Spring Cleaning

As the weather warms up and flowers start to bloom, everyone knows that spring is here! Not only is the new season in full swing, but it is also time for the necessary task of spring cleaning. Many people dread this task as it seems daunting and can be hard to know where to begin. To help you get started, here are three things that you can do to jump right in and clean efficiently.
First, label three large bins or bags with Keep, Sell and Donate. If you are a parent, give your kids their own three labeled bags and let them pitch in. Go through each room in your house and sort through any clutter stacked on the floor, in cabinets or hidden away in closets. If you are debating about whether to keep or donate an item, think of the last time that you actually used it. If it has been longer than three months, then this item should go to the Sell or Donate bag. The goal for each room is to keep no more than 50% of the items that you went through. At the end of the day, take the Donate bag to your local Goodwill. For the Sell bag, plan a garage sale with your neighbors and remember to post the garage sale information on Craig’s List.
The second step is to get rid of the dust and grime in those hard to reach places in each room. Follow this checklist in addition to regular dusting and vacuuming for successful spring cleaning.
· Wash the baseboards in each room.
· Wipe each corner of the room (floor and ceiling corners).
· Wipe down the blinds on all windows.
· Wash the windows.
· Dust underneath and behind all furniture.
· Wash all bed linens and curtains (double check the label to make sure it does not have to be cleaned professionally).
· Dust all fans and the tops of cabinets that are above your head.
· Check all walls and wipe any scuffs or dirty handprints with a wet cloth.
To get through this spring cleaning checklist, it may seem as though a lot of cleaning products need to be purchased. No worries as there is an easy, cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative. Make your own cleaners! It will only take a few minutes to combine ingredients in a spray bottle to make an all-purpose cleaner, window cleaner, or whichever cleaner you need. Here are the recipes for all of the cleaners that you will need for spring cleaning. Each of these mixtures is non-toxic and cost significantly less than the average cleaning product.
Follow these tips to get your spring cleaning underway this month. Not only will your home be fresh, you will also make extra cash with a garage sale and save money with your homemade cleaning products. Happy cleaning!
Do you have a spring cleaning tip? Please share your tip and let us know what you are doing!