Spring is officially here! Birds are chirping, green buds are starting to appear, days are longer and it is time for the age old tradition of spring cleaning which allows us to de-clutter and freshen up our homes giving us a fresh start for spring and summer.
It need not be overwhelming! Start with a list of what you want to accomplish. It is best to have a separate list for each room – plenty of lists are available online that you can edit to suit your purposes. In general concentrate on the areas of your home that have been neglected and need the extra attention and skip the parts that have been recently cleaned. If you have a busy schedule you may even need to calendar your cleaning time or jot down your chores on your planner.
Spring Cleaning Supplies
The supplies you need will depend on the family and house but there are a few basic categories you need to think about when purchasing or gathering your supplies for your spring cleaning.
- Trash – trash bags, baking soda
- Surface cleaners – all-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, kitchen cleaner, wipes, cloths or sponges, gloves
- Special cleaners – oven cleaner, carpet shampoo, toilet bowl cleaner, bleach, silver/brass cleaner, wood polish, bleach
- Floors – vacuum, dustpan and brush, mop and bucket, floor cleaner
- Organization – boxes, storage containers, labels
Clutter
Start with clearing your home of clutter. The general rule of thumb is that if you have not used it in the past year you do not need it! When you start cleaning make sure your have boxes or bags available for items that can be donated, items for a garage sale and items you cannot part with that need to be boxed up or put in storage. Go through your pantry and kitchen cupboards to dispose of any expired or stale food items including spices and flavorings. Clear your cabinets and household surfaces of any items that may have gathered there but are not used on a regular basis.
Outdoor/Annual Chores
Don’t forget your yard, patio, balcony or garage. You may not have visited them since Fall but it is time to bite the bullet and tackle cleaning the BBQ grill, lawn furniture, gutters, etc. Now is also the perfect time to check your batteries in your fire alarm or carbon monoxide alarm.
Helpers
Don’t forget to enlist your helpers with your spring cleaning! Even an unwilling helper can make a big difference in your workload and a reward at the end will make it worth it for everyone. So involve your entire family including kids or consider outside help. Rua can help in your home with getting your appointments scheduled with carpet steamers, house cleaning services or window cleaners etc. and can provide office spring cleaning services.