Don’t you wish your home would just clean itself in the spring? You’d flip a switch, go run a few errands and return to a fresh, immaculate house. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. For most of us, if we want our houses cleaned, we have to do it ourselves. Even if you have a cleaning service, you need to take stock of the jobs that need to be completed and there are regular home maintenance tasks that may fall outside of the scope of your service.

The job may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. There are tricks and techniques that anyone can use to make the project manageable. Here are some spring cleaning tips from interior designers and other experts. If you adopt these practices, you may never actually fall in love with spring cleaning, but you can get through it with a lot less worry and stress.

Before You Get Started

It’s a big job, and there’s a temptation to just jump in anywhere and get started. However, an hour or so of preparation will save a lot of hours along the way. Creating a roadmap to follow will do tons to preserve your sanity.

Designate a Declutter Area

Don’t clean, move or rearrange anything you’d be better off getting rid of. Set aside part of a room where you’ll collect those items that you don’t want any more. As you run across them while you’re cleaning, designers suggest following the “one-year rule.” If you haven’t used the thing since last year’s spring cleaning, make sure it’s not around for next year’s. Sell it, donate it or throw it away.

Make a Task List

Some people love to make lists, but even for those who don’t, this task isn’t as onerous as you might think. If list-making isn’t your thing, adopt a few of these suggestions:

· Use somebody else’s list to get started. There are sample spring cleaning lists online.

· Walk though your house, room by room, and make note of everything that needs to be done.

· When in doubt about a task, include it. You can always decide later to assign it low priority or even skip it.

· If you’re having trouble getting started, write down every task you can think of, large or small, in no particular order.

Whatever approach you take, keep the jobs small. For example, don’t make cleaning the kitchen a single item. Break it down into straightening the cupboards above the sink, cleaning the oven, cleaning the backsplash, etc. Having small tasks you can accomplish quickly is a great way to maintain motivation and keep you plugging away.

Gather Cleaning Supplies

Nothing disrupts your progress like running out to get more garbage bags or some extra latex gloves. Have everything on hand when you start. Make sure your vacuum cleaner is ready to go. See that you have enough clean rags and mop heads. Ensure that your bottles of cleaning products aren’t close to empty. An online cleaning supply checklist can be helpful.

Prioritize Your Tasklist

Once you’ve started, don’t waste time thinking about what you ought to do next. Have it planned out. You may want to put the largest and least pleasant jobs up front to get them out of the way. However, it’s important to schedule some small, easy tasks near the top to gain you a few early victories.

Of course, you’re not bound by your priority list. If you want to flip-flop a couple tasks while you’re working, go right ahead. Just don’t spend much time revisiting priorities.

Now Go To It!

Now that you have a plan, you just have to execute it. Here are some suggestions to keep you on track.

Use a Timer To Get Started

Some days it’s hard to find the motivation, and you’d just as soon put off working until tomorrow. However, you can almost always push yourself to work for 20 minutes a day. Set a timer for 20 minutes (or another short time period), and resolve to keep at it until the timer sounds. There’s a good chance you’ll find your rhythm and can keep going longer.

Celebrate Progress and Reward Yourself

Keep your task lists updated by crossing off jobs as you complete them. If you only think about what’s ahead, it’s easy to forget about all the progress you’ve made. There’s a lot of satisfaction in looking back at what you’ve accomplished.

Give yourself rewards. You can even include some in your prioritized task list! Enjoy a soak in the tub, go out for dinner after a successful day, treat yourself to a pedicure. When you’ve finished one of your rooms, buy that special vase or wall art you’ve had your eye on.

Some people like to “sandwich” cleaning tasks in between fun or healthful tasks. Clean a closet shelf, read a chapter of your book, vacuum a room, do some yoga. Cleaning is easier when you break it up and don’t do it all day long.

Phone a Friend

It may not make you a millionaire, but it can help keep your cleaning on track. If someone you know is also tackling spring chores, you can compare progress and encourage each other. You can even swap labor, spending some time at their house and some at yours. Rearranging a closet is more efficient and even fun when there are four hands and two minds working at it.

Defer Other Work

As you’re working, you’re sure to identify household tasks that aren’t part of spring cleaning. You may be tempted to stop what you’re doing to rearrange furniture or redecorate. Don’t. Keep your focus on cleaning. Write these other things down so you don’t forget them, and revisit them when your cleaning tasks are done.

A Spoonful of Sugar

Home cleaning experts agree that Mary Poppins was right. A little fun along the way makes the task lighter. Listen to your favorite music. Catch up on that podcast everyone’s talking about. Listen to the book you’ve been meaning to read.

Treat the job as part of your health and fitness routine. Wear a fitness watch and track steps and other stats. If the weather is suitable, open the windows and enjoy some breeze and birdsong. Even if it’s cool outside, your effort will keep you warm.

Keep Your Motivation Level Up

At some point, deep in the middle of the effort, your spirits may begin to flag. That’s when it’s time to look for an extra motivational boost. There are cleaning experts on Instagram and other socials to follow for inspiration. Engage in positive self-talk about how far you’ve come and how confident you are that you’ll bring the project to completion. If you’ve paired up with a cleaning buddy, call them with some encouragement, and you’ll be encouraged too.

Look at all the jobs you accomplished and checked off your list. Visualize yourself sitting on the sofa of your freshly cleaned living room. Imagine opening your front door to the first guests to arrive at your spotless abode.

Remember, you’re not doing this for your house; you’re doing it for yourself and your family. No matter how you approach it, spring cleaning involves work, but if you follow the suggestions of interior designers and other experts, you can see it through in good spirits, and you’ll have the rest of the year to enjoy the fruits of your efforts.