Spring Cleaning 101: The Basics

There are many methods to the madness. If you searched "how to spring clean," you would come up with probably a bazillion different options and opinions (okay, maybe not that many). In all reality though, I do not think there is a "right" and "wrong" way to spring clean your home. Your home is YOUR HOME. Do what you feel needs to be done.

I am starting a 2 week series called "Spring Cleaning 101." I want to get back to the basics and hit each room, each area of a home, that needs a good spring cleanin'. What does that mean? This means hitting on every aspect of a room, making sure you declutter, clean, and organize every nook and cranny of your home. It may sound like a lifelong process. Well, it may be more than a two week process for you, but that is exactly it: IT IS A PROCESS.

That is why I am going to go back to the basics and go back to Spring Cleaning 101.

Before we even get started, here are a few things to think about:

1. Spring clean your SCHEDULE. One of the biggest obstacles to spring cleaning is finding the TIME in order to do the task. Take a look at your schedule and figure out what is does not line up with your values and where you want to go in life. Whatever is getting in the way, cancel, decline, or step down.

2. Start with one room at a time and basically go above your normal dusting, mopping, and cleaning.

3. Start from top to bottom. No need to clean your baseboards twice!

4. Declutter FIRST, clean second. Why organize and clean what you are just going to get rid of anyways?

5. Make chore charts for other family members, so that they do their part!

6. Make a fix-it list. This is a list that you can catch up on later, but by writing it down, you won't neglect it until next year.

7. Make sure you have what you need in order to clean. One idea is to switch to a more "green cleaning." Here are a few DIY cleaners that will make the air you breathe while cleaning, a little more pleasing!

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner:

1 part water

1 part vinegar

Pour into spray bottle

Laminate Floor Cleaner:

1 part water

1 part white vinegar

1 part rubbing alcohol

Few drops liquid dish soap

Ajax-type Cleaner:

All-Purpose Cleaner + baking soda

Drain Cleaner:

1/2 c. baking soda

1 c. vinegar

Toilet Bowl Cleaner:

Add 1/2 c. vinegar to toilet. Let stand, brush, and flush

Windex:

1 c. water

2 T. vinegar

2 T. rubbing alcohol

1 1/2 t. cornstarch

Mix together in spray bottle

So...for the next 2 weeks or so, I am going to walk through each room of the home and help you start your spring off right! Are you ready? Lets get your spring cleaning DONE, so that you can enjoy the summer, without having to think about what has to be done around the home!