The arrival of spring is a time filled with hope, anticipation, and excitement for long, hot, sunny days. It’s also the season when most of us make an additional effort to clean and tidy our living spaces. Spring cleaning can provide a welcome boost to the home, but sadly our efforts rarely pay long-term dividends. In this article, we’ll look at some ways you can optimize your spring cleaning efforts to carry you through the warm months, as well as techniques that be used year-round.
It’s easy to overlook your soft furnishings when tidying up the house; bath rugs, cushions, and blankets are rarely high-priority items. Most of the attention given to them is prompted only by spillages! Spring cleaning provides you with the perfect opportunity to wash your rugs, blankets, pillow covers, window curtains, cushion covers, and more!
Most modern materials are resilient enough to withstand a spin in the washing machine, and some may be suitable for a hot wash, which is ideal for eliminating any bacteria that may be lurking. Make sure to check the label to confirm washing instructions. For delicate covers, you should hand wash and hang them up to dry. Using a fragranced conditioner or scent enhancer will help your accessory items retain their freshness.
2. Focus on one area at a time
When tackling an entire home, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Break things down room by room, or certain areas of a room, and take a moment to list everything that needs to be accomplished. This helps you to remember all outstanding tasks and gives you some perspective that makes the project less daunting.
Don’t be afraid to focus your efforts on one room at a time; working methodically will ensure a positive outcome. Keep this approach in mind throughout the year, as you maintain the hard work done in spring.
3. Be ruthless with your closet
One of the most challenging aspects of a spring clean is to tackle the closet. It’s sometimes difficult to let go of items that hold sentimental value, even if they are rarely worn. There are pieces that consistently find their way back to the rails, on the assumption that they will be back in fashion, one day.
Practicing the art of ‘one in-one out’ is a good, yet challenging way to go about the closet. That is, if you wish to buy a new piece of clothing or pair of shoes, you must donate or throw out an existing item. This policy can be a challenge, but it ensures that your closet space is always in equilibrium.
4. Get the whole family involved
Your home is the responsibility of everyone living under its roof. Sometimes it’s best to not rely on others and just do everything yourself, but that shouldn’t be the case with house chores. Encourage your kids to take pride in the cleanliness and appearance of their home, starting with their own bedrooms. Assign chores or create a task jar, from which jobs can be selected at random.
You may wish to operate a reward system for good work or link effort to allowances and privileges. This teaches children a valuable lesson in responsibility and ensures tasks are completed year-round. Similarly, don’t allow your partner or roommate to relax whilst you’re working up a sweat; make it a fun activity with the addition of music, and maybe an impromptu dance-off! Forming good habits pays long-term dividends.
5. Deep-clean carpets
Don’t forget about any rugs and carpets in your home; most will be suitable for cleaning with a steam washer or a vacuum cleaner with a specific carpet shampoo setting. This equipment is not expensive to rent, but make sure to take full advantage of cleaning as many carpeted areas as you can.
6. Refresh your appliances
7. Overnight cleaning
Some cleaning products, including those which are home-made from readily-available materials, like baking powder and vinegar, can be left to work on surfaces overnight. This is especially useful when cleaning the bath, showers, and sinks, and makes regular maintenance a doddle. Don’t forget to keep these rooms well-ventilated whilst the ingredients are working their magic!