy of this! I would have to say that the most cluttered area of our apartment right now is our front hall closet. We’re saving up for a shredder to work through a lot of the boxes of papers in there. I would also love to get rid of half my husband’s old college notebooks, but he’s pretty attached.
Jennifer Duenes´s last blog post…Cancel my subscription: Life with less coupons
My house is in decent shape right now, except for my bedroom. It will take many, many house to get it in shape!
Elizabeth´s last blog post…Wishing
I’ll be joining you for the Spring Cleaning Party! My garage desperately needs some help!
Ah, I thought I was going crazy when I couldn’t comment earlier
I’m definitely in for this. Our house has an open floor plan that makes the living, dining, and kitchen all look like one big room, and it gets really overwhelming when it comes time to clean! The kitchen definitely needs the most work, but I’d love to clean up the dining table and solve the problem of using it as the after-work catchall!
Megan´s last blog post…Menu Plan Monday: April 13
This may just be the motivation I need – would love to join the party. With 3 little ones under 4, the whole house needs some help! =)
Totally joining up to clean! I have random clutter catchers around the house that need help.
shell´s last blog post…Two Different Languages
I was just telling a friend yesterday about your blog and how I need to clean and set up a cleaning schedule! Where to begin? I guess I need to organize mostly, every room that is!!
I’ll join in! I’ve been waiting to get past a visit with family before turning my house inside out. The timing will be perfect. Thank you!
I am excited to do the spring clean. I haven’t really done one EVER. It will be a new experience for me and I am completely on board. Right now the house is in total chaos and I think just about every room in the house could be termed disaster area by FEMA. Thanks for leading the way out of this disaster.
Liz´s last blog post…A month as whirlwind
I’ll give this a try! The room that needs it most is MY bedroom (which I share with my husband and two of my four kids!). Whenever we clean out another part of the house the ‘do later’ things come to our room. We still have piles in there that came from our original move two years ago. Let’s get to it!
Today it is sunny and 70, the windows are thrown open, and yet my closets (particularly the children’s) are a scary place. I’m in!
We will be in need of a Spring Cleaning Party around here after the hosting of another party (my twin girls’ first birthday!) Our bedroom is definitely the most neglected room. It becomes the catchall for anything and everything! It needs an absolute blowout of a Spring Cleaning Party! Bring it on!
Olivia´s last blog post…Spring Bird Feeder Craft
I am joining. Everywhere needs some attention. A little here and a lot there.
It sounds crazy to be excited to join the spring clean, but I can’t wait! My most need help zone would be my office. Papers are everywhere!
My whole house needs help! but In particular I’m swamped with organizing and decluttering my 3 kids’ clothing, esp. the baby… my closet looks like a thrift store…
I’ve been wanting to do a complete spring cleaning in anticipation of a move! My kids’ closets need the most attention!
Angela´s last blog post…Baby Carrier, Sling, or Wrap Giveaway
I NEED to join your party! Being a new working mom, my house is that much further from pleasant. Would love a free copy of the eBook to get me started….especially on the kitchen which only gets clean enough to function, or this office where I have suspicions the stacks are permanent.
Sounds like fun. We definitely need to organize our papers in the office!
Jessica B.´s last blog post…The Penalty, the Power, & the Presence
My house is a disaster – I have 3 in laws living with my family who leave their things everywhere! I’m in a constant battle with clutter that isn’t even my own. I have a baptism next Saturday to “clean house” for, and I’m having my own trouble just getting started – I feel like I’m just losing the battle every day! I need help!!!!
WOW…this is so timely. We planed to spring clean during spring break but a stomach virus halted the plan. Now, I am finding it hard to get motivated so this is just what I needed. Honestly every room in my house needs to be rehauled…if I had to pick one I would say the bathrooms…so hard to choose.
Perfect timing! I am so in need of some spring cleaning inside my house as I have been working out in the yard the last little bit. Plus, my husband will returning from sea the end of May and it would be so nice for him to come home to a nice and tidy house!
I’m in, and I think that declaration has led to cheers from the bedroom in need of some attention.
I’d love to join the party. My worst spots right now are the closet and the kitchen cabinet full of ‘extras.’
Great timing! I always like to freshen up around this time of year. Getting some extra encouragement will help me to get in there & go at it! I’d like to party, too! Count me in!
Suzy:)´s last blog post…“LOST”, #13th of 99 Episodes, aka…
Well it is autumn here, not spring .. LOL .. but am in desperate need of some help in the organisation and decluttering so I am going to join the party
KylieM´s last blog post…Dinner Time!
I forgot to say what rooms I plan to focus on. They will be my bedroom (which is where my office space is — in a closet — which needs a lot of TLC), kitchen (I have some new shelf paper to put down) and garage needs de-cluttering. That’s where I need to party at the most!
Suzy:)´s last blog post…“LOST”, #13th of 99 Episodes, aka…
Count me in for some spring cleaning! Our bedrooms are absolutely horrific. Whenever companies come over, junk goes in the bedrooms and never dealt with!
I am glad to have some motivation and company with spring cleaning! My worst room is our master bedroom, which is much in need of help.
Thanks!
I’m in! I was noticing that there is clutter in every room that needs to be addressed.
FIrst time ever commenting on your blog but my room that need DESPERATE help is my master bedroom!!! There is ONE corner that catched everything and remains cluttered with stuff….I clean it out and well a week later the corner is packed again! HELP!!!!
I’m definitely joining in! My kitchen has not enjoyed any TLC since the family got sick last week and it’s looking sad!!
Rete´s last blog post…April Fool
I’d love to join the spring cleaning party! And your e-book sounds really helpful, too. I would love to win it! The part of my house that needs the most help right now is the master bedroom, although the kitchen is a close second.
Carrie´s last blog post…Where did my baby go?
I’d love to join. The room in my house that needs the most help is the master bedroom. All of the clean, unfolded laundry in the whole house is on the floor of our bedroom!
What a great giveaway, I really need to do this–we have a new baby coming soon. The part of my home that needs the most TLC is definitely the garage!
Wow! I tried to comment early this morning, but was unable to get through. Looks like the comments are working now! I would love a free e-book on spring cleaning. I have a hard time motivating myself – especially with a 2 year old and a 6 month old! They are kind of motivation killers
My worst area is in the kitchen. The cabinets in there haven’t been wiped out since we bought the house – three years ago! I know that’s pretty shameful 
My basement deperately needs help! I would love the e-book to find more tips on my spring cleaning. Mostly I need to find extra time to get it done!
ONE area that needs help?? Now, that’s funny!
My whole home is in dire need of some super organization…and I would love to win the ebook and would love to join the party!!
And if I really have to pick ONE area, it would be my computer area in the dining room – it is the heartbeat of our home (bills, calendaring, meal planning) …but it currently looks like a scene from Wizard of Oz, post tornado!
Right on time for joining your spring cleaning party….We just finished our homeschool year, and I will be finishing up piano testing next week. I’ve already gathered 8 1/2 years of papers into our library that I need to weed through since I was dealing with one child’s 2 disabilities and I strongly dislike sorting paperwork. Children’s bedrooms are another issue….why does the youngest love all of the hand-me-down items from older siblings? I’m thinking that we need to remove everything and only put back so many items using a game format to make it fun.
Well we just moved during the winter months, so spring cleaning is still taking a back seat to unpacking things that have sat in boxes for a bit now. However, that said, today I picked up a few baskets so I could work on cleaning out under my sink and am working on my laundry room.
Next comes screens and windows, things I could not scrub while we were moving in during a snow storm.
Jenny´s last blog post…TFF: The deep fryer comes out again
Oh this sounds like just what I need, I totally plan on joining the Spring Cleaning Party from May 4-15!
hmm, the area in my home that needs the most TLC right now is most assuredly my bedroom! I don’t have a lot of storage/closet space and sharing with my daughter! lol I need all the help I can get
This is a great way to go about things!
I am looking forward to your party! I think our bedroom closet needs the most love right now. Oh boy does it ever!
Taryn´s last blog post…Homemade Grocery Bag
I’d love to win a copy! I’ll join in the cleaning if I can but my second baby is due any minute (actually about a week and a half ago)… so I might have to wait a bit and do some “summer” cleaning instead.
I would absolutely love to join up with the spring cleaning party… heaven knows my house needs it! We’re currently remodeling a bathroom, so the “overflow” mess into our master bedroom has certainly caused that to need some serious TLC!
Yes, I need to do some spring cleaning!
Dana´s last blog post…Fireproof
I’m inspired to give this a try!
Barbara´s last blog post…And so it begins.
I need to get the spare bedroom done. It is going to be the new baby’s room but right now it is more of a catch all for junk…. Baby is due early June and I have to get all my “nesting”/ cleaning done before then!
I’m a recent reader to this site (the menu’s brought me here) and tonight I saw this post…love reading your posts…Spring Cleaning, what a great idea. I will participate — My house needs it!! The worst rooms right now are the kids rooms and the living room (which the kids seem to think is also theirs??) Paper pile-up is another biggie here also.
I’m totally challenged in this area although I get a feeling of satisfaction every time I do conquer an area of the house. So I’m excited to join a group — thinking maybe it will motivate me longer. What is that, 10 days of tidy? gulp!
Maria´s last blog post…discovered: finishing something makes me giddy
This might be just what I need. My kitchen needs a good spring cleaning!
Laurel´s last blog post…Organizing Loves
Wow, what a great idea! I feel like the whole house has a layer of grime on it that I just don’t get to with my typical quick cleans during the week.
I definitely need to overhaul my bedroom. We live in a two bedroom apartment and since having a baby our bedroom has become the catch-all for things without a home. I look forward to doing this.
Hi,
I plan on joining the Spring Cleaning Party! Most in need of TLC? The unfinished basement. Definitely. It’s scary down there….
Yes, please! This will be just the motivation I need to tackle our office/sewing room- and everywhere else!
I so need to invite myself to this party!
My unfinished basement needs the most help…. cleaning upstairs tends to lead to more things downstairs….
I’m in!
I would love to join the spring cleaning party. Our bedrooms and closets need decluttering! And our blinds need washing, porches need washing off…you get the picture.
Thanks for the motivation!
Count me in! My dining room/play area/arts’n'crafts area needs the TLC the most.
Oh my goodness, I so need this! We’ve been paring down and simplifying for a while now, but I feel stuck. I could use some guidance for sure.
I’ve been using your money mangagement and frugal living tabs pretty often, as we are simplifying in that area of our life as well. Thanks so much for all of the tips! I shared some with my blog readers yesterday!
I am looking forward to joining the spring cleaning party–somehow when you “work” with friends things go faster, you have more fun, there is less stress and can you share your accomplishments in the end. In my case the room I look forward to cleaning the most is my daughter’s room, which is small and has spread out into my living room. This party will also help me since we are in the process of renting another home this summer and I want to make packing and moving as easy as possible-if I can clean and eliminate some clutter, and pre-pack what I can, moving will be a breeze!
A super spring cleaning idea! I Love the accountability. I need it.
I’d love to join. I am planning a Tag sale this spring: so I am in high gear to gut the house of all unnecessary, non-useful and outgrow items!! Every where I turn around here: piles of stuff: most noticeably the kitchen/dinning room. These spaces seem like traps for collecting STUFF! I especially can not keep up with paper patrol. I love to hear ideas on empowering the whole family to take control of what is theirs. Thank you so very much!! ~R
I think the laundry room needs the most help right now. It’s become a depository for all of our clutter. And out of sight does mean out of mind.
Trista´s last blog post…Letting Go, A Little
My house is in need of a good spring clean. Just not sure where to start. The party sounds great count me in.
I could definitely use some guidance getting this place cleaned up! Right now we are living with my parents to save some money and expecting a new addition to our family in about a month! Needless to say, we are strapped for space. I would love to get the basement feeling more like home for us and make sure we have space ready for the baby! Count me in (and hopefully my Mom) for the Spring Cleaning Party!
My basement needs a good clean-out! I’ll play along.
Game on!! Can’t wait for the Spring Cleaning Party. Wow did I just write that?
The den and my bedroom needs most help.
I would love to join you for the spring cleaning party! I really want to get my house cleaned and organized before my 4 kids are out of school for the summer, so I can enjoy my time with them instead of stressing out trying to clean will they are home all day. My kitchen counters seems to collect a lot of clutter and would like to work on finding a home for all the things piled up there so the kids and I can have some fun baking and cooking time without clutter. I also need to work on the master bedroom so at the end of the day my husband and I can relax in a nice clean bedroom. Looking forward to the Party!!
I am excited about the Spring Cleaning Party! No kids yet, so my TLC might go to the garage on one or both of the “kid’s room” days.
I’m in! I bought your book a while ago and used to it prep our house for our realtor. We are now looking to put our home up in the late summer, so this will be PERFECT timing, again!
Ellen´s last blog post…Chag Sameach, and Rosa’s visit
I’m going to join in! I need the motivation! Our kids room needs the most work and our kitchen. Come to think of it our dining room needs some attention and our bedroom has been ignored for too long! OH BOY!
Donna S´s last blog post…A new look… coming soon
I will be joining in for sure (although it is Autumn here in Australia, not Spring). We have our second baby due in October and need to convert our spare room into a bedroom for our two year old. This won’t be easy because it is our last ‘junk’ and storage room and EVERYTHING in there is going to have to find a new home – luggage, snow gear, CDs, filing cabinet. I don’t know where to start!
I would love to join the cleaning party!
I definitely need to break down my cleaning into a 2 week process, so count me in! My craft closet and girls’ bedroom need lots of TLC.
I should also add that morning sickness has meant that my whole house is a mess and it is time to get things back in order as I start to feel better and less tired.
I will definitely be joining this cleaning party on May 4-15. We are closing on our first home on May 6 and boy do we have a lot of cleaning ahead of us. I think the whole house is the “area” that needs the most TLC, but we are really excited to get in there. I would love to win a copy of the book! Thanks!
Carrie´s last blog post…Magic Fun
WOW do I need to be at this party! I don’t understand how my kitchen gets SO cluttered and dirty every day despite my best efforts, but that’s my trouble spot these days!
I’ll be joining you in your spring cleaning adventure. My master bedroom is the room most in need of cleaning. It is not the oasis I want it to be!
Nancy B in AL´s last blog post…Whew! Almost finished with the strawberries!
Count me in! I could really use some motivation right now and the kitchen is in some serious need of TLC!
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