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I will be the first to admit that I don’t like cleaning.
Cleaning, as in scrubbing. Mopping. Disinfecting. If it involves a sponge, no thank you.
Please understand, I definitely LOVE having a clean home! But on any typical day, I’ll go out of my way to do many other things before resorting to cleaning. I can, however, manage regular laundry, vacuuming, and tidying up—I really don’t mind those. (Remember, no sponge!)
But usually this time of year, when winter starts to turn to sunnier days, I actually get excited to clean and refresh the house. Open the windows! Let some fresh air in! Make everything sparkle and shine (and smell like lemon)! Because once the weather stays warm, there are plenty of fun outdoor activities to start doing with the family, and I know I won’t be stuck inside cleaning then!
How to Get Your Home Spring Ready
Here are four tips to getting your home in tip-top shape for spring:
1. Attack the Clutter
Before you can start cleaning, you’ll want to clear the clutter out of the way. Put away any seasonal items and decor, such as winter snowmen or wreaths. Organize items into storage bins or boxes, and label the containers so you’ll know exactly where to find your decor next year. Assist children with putting toys, books and clothes where they belong (or separating unwanted items to donate). Control paper clutter by sorting mail, shredding papers, and filing or scanning important documents. Put away clean dishes and clear off countertops, dressers, and desks.
2. Start a Master Task List
Before diving into cleaning, think of all the areas you need to scrub, launder, or repair and start a list. You may want to organize your list by the room of the house, or by the type of task, like below:
Master Tasks (by type):
Laundry: curtains, blankets, bed linens, rugs, shower curtains/mats/towels, etc.
Dust/Vacuum: top of cabinets, high ledges/molding, ceiling fans and light fixtures, windows, furniture, picture frames and wall hangings, baseboards, etc.
Scrub: refrigerator/freezer, oven, sinks, showers and tubs, toilet bowls, floors, etc.
Repair: light bulbs, broken fixtures, appliances, etc.
Get master task lists by room in my FREE Printable Spring Cleaning Checklist when you sign up below to receive my exclusive emails!
3. Gather Your Supplies
Once you have your master list of tasks to accomplish, you’ll want to gather all the necessary supplies. Start with the supplies you already have in your house, and then make a list of any additional items you’ll need to replenish.
Here are most of the basic cleaning supplies you’ll need:
- microfiber cleaning cloths (use for almost everything—cars, eyewear, bathroom & kitchen surfaces, computer and phone screens…)
- cleaning rags (I usually use old towels, washcloths, and t-shirts)
- bristled scrub brushes (ideal for bathroom tile and tub)
- sponges
- reusable gloves
- vacuum
- broom
- dustpan
- mop
- cleaning caddy (many uses other than cleaning!)
- multipurpose bucket
- assorted cleaners, such as my DIY All-Purpose Spray Cleaner (which costs less than $0.50 to make!)
We buy most of our supplies from Amazon, but Grove Collaborative is also one of my favorite places to shop. They carry great prices on natural and non-toxic household cleaners, detergents, personal care products, baby care, and more! (Click here to get $10 off your first order!)
4. Work From Top to Bottom
No matter which room or task you begin with, check off your list by cleaning top to bottom. This means dusting top ledges, ceiling fans and light fixtures before cleaning countertops; clean ceiling air vents before dusting furniture; washing curtains and vacuuming upholstery before vacuuming or mopping the floors.
With spring just around the corner, you’ll want to get a jump start on cleaning and organizing your home. If you’re like me, you’ll do almost anything to make this daunting task as efficient and pain-free as possible, so I’ve created something to help you out!
FREE Printable Spring Cleaning Checklist
I’m sharing my extensive checklist of cleaning tasks that will get my home ultra-clean and fresh. The checklist will tell you exactly what to clean in each room of your house. If you work through the list this week, your home will be spotless and sparkling by the first day of spring! Just enter your name and email address below to get the freebie! (And then breathe a sigh of relief until deep cleaning comes around again next year!)
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