Spring is here! And so is the time to get into spring cleaning. To help make this process easier, here is our guide to help you make your home sparkle this year.
Make a List and Stick to It
Ready to get into spring cleaning? Oftentimes, it can feel pretty daunting to tackle cleaning your entire home. So like any big project, a list can really help out. Everyone’s spring cleaning list will look different, but you can count on finding common areas and rooms on everyone’s to-do lists. They usually include:
- Kitchen
- Living room
- Bathroom(s)
- Bedroom(s)
- Garage
With these areas defined, you can create a to-do list for each room. This not only will help you feel less overwhelmed, but it also reduces the time you spend looking for something to do in each room and helps make sure you clean everything. If you’re getting help from others, it also helps everybody know what’s already been done and what needs to be completed.
Get Rid of Clutter
One of the top priorities for many spring cleaners: de-cluttering. And for good reason, as studies show that a disorganized home adds to your stress level. It sends signals to your brain that work isn’t done. So now is the perfect time to take on this task.
Go through what you’ve accumulated since you last had a spring-cleaning session or since you moved into your home. Again, this task can seem big, so don’t be afraid to take this one space at a time. Sorting items into piles of keep, donate, and toss will help you keep the de-cluttering going. After you’re done, then you can start putting away your “keep” pile, throwing the “toss” items into the trash, and getting the “donate” pile items ready to be donated.
Always Work Top to Bottom
One of the essential cleaning tips you need to keep in mind as you spring clean is to work from top to bottom. When you do, the dust and debris from the top of a bookshelf and ceiling fans settle to the ground before you clean the floors. If you work from the bottom up, you’ll have to redo the floors, which only adds more work. So work smarter, not harder! Avoid making yourself do extra cleaning and start cleaning high and work your way down.
Tackle the Essentials
You may know which areas you need to clean in your home, but you might be stuck on what tasks you need to get done. Here are some essential tasks you don’t want to forget in your spring cleaning.
- Wipe walls and baseboards. Your walls and baseboards need some love every once in a while, and spring is a great time to do so. Take a damp sponge and wipe down your walls and baseboards to get rid of any marks or scuffs.
- Dust light fixtures and ceiling fans. Forgot about dusting your ceiling fans and light fixtures? Don’t worry, it happens. Use this time to remove cobwebs and dust with your duster or microfiber towel.
- Clean doorknobs, hinges, and handles. After a long winter, it can be a good idea to give your doorknobs and handles a good wipe down and disinfecting. And don’t forget the hinges, either. Wipe down everything with a paper towel to remove dust, and then wipe handles and knobs with a disinfecting wipe.
- Wash windows. It’s time to let the spring sunshine in with clean windows. Spray your windows down with a mixture of water and vinegar, and use a squeegee or microfiber cloth to remove the mixture without leaving streaks.
- Clean sliding door tracks. If you have sliding glass doors, don’t forget to perform this task, as the tracks can get grimy and gross. Use an all-purpose cleaner and wipe away with a paper towel.
- Perform gutter maintenance. Your roof’s drainage system diverts thousands of gallons of water annually from your home’s exterior and foundation walls. Give this hardworking system some love and make sure debris is cleared out, especially before the heavy rains.
- Safety inspection. Consider spring cleaning your prompt to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Don’t Forget Odd Jobs
And of course, don’t forget the odd jobs! Besides the essential tasks we’ve listed above, don’t forget these other tasks.
- Cleaning the oven
- Cleaning air vents
- Changing air filter
- Tossing expired items from your refrigerator and pantry
- Cleaning outdoor light fixtures
- Paint touch-ups
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