It’s that time of year again! The time where everyone gets the sudden urge to organize and clean their entire house. In a weird way, it makes a lot of sense. Spring is the season of renewal. Winter’s over, the kids are back in school after a couple of breaks, and you want your house to look and feel as beautiful and new as the world outside. Of course, that’s a simple idea on paper, but it can be a bit stressful once you get started.
Are you stressed and unsure about how to tackle spring cleaning? Don’t worry. We’re here to help. We’ve scoured the internet, done a bunch of research, and compiled our top ten spring cleaning tips for Spring Cleaning, 2021 Edition.
#1 Organize, Declutter, Minimize
The first in our list of spring cleaning tips is a doozy. Organizing, decluttering, and minimizing is not just a trend. It’s an incredibly useful way to jumpstart your spring cleaning marathon. Don’t underestimate this particular job because it can be complicated, but if you really want to clean your home correctly, you must get rid of the clutter. This will create space in your home, allowing you to identify the areas that need the most attention.
Start with one room in your house. Take every item in that room and decide whether you want to keep, donate, or trash it (these are the three distinct piles we recommend). Once you’re done, donate the donate pile, trash the trash pile, and organize everything you want to keep. Repeat. This can be time-consuming, especially if you’re itching to get started on spring cleaning, but it’ll make the entire process so much easier.
#2 Windows and Glass
Getting your glass and windows clean is a great way to make a significant change to the aesthetics of your home with minimal effort. For an extra spring cleaning tip, take some of the newspapers you have lying around and pair them with your favorite window cleaner for an inexpensive alternative to paper towels and rags.
#3 Floors
Vacuum, sweep and mop your floors. You may already do all this on a regular basis. If you do, that’s incredible, good for you, you’re amazing. But if you don’t, there’s no better time than the present. You’ll be surprised how incredible your home will look with a newly polished, clean floor.
For some extra spring cleaning tips – you can use a window squeegee to scrape pet hair from your carpet (if you have pets). Also, don’t forget to look under and behind all the furniture that you never move. You’ll be surprised how much stuff gets pushed under a couch during a typical year.
#4 Bathrooms
Bathrooms can be a nightmare to clean, so here are some spring cleaning tips to make it easy. Wear a mask (since we all have them now) and gloves. Use disposable wash rags and safe, natural cleaning products. And remember to spray and wait. Much of the gunk and grime you’re trying to remove is going to take time to break down. So, use your favorite all-purpose cleaner and just let it soak on the grimiest areas of your toilet, bathtub, and sink (for at least an hour or two) before wiping or brushing them clean.
#5 Kitchen Appliances
This can take a little bit of work but will be well worth your time. Start with the dishwasher. Take out the racks, scrub them down, make sure the wheels are on track, and the pipes are free of clogs. Repeat these steps with the refrigerator, the freezer, and the ice machine. A clean fridge can feel absolutely amazing, especially if it’s been a while since you cleaned it.
Last, tackle the oven. Climbing down on your hands and knees and applying some elbow grease can be taxing but definitely necessary. Most ovens also have a self-cleaning option. Just make sure you’ve done your research before you get started and know how to do it safely.
#6 Dust
This probably feels like a no-brainer, but this is an area that a lot of people miss and it’s super important. Dust builds up over time. If left unattended for too long, it can do some real damage to your health and the health of your family. Take the time to go through every room with a duster and wipe all the surfaces clean. Get the shelves, the dressers, the light fixtures, the picture frames, everything.
Pro spring cleaning tip: if you don’t have a duster, you can repurpose old socks. And for the hard-to-reach spots, wrap your towel with a broom. Last, the worst thing you can do is push all that dust back into the air you breathe. Make sure you capture the dust and dispose of it properly.
#7 The Front Yard
Don’t forget – the outside of your house is still a part of your home. Make sure your front yard is clean, cut, and presentable. Take some time to mow the lawn, clean and organize the porch, and make sure everything looks nice. How do the gutters look? How about your window blinds and shutters? If you need to replace your house numbers, do that, too! Pro-real estate tip: focusing time and attention on the front yard is one of the best ways to create curb appeal.
#8 The Backyard, Too?
The backyard is another extension of the home. And while it may not be seen as often by passersby, it is the area you’ll likely spend the summer entertaining friends and family. Especially with news of the Covid-19 vaccine, you’ll want to make sure your entertaining spaces are spruced up and looking nice. Clean out that pool that’s been lying dormant during the winter, scrub the grill, and mow the yard – spring is here!
#9 Recruit! Recruit! Recruit!
You don’t have to do this alone. Spring cleaning is a massive chore, so you need to recruit as much help as possible. Make it an event for the entire family. If you feel so inclined, make a game out of it with a reward system or extra allowance. You’ll be surprised how motivated kids can be when they have the right incentive.
#10 Remember to Clean on Your Schedule
It’s called spring cleaning, but you can do it whenever you want. Make a schedule you’d like to follow (to hold you accountable) and a spring cleaning checklist. This will help in staying organized and on task without getting overwhelmed. It’s much easier to tackle things incrementally than all at once. And remember, if you don’t feel like cleaning today, don’t clean today. You know yourself and your limitations.
Spring cleaning isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon. Take your time and try to have fun with it.
Preparing Your Home for Spring
Once you’re finished, make a list of small things to do on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to makes sure your home stays in tip-top shape. You’ll thank yourself later if you stay on top of it.
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be an arduous and painful process. In fact, if you follow these steps, recruit the entire family, and give yourself a break once in a while, you’ll knock it out in no time. If you get started on spring cleaning and realize you’d like a change of scenery and would like to find a new home in Northeast Florida, give the Welch Team a call. We’d love to help!
