How To Complete An Effective Spring Cleaning Process Made Simple

What is Spring Cleaning?

Spring cleaning is all about deep cleaning. We don't always deep clean every week. We may be tired or busy or just lazy. The process of spring cleaning involves using a wet cleaning method, whether it is with soap, water, and white vinegar or with a cleaner, we go through from top down in each area in our home and revisit every area to make sure it is taken care of. Sounds like a lot of work, right? Yes, it is. But we can do it.

Don't Forget To Include Purging Unused Items And Reorganizing

Spring cleaning is nice and your house smells clean but what really makes the spring cleaning process more effective is the purging and organizing process that goes along with it. Eliminating clutter will help cut down on the cleaning process as well.

When do you need to spring clean?

As the name implies, spring is a great time because the house has been closed for several months and can use some fresh air. But, if you don't want to clean in the spring only, you can split the tasks between the spring AND the fall months since these are the two times each year that we are either preparing for summer or preparing for winter.

Where to start?

Having a plan and deciding on how much you want to do each time you take on a spring cleaning task is important. When you start with a plan, you build up the momentum because you don't have to decide on what to do next.

To make a plan, start with a list of all the areas in your home. Here is an example. Some areas can be subdivided because of how many tasks need to be done. For example, in the kitchen is divided into three different tasks to make it easier to handle. The bedroom closet and the bedrooms are separated as well since there usually are many items to go through these two areas.

No project task should be too large. Create tasks that are 2-3 hours in length or less. This will help you schedule easily fit the task over the weekend.

Living Room
Foyer / Entryway
Mudroom
Kitchen lower cabinets
Kitchen drawers
Dining Room
Kitchen upper cabinets
Family Room
Office
Master Bedroom
Master Bedroom Closet
2nd Bedroom
Closet in the 2nd Bedroom
3rd Bedroom
3rd Bedroom Closet
4th Bedroom
Closet in the 4th Bedroom
Guest Room
1st Bathroom
2nd Bathroom
3rd Bathroom
Powder Room
Basement
Attic
Garage
Outside
Shed
Car 1
Car 2

What's the spring clean process for each area?

Each room will be cleaned the same way, using the following method:

1. Clear out and Purge - Clear out each cabinet, closet, etc... that has items that you don't want or haven't used. By pulling everything out of the area, you will see what you actually have and are able to decide what needs to go.
2. Dust the shelf or cabinet and return the keeping items.
3. Remove the other items to your garage or car truck for donation or recycling/trash.
4. Dust the area from the ceiling down the walls to the baseboards. This includes wet dusting blinds or cleaning curtains. Don't forget chandelier and other items hanging from the ceiling. And, then clean the other surfaces till you reach the floor. Then, do a wet clean on the floor. Remember gravity is your friend. =)

That's it! You are finished. But, wait. There are still some other areas that need to be cleaned too.

Are there unique chores I should remember when cleaning?

Yes, here are some unique tasks that should be done yearly to help keep your home in tip-top shape.

• In the Kitchen, reseal the grout to protect the grout from stains.
• Throughout the home, get carpets cleaned. Professional cleaning will not only clean the carpet but also clean the air because they usually take the dirt out of the home with a really long hose.
• In the Kitchen, inspect your fire extinguisher. If it looks it is rusted or damaged replace it.
• Do the windows. Pull out the screens and clean them with a hose, brush, and some dish soap and water. Wash the inside and outside of the windows using a squeegee.
• In the Kitchen, clean the trap and inside of the dishwasher. While you should do this every few weeks, do a thorough cleaning at least once a season.
• In the Kitchen, clean the oven. I found that cleaning the oven once a season works nicely.
• Get your appliances checked by a professional. If you have a service agreement for your appliances, call and schedule an annual service checkup for all of them.

I hope this motivates you to get your chores completed. It does take time. Remember to break tasks down to a manageable amount of time. This will eliminate any anxiety about doing the tasks.

What area of your home do you procrastinate the most when it comes to spring cleaning? What is it about that task that makes you not want to do it? Please leave a comment below.