It’s that time of year! Yes, it’s time for Spring Cleaning! Sometimes, spring cleaning can be a bit daunting and overwhelming! But if you break it down to three main categories, it becomes a lot more manageable.  You will be able to get the most out of your spring cleaning without running around or feeling overwhelmed with all the things needed to be done.

These three main areas are:

• Declutter
• Yard
• Cleaning

*Although “declutter” could be a subcategory of “cleaning”, in this case we are going to look at them separately- one being the process of removing unneeded items from the home and the other referencing more of a sanitization of the home.

Declutter

• The hardest part of the declutter process is finding where to start.  The first question that you should ask yourself is how do I decide what stays and what goes?  A great way to help decide is to set a rule. For example, declutter all items that haven’t been used in the last 6 months. Without a set rule, you could be spending the whole spring cleaning season going back and forth on what goes and what stays. 

You can set the rule however you want but, the important thing is that you stick by it! For the most part.

• The next question that you need to ask yourself is what do I want to do with my unneeded items? There are three major options that can be chosen: Toss them, donate, or hold a garage sale. 

Once you decide, it’s a lot easier to begin. Start by sorting your items by whether you want to keep or get rid of them..  If you are just going to toss all unneeded items, it doesn’t matter the condition is of these unwanted items, you just need two piles; items you don’t want and items you do.

Sidenote: If you choose to dontate any items to a thrift store or use them in a garage sale, then you may want to make three piles (i.e. items to keep, items to donate or sell, and items to toss).

Yard

• Let’s start raking.  The first step that should be taken in your yard efforts in this spring cleaning is to give your yard a good rake.  The point of doing this is to remove debris and leaves that are still in your yard from last fall and winter.  Once you remove the base layer by raking, you can pass over with the lawn mower, not only to cut the grass but to help remove anything left behind from the initial raking. Now that all the leaves and debris are gone and the grass is shorter, you are able to get a better look at your yard and see where the trouble areas are.

•  The most unanticipated part of yard work is probably getting rid of the weeds.  There are plenty of over-the-counter products that can help you take care of your weed problem. However, if you prefer a greener approach this spring, here are a few eco-friendly and cost-effective methods:

a. Multiple applications with a homemade spray made from vinegar and dishwasher detergent (1 quart vinegar to two tablespoons detergent) can help you remove basic weeds.

b. If you have a moss problem, go over the affected areas with a strong motion with your rake.  This will break up the moss for easier removal.

c. There always is the more labor inclusive method of pulling weeds.  When choosing this method, make sure that the entire root is removed.  If the root is left in the ground, there is a good chance the weed will return in a matter of weeks

• Search the Internet.  I’m not going to be able to tell you the best design for your yard because what I like may not be what you like.  There are plenty of ideas and designs that can inspire you with designing your yard.  You are the one that needs to find them and decide how to implement them with your home.  Try searching for “Yard Designs” and it will give you a countless number of sites to get you started.

Although there are many more spring cleaning tips we could give you for your yard, we will keep it to the minimums, so as to keep this post from being too long.

Cleaning

Cleaning is probably one of the biggest and most important steps in the spring cleaning process. After all, the word is in the title!  In order to avoid overloading you, I’m not going to to tell you all the details on how to get this job done but I will highlight some areas you may want to pay attention to.  Some of these areas may require professional services to be done correctly, while some of them you may be able to do on your own.

Siding- When is the last time you have been outside and taken a look at your siding?  It probably needs a good bath or even a fresh layer of paint.  You can clean your siding on your own by using a power washer.  These can be rented or purchased from your local Home Depot.  They only thing that you need to be careful with is that you don’t put the pressure so high that you start chipping the paint.

If your paint is already chipping or you are just ready for a fresh, modern color, this is something you’re going to want to call the professionals for.  One company we’ve personally used and would highly recommend is Pato’s Painting.  They use the best equipment and paint and make sure the job is done right without the headaches.

Windows- Cleaning your windows is honestly something that you could probably do on your own.  If you don’t mind heights and are feeling a little adventurous this spring cleaning, we suggest you do this one on your own and save yourself a little money.  While you are outside power washing your siding, go ahead and take a pass over your windows to give them a base cleaning.  However, just going over them with the power washer will leave streaks.  Afterward, you will need to get up on the ladder to finish the cleaning by hand.  The trick is to put the ladder above the window and work your way down as you clean.

Carpets- I think we all know the advice we are going to give here, being that we are a carpet cleaning company.  But in all honesty, carpet cleaning is something that really should be left up to the professionals.  Many do-it-yourself machines and cleaning solutions can actually damage your carpet fibers and strip the carpet protectant off, leaving your carpet bare and very vulnerable to future staining and wear.  Regular vacuuming throughout the year helps protect carpet from wear, but it is recommended that every six months, your carpets be professionally cleaned.

Garage- While decluttering this spring cleaning, you may have already started on the garage.  Hopefully, your garage is more organized and now you can really give it a deep clean.  Go into your garage and look up, it is very likely you will find dirt and cobwebs making home on your ceiling and walls.   The garage isn’t protected from outside elements like the inside of your house is, your floors may also be covered with dirt, leaves and car fluid.  Don’t worry, this isn’t anything a good broom, vacuum, and possible wash down can’t handle.

Cupboards/Cabinets- How long has it been since you last cleaned your cupboards and cabinets?  If you’re like most, it’s probably been a while.  In your spring cleaning efforts, make sure to pay attention to these; after all, this is where we put our plates, silverware, and cooking utensils.

Where to Start

Right now you might feel a little over whelmed as we hopefully have given you a lot to think about.  But remember that all these tasks don’t need to be done at once and in the end, you can choose what you do and don’t do.  Don’t worry about where to start- just pick an area and get to work.

Leave a reply if you have any questions about spring cleaning or cleaning in general. If you think this article could help your friend, feel free to share by using the icons below.