Revitalise your space and mind this spring with a little-and-often approach that will transform your home in a simple and manageable way. (In other words, why I choose Zone Cleaning all year round instead of ‘spring cleaning’).
Spring is in the air! The days are getting longer, the light is returning, and there’s a sense of fresh energy in the air. It’s the perfect time to shake off the heaviness of winter and breathe new life into your home.
“I’m not really into spring cleaning. In fact, I’m not into summer, autumn or winter cleaning either!”
This quote always makes me laugh! I don’t know who said it, but I agree wholeheartedly! We all dream of having a clean house, don’t we? But who actually dreams of doing the cleaning? It comes with the territory, however. When you’re lucky enough to have a roof over your head, you get to take care of it. That’s the deal.
For me, it’s not about scrubbing and dusting for hours on end – it’s about living in a home that feels calm, comfortable, and peaceful. And in order to achieve that, without spending my life cleaning, I rely on routines that keep everything ticking over in a manageable way.
This doesn’t mean my home is always pristine and perfect, but it does mean that it stays at a comfortable baseline of clean and tidy most of the time. I don’t stress about a surprise knock at the door or having guests pop round.
I totally get that looking after a home can feel like a lot. And while it might seem like I clean all the time, the truth is, I don’t – and I’m still not really ‘into’ it! Housework can feel like a never-ending task (because, let’s be honest – it is!). But the good news? There are ways to make it easier, more manageable, and far less overwhelming.
The Truth About Cleaning
The more often you do something, the easier it gets. Think about the dishes or cleaning the bathroom. If you do it daily, it’s a breeze – there’s not much to clean, so it takes no time at all. But leave it for days (or weeks!), and suddenly, you’ve got a much bigger job on your hands. Letting the mess and dirt pile up is never a recipe for success. That’s why I no longer believe in a big, once-a-year spring clean.
Don’t get me wrong – I love the idea of a spring clean. A fresh start, a new season, lighter days, warmer weather. Everything about it makes you feel motivated and ready to reset. And for years, I told myself, this is it! This time, I’m going to get my home sparkling from top to bottom.
But here’s the thing… Have you ever actually managed to do that? I haven’t.
I used to get so excited about the idea of a big spring clean. I’d go shopping for new cleaning products to ‘help’ me get the job done. But no sooner had I started, the novelty soon wore off, and I gave up. The truth? I exhausted myself trying to do too much all at once.
The ‘Little and Often’ Secret to a Clean & Clutter-Free Home
Now, instead of letting the dirt and clutter build up and relying on a once-a-year deep clean, I follow my Zone Cleaning Plan all year round. It’s a rolling programme that keeps my home clean and organised the easy way – without the stress, overwhelm, or backbreaking scrubbing.
This little-and-often approach is the real secret to a clean, clutter-free home that actually stays that way. Read on to discover exactly how it works. A refreshed home doesn’t just look better – it feels better. Clutter has a way of clouding our minds, making us feel scattered and stuck. By clearing our physical space, we create more mental clarity, calm, and breathing room.
I want to share how you can refresh your home in a way that feels simple, stress-free, and totally doable. Whether you have 5 minutes or an hour, these small shifts will help you reset your space, lighten your load, and step into spring with a fresh perspective.
Let’s dive in!
Get ready to revitalise your space & mind this spring
Spring forward: A fresh approach to decluttering & mental clarity
Have you ever walked into a cluttered room and felt immediately overwhelmed? It’s not just in your head – studies show that physical clutter creates mental clutter, making it harder to focus, relax, and feel in control of your space. Too much stuff leads to decision fatigue, stress, and a constant feeling of being behind.
I’ve seen this time and time again with clients. One lady I worked with – let’s call her Abigail – was depressed and embarrassed about the state of her home. She felt completely stuck and had stopped inviting people over. She had stopped ‘living’. She had a beautiful home, but every surface was covered, cupboards were crammed full and chaotic, and she admitted that she didn’t know where or how to start. The clutter wasn’t just taking up space – it had become a complete burden.
We started with her wardrobe and gradually moved on to other areas of the home, one small step at a time. And with each little win, as the energy of her living spaces changed, her mindset shifted. She was visibly happier, and she told me, “For the first time in a long time, I have hope. I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I can breathe again.”
And that’s exactly what decluttering does – it frees up mental space, giving you a sense of clarity and calm that no scented candle, fluffy towel or fancy storage can replicate.
But here’s the key: small steps make the biggest difference. Trying to declutter your entire home in one go is like trying to swim the Channel without any training. It’s overwhelming, exhausting, and, quite honestly, unnecessary.
The power of routines: Why ‘little and often’ works best
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that consistency beats intensity every time. We’ve all been there – you get a burst of motivation, decide today is the day you’re going to tackle the whole house and a few hours in, you’re surrounded by piles of stuff, exhausted, and wondering why on earth you started this in the first place. Yes? I know I’m not the only one!
Adopting a little-and-often approach – just like with zone cleaning – means you’re constantly making progress without the stress. One area this week, a different zone next week. Do what you can and move on each Monday, regardless of whether you have achieved what you set out to do the previous week or not.
That’s the beauty of decluttering and cleaning by zone. No beating yourself up for not getting everything done! A clean slate every week and a fresh space to focus on. Before you know it, your home starts to feel lighter, calmer, and so much easier to maintain.
By incorporating decluttering and cleaning routines into your daily and weekly habits, your home never reaches that overwhelming tipping point. As you practise these routines over and over, they become second nature. You won’t even have to think about it. Instead of feeling like a constant uphill battle, maintaining a tidy home just blends into your everyday life – leaving you more time and energy for the things that really matter.
I have already created a full zone cleaning routine you can follow – the exact rolling programme that was a game-changer for me and that I still use to help me maintain my home today. Each seasonal zone clean begins on the first Monday of the new season, March, June, September and December/January.
The spring zone clean is just about to start, and if this method is new to you, you can read more about it HERE. I’ve created a plan and checklist that you can follow and adapt, and you can access that HERE.
To learn more about zone cleaning and how it can help you maintain your home with ease, my book Zone Cleaning the Ultimate Guide is the ultimate companion and is available to buy on Amazon.
Creating organised systems that work for you, not against
A home should be a place that supports you, not drains your energy. This is why I focus on creating systems that make life easier. Simple clutter-free habits, practical storage solutions, and decluttering routines that all work together to ensure your home isn’t just tidy for now – but actually stays that way without much effort.
One of my biggest light bulb moments was realising that organisation isn’t about perfection – it’s about function and ease of use. The goal isn’t to have a picture-perfect home with shelves of plastic baskets neatly arranged in rainbow colours (unless that makes you happy!). The real goal is to make your home work for you.
That means:
Editing and decluttering regularly – so your home isn’t overflowing with things you don’t use or love.
Having a place for everything – so tidying up is quick and easy.
Setting up storage that makes sense for your space and lifestyle – not stuffing things into a bag or cupboard just to get them out of sight.
It’s all about building simple habits that create a sense of ease in your daily life. Because when the excess is gone, and your home is set up to support you, everything feels lighter. You spend less time searching for things, less time tidying up, and more time enjoying your space.
The takeaway? A little effort now saves you so much time and stress in the long run. Your home should be a haven – a place that feels good to live in. And with small, consistent steps, you can create a space that truly works for you, not against you.
Easy Ways to Maintain Your Home
It’s one thing to declutter and get organised – but the real magic happens when you keep it that way! The good news? You don’t need hours of effort – just a few simple habits will make all the difference
The 5-Minute Rule – If something takes less than five minutes, do it now. This prevents small tasks from piling up into big, overwhelming ones.
One In, One Out – Every time you bring something new into your home, remove one item. This keeps clutter from accumulating and stops things from creeping back in.
The Daily Reset – Spend 10 minutes at the end of each day tidying high-traffic areas like the kitchen and living room. Resetting your blankets and cushions, clearing and wiping the coffee table, and cleaning the sink are quick, simple habits that will get your mornings off to a great start.
These simple, tried-and-tested strategies take minimal effort but make a massive difference. When you weave them into your daily routine, keeping your home clean and clutter-free becomes second nature – without the stress!
Bringing It All Together
A clean and organised home is within reach for everyone, and the arrival of spring is the perfect time to get started. Remember, you don’t have to wait to do the dreaded spring clean once a year and spend endless hours scrubbing – it’s far more achievable to incorporate small, consistent habits every day and every week.
When you embrace a little-and-often approach, you free yourself from the overwhelm of trying to do everything at once.
Try weaving these small changes into your everyday routine and start today with one simple step. Before you know it, you’ll have a home that you are in love with again.
What’s the first thing you’ll do to kick-start your spring season and get your home in order the easy way?