6 apps to kickstart your spring clean

Keep your home and phone tidy with these apps

Springtime is a season of renewal, a time to refresh, rejuvenate, and reset. Naturally then, this issue’s regular roundup focuses on apps that will help you achieve a new level of organization and harmony in the home, whether that means ticking off domestic chores or delegating tasks among family members. But spring cleaning isn’t just a real–world pursuit — it extends into the digital realm, too. That’s why we’ve included some apps that will help you clear out the cruft from your photos, purge your contacts, and consolidate your documents and files. Keep reading to begin the big tidy up! Tim Hardwick

Remo Free Made for iPhone, iPad

If you want to spring clean your phone, rooting out duplicates in your photo library is a great way to start and will free up your storage space. Remo’s free app quietly scans your phone for said pictures in the background while you continue to use your device, and will alert you to exact and similar matches that you can then manually review and delete all at once or one by one.

Cleaner Pro Free (IAPs) Made for iPhone, iPad

Has your contacts book gotten out of control? Cleaner Pro lets you merge duplicate contacts, removing multiple in one fell swoop. The app can also filter your contacts and make it easier to track down old and unnecessary entries. If you ever make a mistake, Cleaner will offer to restore a backup, which you can also export for safekeeping via email, Google Drive, and Dropbox.

Documents by Readdle Free (IAPs) Made for iPhone, iPad

If your files are scattered across multiple devices and services, this app is the ideal hub with which to bring them all together. With a clear interface, integration support for all of the most popular cloud services, and a wealth of import options including WebDav, you’ll be managing your documents better in no time. It even boasts playback features for media files in your collection.

Home Routines $4.99 Made for iPhone, iPad

Home Routines lets you quickly create lists of jobs that need to be done regularly at around the same time or on the same day. The app also has a healthy number of handy pre–set tasks that you can assign to individual rooms, which can be grouped into zones to help focus your attention on specific areas of the home. The app also includes a simple to–do list, a timer, and free sync across devices.

OurHome Free Made for iPhone, iPad

For families that live in a mad house, this app could be a lifesaver. Using a shared calendar, OurHome helps you to assign tasks to individual family members and schedule household chores like cleaning, unpacking groceries and organizing items. If you have kids, you’ll particularly appreciate how it lets you introduce responsibilities at an early age and reward them so they stay motivated.

Wunderlist Free Made for iPhone, iPad

Straightforward and functional, Wunderlist is a great GTD solution that allows you to track all of your tasks and sync them over multiple devices. You can add notes and checklists, upload files, add deadlines and set reminders, all under a single to–do item, then star it to bring it to the top of your list. Its clean, user–friendly interface makes it easy to share to–dos. Best of all, it’s free.