It's spring cleaning time!
Time to expose every corner, tackle every speck of dust, wash surfaces you haven't touched in months, and declutter your home, life and mind.
Easier said than done? You aren't alone. The good news is there are a few steps you can stick to that will help the chore become less burdensome, enjoyable even, freeing up space in your heart, home and mind to tackle those goals you've been meaning to get a jump start on.
Here are some things to remember:
STEP 1: CREATE AN ACTION PLAN AND STICK TO IT!
Rome wasn't built in a day, and thinking you can completely overhaul your home in one afternoon may be a tad bit ambitious. However, making lists of what you hope to accomplish and spreading it out over a long weekend can help you keep things under control and take breaks in between. Get the whole family on board and assign tasks to each member of the household. Remember, many hands makes light work.
STEP 2: HAVE SUPPLIES ON HAND!
Take a quick inventory of the cleaning supplies you have on hand, and what you'll need to pick up. There are plenty of green options for cleaning solutions on the market (and do-it-yourself solutions) that are safe for children and pets, and clean just as well as the toxic stuff. In addition to your cleaning products, consider purchasing plastic bins, closet organizers and other storage solutions for easy decluttering.
STEP 3: DECLUTTER FIRST
Analyze each room of your home and think about the items you really 'need' versus the ones that are just there for 'memories' or because you've always thought it would come in handy at some point in the future. Items others would get better use out of should be donated, while the remaining items could perhaps be better organized. This is where the organizational supplies from Step 2 comes in handy. Extend the decluttering to your pantry. Retailers and restaurants follow the 'First in First Out' rule, meaning new groceries should always be stored at the back of the cupboard so the ones that expire first are used first. This makes sense for cleaning house, and also helps with meal planning for a busy family as you'll have a better knowledge of your inventory of ingredients.
STEP 4: WORK YOUR WAY DOWN
Start on the upper level of your home and work your way to the lower levels, leaving the basement to last. As you clean, you'll likely stir up dust and debris that will eventually re-settle, so to cover better ground and avoid messing up areas that have already been cleaned, work your way downwards. Start with bedroom closets and bathroom cupboards, then move on to principle rooms. Expect to spend a large portion of your cleaning schedule in the kitchen and home office.
STEP 5: FOCUS ON HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS & USE SHORT CUTS
Don't want to clean the entire carpet? Use a spot cleaner to touch up high-traffic areas only. Use multipurpose cleaners to limit the number of different bottles you're carting around from room to room, or implement tools that work double duty, such as clothes steamers to clean curtains and remove wrinkles without having to take the curtains off the windows. Clean smarter, not necessarily harder to achieve efficient results.
And the very best advice of all would be to not put it off. Before you know it, summer will be in full swing and it will be much easier to lean towards cottage getaways over chores any day!
Looking for more information about getting in the swing of spring cleaning, need downloadable checklists or other advice about homeownership? Don't hesitate to contact us. We're always here to help in any way we can!
Happy Cleaning!
- The Stuart Sinclair Team
www.TheStuartSinclairTeam.com
info@thestuartsinclairteam.com
