Make a Personalized Spring Cleaning Checklist

The Martha Stewart Living spring-cleaning checklist begins, "There are few rites of spring more satisfying than the annual clean." While I tend to agree, the idea of diligently performing tasks from a prescribed list of chores for an entire three months makes me want to run away from home and change my identity.

I'd much rather actually spend time working on cleaning and organizing tasks that reflect my personal priorities and pet-peeves. Wouldn't you?

Below is a list of 15 questions to help you brainstorm and create your own checklist for cleaning, organizing, and downsizing this spring. (You can access a printable one via Google Docs.)

Spring 2012 blossoms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

General

1. Just thinking about _____________ overwhelms/scares me, but I wish it were done.
2. It'd be so easy to fix/clean/organize __________, I don't know why I haven't yet. 
3. If I died and my mother or mother-in-law had to go through my house, I'd die all over again of embarrassment if she discovered _______________.

Cleaning

1. Every time I see __________ it drives me crazy!
2. I'd feel like my spring-cleaning was complete if  __________.
3. _________ really got gross this winter.
4. I never seem to get around to cleaning __________.
5. I hardly ever think about cleaning _________ , but I probably should.

Downsizing

1. I'd feel awesome if I just got rid of _________.
2. I have way too many __________.
3. I've been meaning to take _______ to the donation center/ recycling center/ dump.

Organizing

1. Every time I see the mess of/in __________ it drives me crazy!
2. I'd feel like my spring-cleaning was complete if  __________ were organized.
3. I never seem to get around to organizing __________.
4. I'd get more done if _________ was in better order.

I'd love to hear your feelings about the brainstorm, your spring cleaning checklists, or spring cleaning checklists in general. Comment below or on my Facebook page if you'd like to share.

Tomorrow, I'll share some tips for success with tackling the items on your spring cleaning checklist.

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