Thinking about forgoing spring cleaning this year? Think again. Putting off the annual undertaking can invite dust, unwelcomed pests and general disorganization into your home. The good news is that tackling the task is not nearly as daunting as you might think.
The key is to break it up into small projects:
1. Make a list. Write down
of all the rooms in your house. As you create the list, make a note next to each
room of any furniture or large items you plan to sell, donate or rearrange. It’s
helpful to physically go through each room rather than create the list by
memory.
2. Group the rooms. Divide
your house into several sections. You might choose to group the rooms by floor,
type (bedrooms, bathrooms) or size. You’ll want to end up with three to five
sections.
3. Create a master
checklist. You’ll use this as your guide to clean each room, so
be comprehensive. The checklist can include wiping down ceiling fans, dusting,
cleaning the baseboards, vacuuming or mopping the floor, cleaning the blinds
and/or drapes, washing the linens, packing up winter clothes or other seasonal
items and more. Remember to dust before you vacuum, sweep or mop—and start from
the top down so you don’t leave dust on the floor.
4. Gather cleaning supplies.
Take an inventory of your current supplies and make a note of
what you need to buy. For tools, make sure you have a hand duster, broom, mop
(ones with reusable microfiber cloth pads are preferable), vacuum cleaner, Magic
Eraser, squeegee for windows and glass surfaces, rubber gloves and rags or old
towels. For cleaning solutions, consider making your own. Vinegar, baking soda
and lemon are common ingredients for eco-friendly
solvent.
5. Get started. Spring
cleaning is most easily managed when you can break it up into several weekends.
Tackle each group of rooms at a time, and don’t be afraid to enlist the help of
the kids. Offer incentives: If you plan to sell old clothes or toys at a garage
sale, let them keep the money from the sale of their items if they help clean
their rooms.
Be prepared before you embark on spring cleaning and
you’ll find that one of the biggest household tasks of the year isn’t so
intimidating after all.