With the chilly winter months behind us, now is the seasonal time to begin “spring cleaning.” While not everyone is keen on cleaning, spring is an opportune time to begin clearing out one’s space to make room for the warmer months. If cleaning is not always high on your priority list, do not feel alone. There is great news though. One strong, deep cleaning session can make your other cleaning sessions smaller and much more manageable.
While it may seem daunting to do an official “deep clean,” it does not have to feel this way. There are easy tasks to tackle first, to help the rest of the cleaning go off without a hitch. Experts also weigh in and offer a few straightforward tips, sure to make the entire process not as intense as it sounds. After reading these tips, all will feel ready to conquer cleaning their home. Remember, a clean home is in style every season, not only in the spring.
Tip #1: Start first with decluttering. With the holidays behind us, all have accumulated countless new things. Spring is the perfect time to go through and get rid of items that no longer serve us. While decluttering will create a bit of a mess initially, it is vital to tackle this project first, then get into cleaning the rest of the house. First, pick a room to go through, and try the “Ski Slope” method. Created by Anita Yokota, and discussed in her book Home Therapy, the idea is to “imagine your messy room like a ski slope,” Yokta states. “If you try to go straight down, the steep angle feels scary and overwhelming. But, if you traverse the slope, skiing from one side to the other, you lessen the angle and make it down the mountain without even noticing.” After cleaning out one room, move through the rest of your home, tackling each room.
Tip #2: While decluttering, try the “four-box method.” According to the Good Housekeeping article, “I Write About Decluttering for a Living – These are My 7 Favorite Methods,” author Katie Mortram discusses how this method helps sort out what items you truly need. First, you need to get four boxes, labeling them, “keep,” “throw away,” “donate” and “sell.” Mortram explains how you will sort out what items you really want to keep based on the volume within each box. “If everything is ending up in the ‘keep’ or ‘undecided’ boxes, then you need to have a rethink.”
Tip #3: If struggling with what items to keep, and which to get rid of, try the “KonMari” method. What quickly became a decluttering sensation, even leading up to Netflix series in 2019, Marie Kondo’s KonMari method is simple, yet effective. First, when faced with whether to keep an item or let it go, “your deciding factor should be whether it ‘sparks joy’ in your life.” If the items still serve a purpose, keep them. However, if it does not, Marie suggests you thank it, then let it go. In her New York Times bestseller, Spark Joy, Marie states, “when something sparks joy, you should feel a little thrill, as if the cells in your body are slowly rising.” However, “when you hold something that doesn’t bring you joy, you will notice that your body feels heavier.” Heed her advice, and let go of the dead weight items in your life first.
Tip #4: Ready to clean, start in the kitchen with all natural cleaners! While in the kitchen, consider cleaning those stainless-steel items with olive oil! Simply apply a small amount of olive oil to a soft cloth, buff the surfaces and you will be rewarded with a streak-free, gleaming finish. After moving to the kitchen counters, use your own all purpose cleaner to tackle grime and grease. According to the Good Housekeeping article, “40 Spring Cleaning Hacks to Transform Your Home in No Time,” making this cleaner is quick and easy. “First, combine one part white vinegar, one part water, a lemon rind and a few rosemary springs into a spray bottle.” Afterwards, shake and let it sit and infuse for a week before using. You can also use this cleaner in the bathroom, in that it removes tough water stains, yet is safe to use on all surfaces including wood and natural stone. Finally, consider using the rest of your lemons to clean your cutting boards. “Run the cut side of a lemon over the board to help remove food stains and smells,” the article states. “Sprinkle it with salt or baking soda first for extra oomph.”
Tip #5: Clean windows can bring light and life to anyone’s home. First, tackle cleaning your blinds with a small attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Make sure to put your vacuum on its lowest setting. Afterwards, throw your window treatments into the dryer (with or without a dryer sheet) to get rid of any smell and dust. Make sure to use “air-only” or the lowest temperature available, to protect the fabric. Afterwards, move to cleaning the windows. Simple Windex works wonders, however, consider using this tip from my mother. She swears by using old newspapers to clean her windows. She insists the paper does not pill like paper towels often do, and it also serves the dual purpose of being a terrific way to recycle your old newspapers.
