There’s a lot to celebrate about spring - fresh blooms, longer hours of sunlight, and even the chirping of birds. While you might be tempted to sit back and simply enjoy all the things the season has to offer, there is another tradition we think you should definitely partake in - spring cleaning. Spring is truly a chance to start afresh. And there is no better place to do it than your own home. The activity comes highly recommended by experts, especially for those of us who live with allergies and breathing issues. The challenge of tackling your entire house might seem quite daunting to begin. But it doesn’t have to be so! We have prepared quite a comprehensive checklist to make the spring cleaning job seem more approachable for you.
Start with Your Cleaning Supplies
While you might be excited to kickstart the great spring cleaning of 2022, you might find your current cleaning materials simply don’t hold up. A good place to start might be that little cabinet housing your age-old cleaning supplies. Go for a complete overhaul of your supplies. Do some research on the best available alternatives, and replace ones that may be toxic to your home or the environment. However, poor quality won't be the only issue at hand. Some of the products you have on hand might be using outdated methods or techniques. There might be better options that will help you get through your chores faster and easier. Invest in better brooms, scrubbers, cleaning solutions, and even a handy pair of brand-new gloves.
The Room by Room Approach
Home decor experts and regular neatniks are sure to stand united behind this philosophy. Approaching each room separately isn’t just the right way, it is simply good sense. A smart approach is strategizing how you will go about it, thinking about the problem areas, and beginning with them. You must keep in mind that each room will come with a different cleaning routine and areas that you need to pay attention to. In case you are starting with the kitchen, make sure you start with the reorganization of your cabinets and end with a thorough sanitization.
You should also know that you don’t have to spend an equal amount of time in each room. Some areas may have been recently cleaned or are attended to regularly and therefore don’t require that amount of attention to detail. Even smaller areas like the entryway just need a disciplined restructuring to look brand new.
Don’t Ignore the Small Things
Cleaning your entire home is no small task. When it comes to tackling a task this massive, we are all guilty of usually ignoring the nooks and crannies. Make sure you don’t ignore the small yet important appliances in the house like the microwave or the vacuum. These reliable electronics pick up a heavy load but tend to get ignored in the long run. They however require an equal amount of care so your environment doesn’t get contaminated in the long run. Even the smaller spots in your house like the balcony or breakfast nook could benefit from a spring revamp. This can involve a complex undertaking like replacing your tired old furniture or something simple like a repainting job or even just some quality DIY.
Prepare for the Next Season
Spring is also a great time to prepare for the rising temperatures ahead, so your summer fun isn’t marred by the heat. This might involve rethinking the color palette of your home and swapping out the warmer tones for cooler variants like white and blue. You can also replace your patio furniture. This will let you enjoy more al-fresco dinners or even some iced tea out on the porch. Replace any broken items and inspect anything that could cause trouble in the future. Prevent excess draft from coming in and keep moisture buildup at bay by repairing any caulking around doors and windows. You can also check for insects and mold, and restore affected areas immediately to prevent future damage.
Say Goodbye to Things You Don’t Need
A modern resident knows much too well how easy it is for clutter to build up. Unused things you no longer have any use for stay put in your home without getting tossed out for a long time. Cabinets and closets serve as the usual suspects that house these defunct items. Now is a good time to get rid of things that no longer serve a purpose. So take a long look around the house and analyze what you need and what you can get rid of or donate. This is especially true when it comes to your wardrobe, unused clothes can pile up and become a dreary sight during your everyday routine. Determine what you can do with an overflowing storage unit, and add extra shelves or racks if you need them to make your everyday routine easier.
Tips and Tricks to Tackle the Dirt
A sparkling clean home is no place for dirt. While you can admit you have a hard time tackling spots and stains, it can be difficult to find hacks that actually work. In our experience, we have found that dirt can take many forms and require different solutions. You can erase scuffs on your hardwood floors and wipe out wall doodles with baking soda and a damp cloth. Get rid of the grime buildup on your microwave by steaming a lemon in a cup of water and then cleaning up the remnants.
Even your sheets and linens can be spot cleaned with the right remover. Wash out your washing machine on an empty load to get rid of residue. Even everyday items like shaving cream can help get rid of water spots while cornstarch and rubbing alcohol give you a smudge-free window. Use aromatherapy and culinary ingredients to your advantage and tackle the inevitable problem areas. Don’t forget hard-to-reach crevices just because they are hard. Break out your DIY skills to get rid of these stains.
Refresh Your Cleaning Habits
No one likes hours of strenuous cleaning up. This scenario can be easily avoided in the future if you take your time to establish some healthy cleaning habits right now. Ensure you get the entire family involved. And don’t fall into the trap of making this deep cleaning activity a one-time thing. We are not of course suggesting that you go all out every time you clean. But members of your house will definitely appreciate a set time where they can get down to their assigned chores. Reserve 10 to 15 minutes every day to tidy up the house. And schedule any of the big jobs you want to take up on a weekly basis. You can also make sure that everybody participates in the spring cleaning activity so everyone is familiar with the kind of tasks at hand.
Cleaning activities can seem like quite the menace before you get down to business. This doesn’t have to be the case with some timely planning, a committed schedule, and some tips and tricks up your sleeve. We have set out an outline that you can follow to make the spring cleaning activity a lot more optimized and fun than usual. However, it is ultimately up to you to put on the gloves to tackle the mess.