After spending more time than ever indoors over the past couple of years, we have all likely accumulated more dirt, dust and allergens in our homes than usual. Additionally, this extra time at home may have drawn your attention to certain areas that require a little more TLC. This makes spring cleaning especially important this year.
As the sun starts shining and the weather warms up, we find ourselves a little more energized and ready to tackle a few extra projects around the house. The tradition of spring cleaning invites us to clear out the old, incorporate the new and freshen up our most-enjoyed spaces.
Refreshing your home for spring can include anything from simple decluttering, to deep cleaning and disinfecting high-touch areas, to hiring a professional cleaning service to come out to your house and ensure a job well done. Your personal approach to spring cleaning will likely depend on the size of your household, the amount of time and energy you have available and the budget you choose to allocate to the job.
Tips for decluttering
It's easy to let items pile up, especially if you've resided in your home for a long time. Decluttering helps us create space for new items and pursuits, but getting started can feel overwhelming. Start by sorting things into three piles: keep, donate/sell and throw away. This will help you free up space and make cleaning up easier.
Begin with these items:
• Expired consumables (food, makeup, toiletries,
medication)
• Stained, ripped or outgrown clothing or shoes
• Unwanted toys or gifts
• Old papers and mail
• Unneeded chargers, connection cords and broken
or outdated electronics
• Furniture that is no longer needed or in use
A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is if you haven't used, worn or needed it in six months or more, it's probably safe to let go of it.
You can donate unwanted items in good shape to places such as Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army or Creative Reuse Marketplace.
There are also many online marketplaces where you can list used items for sale such as NextDoor, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay and OfferUp.
Remember to take time to carefully organize the items you decide to keep to make regular access and cleaning easy.
Deep cleaning and disinfecting
Starting from top to bottom ensures a thorough cleaning. Ceilings, light fixtures and upper cabinets are areas that are frequently overlooked during the typical cleaning process. Starting from the ceiling and working your way downward prevents dust and dirt from settling on surfaces you have already cleaned.
Remember to wipe down light switches, door handles and baseboards with a disinfecting agent, and don't forget to dust and vacuum behind and underneath furniture. Take time to wash infrequently cleaned items such as bath mats, shower curtains and chair covers, and to clean out the refrigerator and other frequently used appliances.
Pace yourself
When planning to deep clean an entire home, it's best to divide and conquer. Consider blocking off several hours or an entire day for each room or area. Using this approach, it can take a significant amount of time to complete the whole house, but in the end, you'll have an immaculate home to enjoy and entertain in for spring and summer.
Hiring a professional
Consider having your air ducts professionally cleaned and replacing your HVAC filters to reduce the spread of allergens and dust and create a healthier environment for your family. Jay Woodrum of Peerless Cleaning & Restoration Services recommends having your air ducts professionally cleaned every three to five years for optimum performance and cleanliness.
He also stated, "Having your upholstery and other soft textile surfaces cleaned every six to 12 months helps keep them clean and reduces allergens, but also helps to protect and preserve those items for the future."
Flooring is another important area to pay special attention to when spring cleaning. In fact, having your carpets professionally cleaned may be a critical step in your spring cleaning process, especially if you've installed new carpets in the last few years.
Joe Doone, owner of Stanley Steemer of Springfield, stated, "If you've purchased your carpets from any of the top carpet manufacturers, such as Mohawk or Shaw, you must have your carpets professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months in order to maintain the warranty on your carpets."
Doone noted that depending on the amount of traffic in the home and the number of pets, some people may need to have their carpets cleaned more frequently. He advised, "Don't wait until a specific date; rather, schedule your carpet cleaning whenever your carpets begin to appear dirty."
Alternatively, if you have tile flooring, Woodrum advises having your tile and grout cleaned by a professional every one to two years to help extend the life of your grout and keep your surfaces clean and bright.
Participating in the tradition of spring cleaning can help reduce stress, increase productivity and even save time and money. Thoroughly cleaning your home also improves your mood and creates a healthier environment to live in overall. Whether you can commit to a complete deep clean or prefer to tackle projects little by little or on a smaller scale, you're sure to be rewarded for your efforts for the rest of the year.
