Spring Cleaning: Tips to Get Started!

We all seem to have an extreme case of Spring Fever as we’ve endured the pandemic for the past year with a “new normal” rounding the corner. There is something about springtime that brings out our desire to plant flowers, clean the house and get organized!

But where to begin? It can be overwhelming just to figure out a starting point. But it doesn’t have to be. The best way to tackle “spring cleaning” is to break it down into small chunks.  Here are some ideas:

• Think about all of the rooms in your home. Decide what needs to be done in each. Grab a pen and notepad and start writing! Develop a plan of action – specifics will bring you the best results.
• Always start in one area and work your way around, instead of flitting from spot to spot. This helps in a few ways. It’s easier to keep on task and organized. Also, if you stick to one area at a time you can feel the gratification of having finished an area – this will give you motivation to keep cleaning! Here is an example from my own home, starting in my front entry. Dust trim, fixtures and baseboards. Clean any glass. Sweep and mop the floor. Take rug outside and shake out the dust and dirt. Move any shoes, coats, bags to a more appropriate spot. Go through that stack of mail.
• Repeat this same type of checklist for each room in your home. Check off each item as you finish them — it always feels great to “mark it off your list.”

Sounds easy enough? It’s a lot of work, but isn’t as daunting when you have a plan!  Here are some other ideas that might help:

Bought cleaning supplies lately? They’re not cheap. Save money by making your own. You probably have the ingredients already!

• Nothing sanitizes better than good ol’ chlorine bleach! Make a solution of ¾ cup bleach to 1 gallon of water to disinfect sponges, countertops, children’s toys, and much more. That gallon of cleaning solution will cost you pennies.
• Have a yard sale. Price items to sell. Have any leftovers? Donate them, but do not bring them back into the house!
• Better yet, have a FREE sale! If you’d rather not go to the trouble of holding your own yard sale and aren’t concerned about making a profit, tag items to give away and let your family and friends know they can come take your stuff. Be sure to give your “sale” a time frame so that people don’t just show up unannounced. This can be a very rewarding way to “pay it forward.”
• Include your children in the cleaning process. It teaches them responsibility and involvement. For younger children, don’t give them anything too complex. They can help clean windows, dust and clean baseboards. Prepare some sort of reward for them, whether it is monetary or a trip for ice cream!
• If you prefer to use a pre-printed checklist for spring cleaning, there are countless websites out there. One of our favorites is from Martha Stewart:

Martha Stewart Spring Cleaning     

• Want more resources?  Check out our post on websites that help you declutter!

Happy Cleaning!

Submitted by Springfield Moms reader Kari Thevenot.  Kari is mother to Sarah and lives in Springfield.