Spring Cleaning Checklist: Ten Tips for a Tidy Home
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March 5th, 2023
Spring is the perfect time to tidy up your space and eliminate the clutter that’s been piling up all winter. We know this can be a daunting task, but you will be surprised at how quickly you can move through your spring cleaning once you have a manageable plan and utilize a storage unit to help you out. Here are a few tips to get you started.
1. Give Yourself Time
Rather than trying to squeeze the whole spring cleaning project into only a few hours' time, plan to spend a weekend (or two) focused on cleaning so you can take your time and feel less stressed. Start with one room and move on to the next until the project is complete.
2. Start by Decluttering
Creating space by throwing out old items, donating things you no longer use, and recycling whatever you can is a great way to build momentum for your spring cleaning project. If you have a hard time parting with objects around the house, use the one-year rule: If it hasn’t been used in a year, get rid of it. Donate clothing, kitchen items, and toys to your local thrift store or charity. Throw away anything with holes or broken parts.
3. Go Through the Junk Drawer
Whenever I do my spring cleaning, I like to start at the shallow end, focusing on the smallest area first: the junk drawer. Everyone has that one drawer (usually the random, awkwardly placed drawer in the kitchen) they toss all the miscellaneous items into. It’s a great place to store things out of sight when you’re expecting company, but it can get out of hand. Dump out the contents of your junk drawer on the table or floor and pick through it, applying the one-year rule to decide what you should dispose of.
4. Tackle Those Overlooked Areas
It’s time to take notice of those often overlooked surfaces that have been gathering dust and grime all year. Start from the top, knocking the cobwebs from the ceiling fans and light fixtures. Next, wipe around door frames and window sills. Finally, sponge down those baseboards.
5. Clean Under Furniture and Appliances
When was the last time you looked behind your stove, or under your sofa? Now is a good time to pull out those appliances and furniture and clean up. You’ll be surprised how many lost treasures you can find back there too!
6. Wash The Walls
If you notice that your walls are getting pretty grimy, now is an excellent time to grab a bucket of warm water and some microfiber cloths and get scrubbing. If they’re particularly grimy, pour a bit of degreaser into your water bucket.
7. Freshen up the Curtains
Curtains aren’t dirty enough to launder, but according to Donna Smallin, you can remove dust by putting them in the dryer with a fabric softener sheet.
8. Clean out the Refrigerator
Count yourself lucky that refrigerators and freezers no longer gather frost! The worst we have to worry about is digging into the back to find whatever science experiment is growing there. The easiest way to tackle this chore is by pulling everything out of the refrigerator and freezer, so you can be sure you’re getting into every nook and cranny of the space. Throw out anything that is expired, wipe down the shelves, and replace the items you want to keep.
Pro Tip: Hot water easily removes sticky spills in the refrigerator and freezer.
9. Clean Floors Last
Now that everything is tidy, it’s time to shampoo the carpets or give the hard floors a hearty scrubbing. If your carpets are fairly new and clean, a simple freshening will do. Sprinkle some baking soda over them and let them sit for a few minutes before vacuuming. Use a degreaser or bleach-free disinfectant in your mop water when scrubbing hard floors.
10. Perform a Safety Check
Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It’s also a good idea to have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and garage. If you don’t have one, consider purchasing a couple, learn how to use it, and keep it in a safe and designated area of your home.
NEWS AND TIPS