Spring Cleaning Tips - With Ashley And Company

With these simple Spring cleaning tips you won't have to throw out your back to get your house looking good as new. Plus learn how Google Chromecast Audio can help make it fun!

Tip #1: Make a plan and pace yourself.

This is tip number 1 because it is easily why any type of major house cleaning fails. You don't have a plan. Maybe I'll start upstairs, oh the kitchen cabinets, ugh the garage. Yeah don't do that to yourself. Also, who said this has to be a sprint. I saw those pins: clean the whole house in 2 days! Simmer down Betty I'm not trying to throw out my back.

Instead, try focusing on one room for a few days. Large projects like the basement and the garage might take several days or even a few weekends. Look at everything through the lens of practicality. Do you need it? Does it make you happy? Do I want to find a place for it when it has obviously been sitting in a forgotten corner for 5 years?

Tip #2: Have fun…it is possible

Make cleaning less boring with a dance party or all out jam session. Listening to music is how I get through even my basic week to week straightening up. Laundry is a little less blah when I can belt out One Direction at the top of my lungs!

I love that with Google Chromecast Audio I can use my old speakers. They work just fine except they don't connect to my new phone. So it's been sitting collecting dust while I debated getting a new one. With Chromecast Audio I don't have to get new speakers. It allows me to play music from my phone, tablet, or laptop through these old speakers. Don't worry it works on new speakers too I'm just behind on the times in this department!

1. Listen to your favorite music on your speaker.

By using your phone, it’s easy to play, pause, or change the volume from anywhere in the home. Plus you can still text or call all while streaming. And it won't drain your battery.

2. Crystal clear sound, powered by the cloud

Use Chromecast Audio to stream over Wi-Fi which has many advantages over Bluetooth including higher sound quality and your phone, tablet, or laptop can be anywhere in the house as long as it is on wifi.

3. Enjoy hundreds of your favorite audio apps

Stream millions of songs, radio stations, and podcasts through apps like Pandora, Spotify, YouTube Music, and Google Play Music. Find more at here.

4. Play music everywhere with Multi-room option.

Any room or rooms in the house can be filled with music. Simply group your Chromecast Audio devices together to listen to the same music on multiple speakers.

Set up was simple, and only took a matter of minutes.

The Chromecast Audio even works on my daughter's Princess CD player. Perfect timing too, since we have her birthday party this weekend. Using both Chromecast Audio hookups we can have the Moana soundtrack blasting all over the house!

Tip #3: Let it go and maybe make some money too.

And I don't mean the song. I am as guilty as the next mom who hates giving things up that my kids no longer use or play with. It's hard when you feel sentimental towards things. But you have to ask yourself why are you keeping it? Will it ever get used again? If I move do I really want to take this with me? That's what helps me at least.

For anything in good condition you can try selling in local Facebook Groups. I give myself a time frame and if it doesn't get sold by that time then I donate to a local non-profit. Somethings are not worth selling but still might be in decent shape. Donate. Others are so holy there is barely anything left to the original item. Toss it.

It might be a bit of a struggle at first but in the end your mind will feel better when you have a lot more open, non-cluttered space and less things to collect dust!

Tip #4: Get the whole family involved.

If you children are old enough to do basic cleaning up they can help with Spring cleaning too. Once their rooms were finished, ours were delegated to running for new trash bags and bending over to pick up stuff. Like I said, I'm not throwing out my back!

This is actually a lot easier when you make it fun with your Chromecast Audio. It's amazing what kids will clean up if you're willing to get a little goofy with them.