Are you ready to do a big spring cleaning project? You’re not alone! According to the American Cleaning Institute (ACI), 80% of Americans jump into big cleaning each spring. ACI’s senior vice president of outreach Brian Sansoni explains,
“Spring cleaning is a great way to help achieve a safe and healthy home while getting rid of a winter’s worth of dust and clutter.”
Therefore, helpful spring cleaning tips are need so it doesn't feel so overwhelming!
Just like most projects, your spring cleaning work will benefit from starting with a good plan. You may be thinking what’s the big deal. It’s just cleaning up, right?
But there are some steps you should take before you even pick up a broom. Take the time to inventory what supplies and cleaning products you have. Buy these before cleaning starts so you don’t have to keep running to the store.
Spring cleaning a whole house won’t be done in a day. Make a plan for each room to break down this big job. Give yourself several days or even weeks to get through the job. By keeping your expectations realistic, you won’t burn out and get discouraged. ACI reports that almost half of respondents said they would spend at least three days to spring clean, with 22% saying it would take more than five days.
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One of the most important spring cleaning tips to learn is never start with the largest load. While you may want to just jump into spring cleaning, you’ll only get frustrated if you are trying to clean around clutter. Jen Martin, CEO of Reset Your Nest, says,
“The less you have, the less you have to clean up and find a home for. As you declutter, it will be easier to create and maintain systems.”
So, grab a box and a trash bag and go through each room before you start with the actual cleaning.
When you start cleaning a room, knock out the parts you are dreading first. According to the ACI study, most of the respondents said that cleaning hard to reach areas or places that are particularly dirty were the most daunting. This includes behind furniture and appliances, tucked-away basement clutter, and grimy bathrooms. By doing this hard work first, you’ll get a sense of accomplishment and momentum that can carry you through the easier tasks remaining in the room.
If you have other people in your home, they can be your partners as you spring clean. Kids can go through their clothing, shoes, and toys with you to sort and discard. Work together so that it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
“Doing it with your kids and connecting it with quality time and a room refresh can help make it more enjoyable,” says Martin.
You may also discover that one kid loves to vacuum while another is only interested in wiping down surfaces. Use these talents to make it a family affair.
If using a particular cleaning product is good, then more must be better, right? Actually, this is one of the most common causes of injury and poisoning when spring cleaning. There is a cleaning product for every surface and type of mess, but mixing these different products can result in toxic and even deadly fumes. For example, mixing bleach and ammonia creates chloramine gas. If you inhale this gas, it will damage your lungs.
Some cleaners are irritants. These are harmful to your skin and eyes. Harsh chemicals can also damage wood surfaces. You don’t need extra strong chemicals to do a good spring cleaning job. Use basic household cleaners and only in the concentration recommended by the manufacturer.
Doing a deep clean is a crucial part of spring cleaning, but it’s not all. After you’ve removed the clutter and cleaned the surfaces, take some extra time to organize what remains. Invest in some shelving, storage bins, baskets, and containers to tame the clutter. The key is to make sure everything has a dedicated spot. This ensures that the things you own don’t get scattered into disarray.
Spring cleaning is a big tough job, but you’ll get more benefits than just a clean and uncluttered home. According to Adam Borland, clinical psychologist with the Cleveland Clinic, it’ll give you control over your environment and a sense of accomplishment.
“It really can feel like a new sense of beginning.”
This is beneficial for your mental health and can help reduce depression and anxiety.
Before you start your spring cleaning this year, give Discount Dumpster a call. We’ll get you an affordable and easy-to-use dumpster to handle all your decluttering and cleaning trash. We have compact dumpsters that fit right on your driveway. This makes it easy to toss your junk as your work. Our large inventory of dumpsters in all sizes is ready for fast delivery. Call us today to get a free no-obligation quote and to set up your delivery date so you can get right to work.
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