Spring is the perfect time to refresh and declutter your home with timeless homemaking traditions. In this post, we will cover how to create a productive spring clean planning, how to declutter with a vintage, less is more approach, why organizing saves our sanity, and how to create sustainable routines that work with the crazy of everyday life! These simple strategies will leave your home feeling fresh, organized, and welcoming all season long.

Do you ever feel like you finally get one part of your home cleaned up, only for your kids to tear apart another room?

Sometimes, it feels like no real progress is being made! Over the years, I’ve learned to be more mindful and practical in how I approach decluttering and organizing our home.

For starters, I’ve come to accept that my house will never be as perfectly put together as I imagine in my head—and there is peace in giving myself (and my loved ones) grace in that. However, when spring rolls around, I always feel the urge for a deeper refresh. That’s when I turn to the wisdom of the past.

I’ve always been drawn to everything vintage, and there’s something timeless about the way our grandmothers cared for their homes. Their methods weren’t about perfection but about creating a warm, welcoming, and well-kept space for their families. In this post, we’re going to take a step back in time and explore traditional homemaking techniques—blending old-fashioned wisdom with modern efficiency to help you refresh your home this spring.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

Why a Cleaning Plan Matters

A structured cleaning plan makes the process far more manageable—just like the detailed homemaking checklists our grandmothers used in the 1940s and 50s. Having a clear plan not only keeps you motivated but also ensures no corner is left untouched. Personally, I love the satisfaction of checking off tasks as I go. There’s something so rewarding about seeing those little checkmarks on a page, knowing that I’ve fully completed what I set out to do!

How to Create Your Vintage-Inspired Cleaning Plan

USE A HOMEMAKING CHECKLIST

Write down your tasks in a planner, or create a checklist with checkmark boxes in a Google Doc or your phone notes. Having a visual guide keeps you on track and makes it easier to see your progress at a glance.

PRIORITIZE HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS

Start by focusing on the areas in your home that see the most activity—like the entryway, kitchen counters, and living room. These spots tend to accumulate clutter from everyday life, making them the perfect place to start. Once you see these spaces more organized and tidy, it creates momentum and motivation to keep going with the rest of your tasks!

SET REALISTIC GOALS

Breaking tasks into manageable daily or weekly steps can help prevent overwhelm. I like to create a master list of everything I want to accomplish for the week, then each day, I choose a few priority tasks to focus on. This way, by the end of the week, everything gets done—without the pressure of trying to tackle it all in one day.

At the same time, I remind myself to be patient. We live in our homes, which means messes will happen—daily! To keep things manageable, I keep a short checklist of simple tidying tasks that need to be done each day. Getting into the habit of completing these small daily tasks helps prevent larger messes from piling up, reducing stress and making home maintenance feel much easier.

Floral Blank Notepad // Floral Pens // Vintage Colored Post-It’s // Floral Planner // Easter Blank Notepad // Floral Notebooks // Recipe Box & Planner

Embracing a Less-Is-More Approach

As I’ve explored vintage homemaking tips and reflected on my own grandparents, one thing stands out—they truly had fewer possessions than we do today. Our generation has become so consumer-driven that it’s no wonder many are now embracing a minimalist mindset again! When tackling a big declutter, it’s important to use practical sorting strategies to ensure you’re not just reorganizing things that don’t actually need to stay in your home.

Practical Sorting Tips

USE THE THREE-BOX METHOD

Sort items into three categories: Keep, Donate, or Discard. When I do a big clean, I like to use reusable bags for my kids’ outgrown clothes, which I wash and then sell at our local consignment shop. There are also online options like ThredUp, but I’ve found that local stores often give you more value for your items.

MAKE QUICK DECISIONS

Ask yourself: Is this item still useful in my home? Does it hold sentimental value? If the answer is no, it’s time to let it go. Drop it into one of your designated boxes or bags to keep the decluttering process moving efficiently.

DECLUTTER ROOM BY ROOM

As mentioned earlier, start with the areas in your home that collect the most clutter. You can also break it down into smaller sections, like drawers, pantries, or closets, which tend to become dumping grounds. Even clearing out just one space per day—or even per week—can make a huge difference in your home’s overall feel and functionality.

Sliding Bin Organizer // Under Sink Organizer // Toy Storage Cabinet // Storage Ottoman // Storage Bins // Woven Basket // Mason Jars // Food Storage Containers

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Creating a Home That’s Both Functional & Beautiful

I love having things well organized because it not only makes it easier to find what we need, but it also saves time—no more digging through clutter just to grab a single item! A well-organized home creates a sense of calm and efficiency, making daily routines smoother. Here are some of my favorite budget-friendly organization tools that help keep my home tidy while maintaining a vintage-inspired feel.

MASON JARS FOR PANTRY STAPLES

Mason jars are one of my go-to organization tools in the kitchen. They’re perfect for storing pantry staples like nuts, seeds, grains, and spices, and they also double as drinking glasses or containers for food prep like salads or overnight oats! With a variety of sizes available, they can fit just about any storage need!

WOVEN OR WICKER BASKETS

Baskets are a beautiful way to store everyday essentials while adding a cozy, vintage touch to your home. I love using them on pantry shelves, in the living room, or even in the bathroom to neatly tuck away items I don’t want left out. They’re an easy and stylish way to create order while keeping things accessible.

LABEL EVERYTHING FOR EASY ACCESS

A simple label maker can be a game changer! Labeling pantry containers, storage bins, and baskets ensures that everything has a designated place—making it easier for both you and your family to find what’s needed without creating more mess.

REPURPOSE VINTAGE FINDS FOR STORAGE (BONUS TIP!)

If you love a vintage aesthetic, consider using old tin containers, wooden crates, or antique glass jars for storage. Not only do they add charm to your home, but they also serve as functional and sustainable alternatives to plastic storage bins. You can often find these gems at thrift stores or flea markets at a great price!

Shopping finds, baskets from target, mason jars, label maker

Create Sustainable Systems for Maintenance

Keeping Your Home Fresh All Season Long

Maintaining your home is much easier when you develop simple, intentional daily habits. It may take some time to find a rhythm that works best for you, but if you're just starting out, here are two easy maintenance routines to help keep your space fresh and tidy.

10-Minute Tidy Session

Turn on some music and tackle a quick clean-up using your daily checklist. You’ll be amazed at how much you can get done in just 10 minutes! My non-negotiables for a quick tidy include:

✧ Wiping down kitchen counters – Keeps food prep areas clean and fresh.
✧ Quick bathroom refresh – A simple wipe-down of the sink and toilet (if you have boys, you know this is a must… daily!).
✧ Swapping out fresh towels – Both in the kitchen and bathroom for a clean feel.
✧ Making the beds – A simple habit that instantly makes the house feel more put together.

As you refine your routine and get faster, you may find yourself adding extra tasks. Challenge yourself to see just how much you can accomplish in these short tidy sessions!

Do a Weekly Reset

Dedicate time each week to refresh and reset your home for the days ahead. Pick a day that works best for you and your family—I personally love doing this on Sundays to set the tone for the upcoming week. My weekly reset includes:

✧ Fresh sheets on all the beds – Nothing feels better than crawling into a clean bed at the end of the day. This is also a good time to wash any extra blankets and throws so everything gets refreshed!
✧ Declutter & organize a few spaces – Specifically those high-traffic living spaces.
✧ Food prep for the week – Makes meals easier and reduces stress during busy days.
✧ Assigning family chores – Everyone pitches in to complete a task, making it quicker and more manageable.

Once everything is done, enjoy some well-earned family time together!

Keep the “Vintage Homemaker” Mindset

Turning Cleaning Into a Joyful Tradition

I know this isn’t always the case, but homemaking should truly feel rewarding, not overwhelming. When you care for your home, you’re tending to the space that means the most to your family—a place of love, comfort, and connection. The effort and intention you put into your home benefit everyone, and when your family joins in, they learn how to create a warm and nurturing space for their own future homes.

Celebrate Your Progress

Not everything will get done every single week—and that’s okay! But instead of focusing on what’s left to do, acknowledge your small wins:

✧ Finally organized that overflowing drawer? That’s progress!
✧ Sorted out the kids’ seasonal clothing and even made some extra cash at a consignment shop? That’s a win!
✧ Established a simple, daily tidying routine that makes life easier? That matters!

These might seem like small victories, but they add up—helping you create a home that feels lighter, more organized, and more aligned with your vision.

Make Cleaning a Family Effort

Teaching kids the value of caring for their home is a lifelong gift. Turn chores into something enjoyable rather than a dreaded task:

✧ Play music – A little background music can make cleaning feel less like work.
✧ Sing a song – Create a fun, silly cleaning tune to keep younger kids engaged.
✧ Make it a game – Challenge kids to find all the toys of a certain color or race to see who can put things away the fastest.

Homemaking is about creating a rhythm that works for your family—so find ways to make it meaningful and fun.

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