Spring cleaning has come a long way from dusting shelves and scrubbing floors. According to a 2024 survey from the American Cleaning Institute, 80% of Americans engage in spring cleaning at least once a year. But here’s the modern twist: new apps and digital tools are turning what used to feel like a once-a-year marathon into a more manageable, tech-enabled routine.
Whether you’re tackling overflowing closets, chaotic junk drawers or the digital clutter on your devices, there’s an app for that. Here’s how technology can help you declutter your home and your mind this spring.
Why spring cleaning matters for your well-being
Before we dive into the tech, let’s talk about why decluttering is worth your time. A 2025 survey commissioned by The Home Depot found that 85% of homeowners and renters believe spring cleaning positively affects their mental health, and 80% say they feel a sense of accomplishment once they’re done. Mental health professionals agree: a tidier home is linked to lower stress and a better mood.
The challenge? Among those who spring clean, nearly half say it takes at least three days to finish, with more than one in five spending five days or more on the task. That’s where these helpful apps come in.
Cleaning and chore schedulers
Apps like Tody and Sweepy help break big cleaning projects into smaller, recurring tasks organized by room. Instead of tackling everything in one exhausting weekend, you can spread tasks over days or weeks. Many use color-coded status bars to show what’s overdue without making you feel overwhelmed. It’s a gentler approach that keeps you on track without the guilt.
Home inventory apps
Ever bought something only to discover you already had one buried in a closet? Home inventory apps like Sortly let you create visual catalogs of your belongings by snapping photos and assigning categories. Beyond helping you declutter, these tools are great for insurance documentation, tracking warranties and avoiding duplicate purchases. Some newer apps even use AI to automatically tag items, so you can search “camping gear” and see exactly where it’s stored.
Decluttering and coaching apps
Need a little motivation? Some apps let you photograph problem areas and then provide step-by-step guidance and daily challenges. Gamified elements like streaks, badges and mini-challenges can make it easier to start and maintain momentum, especially for those paper piles or overstuffed closets that seem impossible to tackle.
Don’t forget digital decluttering
Spring cleaning isn’t just for your physical space. A 2025 survey found that 69% of respondents kept digital files, photos or apps they no longer needed, and nearly one in five felt overwhelmed by the idea of cleaning up their digital clutter. Inbox decluttering tools can scan for subscription emails, help you unsubscribe in bulk and consolidate remaining updates into a single digest. Set aside time to delete unused apps, organize photos into albums and back up important files. Think of it as spring cleaning for your screens.
Appliance and product management
Tired of digging through drawers for appliance manuals? Apps in this category store digital copies of manuals, maintenance schedules and warranty details by scanning model numbers or labels. They can send reminders about filter changes or routine maintenance, helping prevent breakdowns. Bonus: once you’ve captured everything digitally, you can recycle those paper manuals and reduce clutter at the same time.
Our take
The bigger picture here is that spring cleaning tech is turning an annual chore into a lighter, ongoing habit. These apps encourage you to think about organization as a routine rather than an emergency overhaul. For Americans, that means spring cleaning can become less of a once-a-year grind and more of an annual reset button on systems that run quietly in the background all year.
What apps or tools have you discovered for keeping your home organized? Share your favorites with the Shop Talk community!
Did you know? Cleaning beats taxes
In a 2024 national survey of U.S. adults who spring clean, 80% said they would rather clean their homes than fill out their tax forms. So if you’re feeling motivated to tackle those closets, you’re in good company!