My home looks like a pig sty before spring cleaning, but I learned how to get my life in order
My home looks like a pig sty before spring cleaning, but I learned how to get my life in order
Get Your House Back to the Level It Should Be
Our homes are supposed to be our happy places, a sacred land free of clutter and candy wrappers. But our humble abodes aren't always the temples they should be, and that's where spring cleaning comes in! The very idea can scare people away from tackling their closets, but for other people, it brings about pretty dreams of tidy homes and perfect lawns—but to get there, you’ll need a little elbow grease. Here are 20 tips to get your house as perfect as the magazines!
1. Make a Schedule First
First things first! To keep yourself on track, make a schedule and try to adhere to it. Having an action plan helps ensure you won’t feel overwhelmed, and it gives you a better idea of how much there is to do. Trust us, you won't actually get to those nooks and crannies unless you have a gampelan.
2. Clean Out Closets
At some point, the closet becomes one of those spaces we just shove items into. It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time, but now your closet's filled with stuff you meant to throw out or clothing we never hung. Take a peep inside and give it some attention.
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3. Declutter
Everyone’s home will eventually get cluttered—try your best to avoid it, but you’ll soon fall victim to flyer mountains and gifts you never sent. It happens! But spring cleaning is the perfect time to find all those little items and get rid of them.
4. Remember Your Walls
Your walls are probably more stained than you think, and now's the time to tackle the mess. Of all the surfaces in our homes, the wall doesn’t get the attention it deserves, left to suffer all kinds of scuffs and bumps. Look at your walls, particularly close to furniture, and see if there are any spots to tackle.
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5. Make the Windows Sparkle
We’re so preoccupied with the interior that we overlook the exterior, and our poor windows get caught in the crossfire of our neglect. Spring cleaning means a good scrub of everything, and that’s especially true of windows!
6. Tackle the Fridge
We all clean out the fridge every once in a while, but now’s the time to really get in there. Scrub the shelves and crispers, clean out any old food, and consider pulling your fridge away from the wall to sweep whatever collected behind it.
7. Clean Window Coverings
Whether you have blinds or curtains, it’s time to clean window dressings. Blinds can often be given a good wipe down with the duster, but cloth drapes will either need to be laundered or dry cleaned. Either way, it’s worth it to know that you just scraped years of gunk off them.
8. Tend to Appliances
Our appliances do a lot for us and yet they’re so rarely given the deep clean they require. Change that this year by steam cleaning your microwave or finally getting between the racks in your oven! You won't only feel better knowing they're clean, but you'll also keep yourself safe from soot and potential shortages from wear and tear.
9. Routine Maintenance
Spring cleaning isn’t just about the aesthetics; it’s always wise to go through your house and replace smoke detector batteries, check fire extinguishers, and ensure everything works the way it’s supposed to. It's not glamorous work, but it is some of the most important.
10. Reach Up High
Ceiling fans or dust bunnies camping atop cabinets can get dirtier faster than you’d think. Get yourself a step stool and ensure even those hard-to-reach areas are free of any dust or grime. It's not that hard with the right tool, either, so you can always pop into the store for a good extended duster or proper vacuum extensions.
11. Scrub the Bed
We spend so much time on the bed that it only makes sense to ensure it’s kept clean—and we mean clean, not just wash the sheets! While you'll obviously want to tend to the bedding, you'll also need to do the less exciitng stuff, like flipping your mattress and swapping out pillows.
12. Wash Reusable Bags
When was the last time you washed your reusable bags? We thought so. It might not even be something you think about, but that’s all the more reason to do it! Reusable bags harbor the potential for so many germs, so pop ‘em in the wash and stop worrying about putting your produce in there.
13. Show Plants Some Love
Our plants need love and care same as the rest of our home. Giving them enough water is a start, but make sure you take proper care of their leaves, too. You should also repot them if need be.
14. Get to the Cabinets
Just like the walls, cabinet doors can collect a nice coating of grime, too. First and foremost, check doors that are in hot zones, like any in the bathroom, especially if they're by the toilet. From there, you can move on to garbage cans tucked away in the kitchen—those will need a little extra TLC.
15. Freshen the Junk Drawer
They call it the junk drawer for a reason, but there’s no reason to leave it a landfill. Poke your head in and see what can be done about it. Whatever you threw in there eight years ago can see the trash now.
16. Organize the Pantry
Your pantry is filled with all kinds of goodies…several of which are probably expired. Spring cleaning is the best time to comb through your shelves and see which items you can finally pitch. Better yet, if you’re not going to use something, you can always donate items, too!
17. Deep Clean Carpets
Vacuuming the carpet is one thing, but it’s often not enough to get all the nitty gritty crumbs out of there. You'd be surprised just how much yucky gunk collects in our rugs, and deep cleaning them is the only way to get it all out of there.
18. Scrub the Faucets
The faucets often get a nice wipe-down when we clean the kitchen or bathroom, and that’s great. But, have you detached the aerators? Did you ever clean out the strainers? We didn't think so, and it looks like a deep clean is in order.
19. Clean What Cleans
We know that sounds a little weird, but just stick with us! Think of items like your dishwasher or garbage disposal; they need just as much love as anything else in your house. If you want them to properly do their job, they need to be properly cleaned.
20. Dust the Corners
Cobwebs go far beyond the corners of a room (though we don't like to think about where those spiders are now). Get under the dining room table to tackle lingering webs. Run a cloth along the baseboards. Spring cleaning means paying attention to every nook and cranny!
