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| Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash |
{This is a collaborative post}
The stormy weather may be denying that Spring is here but the clocks going forward in a couple of weeks confirm it. The blossom is starting to bloom and I'm not needing to defrost my car in the mornings, so those are both serious reasons to be thankful for Spring. Luckily I'm one of those people who enjoy a good cleaning session, but I know I am in the minority so I thought I'd share with you my tips for spring cleaning, without the overwhelm.
1. Make a Plan
How deep do you want to clean? It is totally up to you, it's your home after all. Of course, if you want to wash every wall, and clean all the curtains, it is going to take you longer, but that's OK just plan for it. Try to be realistic and depending how much cleaning you want to do and what time you have, make a list of all the tasks that need doing and plan what you will be able to do in a week. My Spring cleaning takes about 4 weeks, as I do like to do the whole house and really give it a good going over.
2. Tackle the clutter
Before you even get on with the cleaning, it is important to de-clutter and tidy up. Just imagine how much longer it will take you to clean if you are working around the mess. A few years ago I employed the Mari Kondo method for clearing out and I found it worked a treat. I'm probably at the point of needing to clear out again, but being very strict and assessing if items bought me joy was a great way of clearing out and being ruthless.
3. Do one room at a time
This advice goes against much of what you'll read on the web, but it works for me. I love the satisfaction of knowing that certain rooms are fully finished and I don't have to think about them again for a week or so. I've even been known to tackle the smallest room in the house first so that I have the satisfaction of ticking a complete room off my list! |
| Photo by CDC on Unsplash |
4. Get your cleaning supplies together before you start
You don't want to be halfway through a job and then find you don't have what you need, so before you start a room think through the cleaning supplies and products that you need. I always collate cloths, mop and bucket, duster, glass cloth, non-abrasive scrubbing pad, broom, dustpan and brush, vacuum and high duster. Don't forget to make sure these are clean before you start, nothing worse than trying to clean with a dusty vacuum or stinky mop.I'm not a massive user of cleaning products, I trust in old fashioned and eco homemade products, such as well diluted vinegar to make my glass sparkle and soda crystals dissolved in hot water for floor mopping or wall washing.
5. Work from the top to the bottom
Always start high by dusting the ceiling, coving and high parts of the walls, and wiping them down (if they need it). Otherwise, you could end up really frustrated after you've cleaned all the floor and surfaces and then do the ceiling last and lights last and the dust all falls over what you've cleaned already!6. Y ou don't have to clean alone
I suspect you may live with some other people in the house. If yes, get them involved too. You all added to the mess and as such should chip in, even the kids. Depending on their age they can help with age-appropriate chores and tick things off the checklist for that room. Why not all work towards a big family treat once the spring clean is over?Even if you do live alone, why not join up with another single friend or family member and tackle both houses together. It is much more fun with some music and a friend to chat to, and you'll probably find you work quicker too.
So how are you feeling? Ready to tackle your house? Go on, go for it. You'll feel so satisfied once it is all done!
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