Even if it doesn’t quite feel like spring yet, spring has officially sprung and it’s time for us to do the same. The best way to transition from winter to spring? Do some deep cleaning! Doing a thorough cleanse of your home will help declutter your space and clear your mind. Here are a few tips for optimizing your spring cleaning.
Clean from top to bottom
Don’t you just hate when you sweep the floor, then have to sweep it again once you’ve dusted the shelves? It never hurts to clean something twice, but in order to stop yourself from cleaning additional (and self-induced) messes tidy your home from top to bottom. It’s a win-win!
Set aside time
It’s tempting to what to do a little bit of cleaning each day, but you’ll be so much more productive if you do your cleaning all at once. Not only will it keep you from procrastinating, but by seeing the results right away – you’ll be motivated to go the extra mile.
Focus on one thing at a time
If you’ve ever read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, you know that it’s best to go from category to category instead of room to room. Treat your cleaning the same way.
Utilize vinegar….
Instead of purchasing expensive, potentiall toxic cleaning products, buy a gallon of vinegar for a few dollars and use it as a DIY cleaning agent. As an example, you can soak your shower head overnight and the vinegar will remove mineral buildup and do the hard work for you -naturally.
…and baking soda
Remember the classic elementary school volcano experiment? Those ingredients (baking soda and vinegar) are just as good at cleaning as they are at making volcanos erupt. Combine liquid soap, baking soda, water, and vinegar in a squirt bottle for a DIY solution that’s crazy effective.
Use your dishwasher
If you have a built-in cleaning device in your kitchen, take advantage of it! A lot of items, like light fixture covers and stove hood filters, can be cleaned in the dishwasher. So long as you double check that the item you’re putting in is dishwasher safe, this will save you a lot of scrubbing time.
If you haven’t used it in six months, get rid of it
The six-month rule is a good guideline to follow. With the exception of seasonal items, if there’s a t-shirt you haven’t worn, a face mask you haven’t used or a book you never got around to reading, get rid of it. Not only will you make space for other items, but by eliminating clutter you’ll be creative a more positive environment for yourself.
Recycle!
Yes, you’re choosing things that you want to keep and ones that you want to get rid of, but instead of throwing everything in the trash – recycle what you can. If you’re getting rid of items that could be used in somebody else’s home, donate them to a local organization or offer them to friends. You’ll be surprised at how something you don’t want can really help another person.
Yes! I’m listening to Marie Kondo’s book right now! Its hard to do everything in one shot since I’m also chasing a toddler around, but I’ve made HUGE dents in the clutter arena because of it! I pretty much schedule a donation pickup every week. It feels… liberating!