Spending a lot of time in one place can give you cabin fever, and our team has found that creating a tidy space = a happy place! So if you start getting that overwhelming feeling, take a look around you. If there are areas that can be cleaned up, jump on the opportunity! If your family is getting bored, make a game out of it while organizing to transform your space. So take a deep breath and read on – because now is the perfect time to stay productive and create your own personal happy place.

Make a to-do list

Start with a checklist of all the tasks around the house you want to accomplish. Brainstorm every nook and cranny, then revise to focus on what’s possible. You can always go with a classic checkmark list or maybe try assigning different rooms and chores to different days!

Short on cleaning supplies? Don’t worry!

Soap and water, household bleach, rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are effective agents when fighting off bacteria and viruses in the absence of stronger chemicals. So if the grocery store is out of your go-to cleaning supplies, check out these alternatives you might already have around the house:

General Disinfectant

  • Combine equal parts water with rubbing alcohol. Take it a step further and add about 20 to 30 drops of lavender or tea tree essential oils to give it a great smell.

Surface Cleaner

  • Diluted bleach works wonders when cleaning hard surfaces like countertops, showers and floors. Add ½ cup of bleach to 1-gallon water. 

Window Cleaner

  • Mix equal parts vinegar and dish soap to remove dirt and grease without leaving streaks.

Clean the Basics

Most people have everyday chores in place that help keep their homes from becoming chaotic, like loading the dishwasher, wiping down the kitchen counters and putting their dirty clothes in the hamper. This is a great place to start! You can even use this opportunity to make a game out of cleaning and get the kiddos involved, too! Try different activities like rolling dice with each number corresponding to a different chore, or a scavenger hunt with different tasks around the house.

Tackle the things you normally wouldn’t do

Take advantage of the extra time you may have around the house to tackle that pesky junk drawer you’ve been meaning to organize, or give your windows a good scrub down. Melissa Maker, author of “Clean My Space: The Secret to Cleaning Better, Faster – And Loving Your Home Every Day,” has some fantastic suggestions on where to start and tasks you might not normally have the time to prioritize:

  • Sweep the patio, walkways, clean exterior windows, light fixtures and patio furniture
  • Wash interior windows (this is a good one to get the kids to help with).
  • Clean out closets, cupboards and your pantry
  • Change filters, check the furnace, carbon monoxide and smoke detector systems
  • Deep-clean appliances and under the kitchen and bathroom sinks

Let’s Get Organized 

Channel your inner Marie Kondo and take a step back to really evaluate what belongings give you joy. Do those books on the top shelf make you smile? Or how about that old nicknack? Go through your closet, drawers and storage, and clean out the clutter! Order some bins, baskets and shelves from places like Elfa, The Container Store, or Amazon to help you keep things looking clean and tidy. Make this a fun learning experience for your kids by color coordinating tubs to organize items in their spaces. Decluttering can help reduce your stress and give you back more space, which will definitely make you happy!