Spring is in full swing, and it’s a great time to declutter the spaces in which you live and work. From cleaning out closets, to dusting off shelves, to making a few extra bucks from unwanted items, spring cleaning does not have to be such a chore with the help of a few smartphone apps.
Good Housekeeping @Home (iPhone, iPod Touch, Android Free)
This app wins our seal of approval. Good Housekeeping magazine may take you back to the forgotten days of Home Economics class, but this long-standing publication delivers a ton of smart solutions for the home. The app includes cleaning tips for how to best remove various stains from upholstery or how to scrub a ceramic bathtub. The app also provides tips on how to reorganize furniture and redecorate rooms. The Stain Buster cleaning guide will keep you on the right track with instructions on how to clean quickly and without breaking your back. There is also a News & Tips section, which is helpful for maintaining a healthy home even after spring cleaning is complete.
EggDrop – The Smarter Neighborhood Marketplace (iPhone, iPod Touch, Android Free)
Spring cleaning also affords us the chance to make a few bucks by unloading things that we don’t really need. The easiest and most productive way to do this is to sell them online, which is why EggDrop is so useful for spring cleaners. It enables real-time buying and selling at the local level, so you can skip the auctions, promotions and shipping that come with other web-based marketplaces. List items for sale along with photos and descriptions, and share them on Facebook and Twitter. You can search for items by location, and message the buyer or seller immediately. EggDrop is known for its masterful interface, which is cleaner and more streamlined than Craigslist. There is also a reputation system built in to track the best users, and, unlike eBay, there are no listing or transaction fees.
Home Inventory (iPhone, iPod Touch $4.99)
As you go about your cleaning this spring, you may encounter items that you forgot you owned. However, having a detailed record of your property can be extremely important should you need to fill out insurance claims in case of robbery, fire or natural disaster. Home Inventory, which also has a free lite version that you can try out, will help you record important data for your belongings, including make, model, serial number, purchase date and purchase price.
52 Organizing Missions (iPad $9.99)
For anyone who tries to stay organized no matter what time of year it is, 52 Organizing Missions is a must-buy app, even at close to 10 bucks. Weekly 30-minute guided sessions available through the app include: “Detoxing Your Briefcase,” “Organizing Your Bill Payment,” “Decluttering,” “Cleaning Out Your Closet” and “Organizing Specific Rooms in Your House.” Any of these sessions can help you finally conquer that massive, undone “to-do” list that’s been keeping you up at night.
Clean Freak Cleaning Schedule (iPhone, iPod Touch $0.99)
For those who are on a strict cleaning schedule, or who would like to be, there is the Clean Freak Cleaning Schedule app for $0.99. It helps users organize a rotating priority list, so you don’t feel overwhelmed at the prospect of cleaning the entire house all at once. For example, you can put the most attention-worthy items on a weekly to-do list. But areas of the house that don’t get as dirty can be placed on the two- or three-week cycle. Once you have completed a task, check it off your list. The app then keeps count of the number of days that have passed since you last completed specific chores.
RELATED LINKS
Good Housekeeping @Home
iPhone, iPod Touch — http://www.appolicious.com/shine/apps/418007-good-housekeeping-home-zumobi-inc
Android — http://www.androidapps.com/shine/apps/1086353-good-housekeeping-home-the-zumobi-network
EggDrop
iPhone, iPod Touch — http://www.appolicious.com/shine/apps/708460-eggdrop-the-smarter-neighborhood-marketplace-eggcartel-inc
Android — http://www.androidapps.com/shine/apps/787742-eggdrop-local-marketplace-eggcartel-inc
Home Inventory
iPhone, iPod Touch — http://www.appolicious.com/tech/apps/71171-home-inventory-robb-hendrick
52 Organizing Missions
iPad – http://www.appolicious.com/finance/apps/376799-52-organizing-missions-happiness-strategies-pty-ltd
Clean Freak Cleaning Schedule
iPhone, iPod Touch — http://www.appolicious.com/finance/apps/47441-clean-freak-cleaning-schedule-eli-chen
(Have questions or comments about a mobile app? Contact brad@appolicious.com, or visit www.appolicious.com and www.androidapps.com to learn more.)
