It’s almost springtime, and you know what that means—spring cleaning is just around the corner! This annual cleaning ritual is a very popular activity with almost 80% of Americans who say they plan to spring clean each year.
Why is it so popular? Most cultures have a tradition of spring cleaning right as winter ends and springtime begins. It is a renewal and a refreshing of your home after a long and stuffy winter. It was particularly welcomed in the days of heating homes using wood or coal-burning fireplaces. As the weather became more pleasant, windows were opened and the soot and grime from the winter were swept out. But even in modern times, a good cleaning of our living spaces can bring cleanliness and a total refresh.
A cluttered home causes increased stress levels, making the bodywork harder to stay healthy. As your cortisol levels (the stress hormone) increase, so does high blood pressure and heart rate.
When you live in a cluttered space, you’re more likely to get sick and less likely to have an organized mind. The more items you have around you, the harder your brain works to focus. And if that isn’t enough, negative feelings such as anxiety and depression often accompany clutter.
If you’re too busy with work to juggle household tasks, make time in your schedule for a thorough home cleaning. A deep clean can increase your productivity and home happiness.
Here is your 2021 guide to spring cleaning:
Clutter creates chaos in your outer world and your brain. Dr. Joseph Ferrari of DePaul University found that clutter led to dissatisfaction in overall life quality. When you have to spend time searching for what you need, it leads to procrastination and reduces your productivity.
“It [the danger of clutter] chips away at your well-being, relationships, and more.” —Dr. Joseph Ferrari, a professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago
In early January, I opened my entry closet and out spilled winter boots, a bunch of coats, and a collection of empty shopping bags. My desk had a pile of unopened mail and some old receipts. My kitchen drawers were unorganized and cluttered. I was tempted to start spring cleaning right then and there. However, I knew I had to do some decluttering first.
While you could decide to just jump right into spring cleaning, taking some time to prepare can go a long way. Trying to deep clean a cluttered space can be frustrating and futile. Removing trash and unwanted items is the best way to start your spring cleaning.
On her blog, Polished Habitat, Melissa George explains.
“Actual spring cleaning is easier if you start with a good decluttering session. You’ll have fewer items to clean around, and something about removing items just puts me in the mood to make the house clean and tidy.”
I find that decluttering is most successful when I have a plan. One option is to work either by categories, such as going through all clothing, or by room, tackling each one on its own. I like to work on smaller spaces first, such as a closet, kitchen cabinets, or a bathroom. This lets me accomplish the task from start to finish without getting overwhelmed.
If you have a lot of junk to discard, consider renting a roll off dumpster for a short period of time. This eliminates the problem of having bags of items hanging around, waiting for a trash pick-up. When you are trying to declutter, having the trash still in your home can keep you from making progress. Instead, you can toss your discards and the inevitable trash you’ll collect in the dumpster, giving you the breathing room you need to be successful.
This stage is also a good time to properly store any seasonal items that haven’t been put away. Still have Christmas lights up on your house? Do your beds still have those warm flannel sheets on them? Are your drawers spilling out with sweaters? Before you even pick up a broom, first get all of these items put away in their proper storage location. Again, this gives you the room you need to get to deep cleaning your home.
While you’re decluttering, be mindful of what you dump to avoid common recycling mistakes. Plastic bags are the worst offenders. They aren’t accepted by curbside recycling services. Instead, reuse plastic bags for storage or take them to the grocery store. Some stores even offer plastic bag drop-off programs.
Set aside five piles while you declutter:
Use this strategy for each room in your house. After you finish, check in with your local donation center for drop-off availability.
Buffalo Exchange allows you to sell clothing and accessories by mail.
There are essential tools you’ll need to make spring cleaning a breeze. A good multipurpose cleaning solution can handle most of the grime in your home. You will also need some furniture polish, a disinfecting solution for your bathrooms, and glass cleaner.
As far as tools for spring cleaning, you’ll need:
Dusting cloths make dust easy to handle. I like using microfiber cleaning cloths. They are inexpensive, so you can have a bunch on hand. They can be used for dusting, wiping down mirrors and windows, wiping baseboards, and cleaning countertops and electronics. Plus, they are easy to clean after using.
They're a green alternative to paper towels. Don’t just take my word for it. Merry Maids, one of the leading home cleaning services in the country, says that microfiber cloths are “a vast improvement over old rags or even paper towels.”
A good vacuum cleaner is one of the most important pieces of equipment for spring cleaning. Vacuum cleaner attachments can make the job so much easier. You can get all the accumulated dust from behind furniture, under beds, along baseboards, and inside cabinets.
Deep cleaning means going the extra mile and cleaning surfaces you usually wouldn’t. Declutter your home first, and then wash any materials that trap dust. According to National Jewish Health, endotoxins are by-products of dust that can worsen respiratory issues, such as asthma. Endotoxins are frequently present in soft items such as curtains, stuffed animals, and carpets.
Spring cleaning is a deep clean that aims to get all of the grime and dirt out of your home. This includes dirt removal from fabric surfaces, curtains, hard surfaces, electronics, and walls. Don’t try to clean around items. Instead, move them to get to the surfaces around and under them. Emptying cabinets and drawers, take everything out of your refrigerator, pull furniture away from the walls, and take items off shelves.
To begin, I find that dusting first is important. Use a microfiber cloth or a dry sweeping cloth. Go over all the surfaces in the room, including the walls, baseboards, shelves, picture frames, and tabletops. Then, follow with a damp cloth and some multipurpose cleaner. Launder all the fabric items, including blankets, throw rugs, and drapes that can go in the washer. Spot clean if that is not possible. Spray all fabric with a fabric deodorizer or refresher to get rid of any odors. Then, clean the windows and blinds. Don’t forget your ceiling fans and the tops of high areas like your refrigerator or tall bookshelves.
Finally, you’ll want to clean the floors, sweeping any hard-surface floors and then mopping.
Vacuum your carpets. Take time to get into all the corners and crannies. Vacuuming at the end of the spring cleaning process makes sure all the dust stirred up in the cleaning process gets removed from your carpets and the air.
Clearing out all of the items in your kitchen seems daunting, but doing makes the whole cleaning process so much easier. Plus, you’ll be able to organize as you replace everything. Make sure to only keep what you actually use.
Wipe down the inside of cabinets and drawers. Don’t forget the tops of the cabinets if they don’t go all the way to the ceiling. Because a kitchen generates so much grease in normal everyday cooking activities, you may need a degreasing cleaner. Spray onto greasy surfaces and let sit for a moment. Wipe down to remove any grime and grease. You may need a second pass if the area is particularly soiled. You can also use a degreaser on any small appliances that sit on your countertop, like a toaster oven, microwave oven, blender, mixer, or coffeemaker.
Wipe down all hard surfaces, including your walls, countertops, refrigerator, and windowsills. Finally, give your kitchen floor a good cleaning. Sweep or vacuum first, then mop or scrub the floor.
Spring cleaning your closet is obvious, but your refrigerator deserves some tender, love, and care, too.
Remove everything in your fridge. Check the expiration dates before putting perishable foods away again. Clean the inside of your refrigerator, working shelf by shelf, wiping down all the shelves and insides of the doors. Place a new, opened box of baking soda in the fridge to prevent any odors. Before replacing items back into your refrigerator, wipe down bottles and containers to ensure the shelves stay clean. Organize your food by frequency of use, color, or type of food.
Wipe down the handle and each drawer with an EPA-registered disinfectant. It’s best to clean your refrigerator before a grocery shopping trip. Take note of what you have, need, and should stock.
Although your bathroom is often the smallest room in the house, it can be a big job for deep cleaning. Breaking it down makes it more manageable.
Just like the kitchen, first take out everything from the cabinets, drawers, behind mirrors, and surrounding the tub. Cleanse the shower walls using a scrub brush. If your shower is large, this task is easier with an extendable brush.
Use a powder cleaner to remove stains from a porcelain tub. A toothbrush is a great tool to scrub between tiles. An acrylic tub can be cleaned with a baking soda and vinegar solution.
Then, wipe down all the shelving and the insides of the drawers. Toss the empty bottles you find and get rid of anything expired. Next, scour the sink and wipe down the countertops. Wipe down the walls and clean the light fixtures.
To give your toilet a good cleaning, first spray down the toilet, inside and out, with a disinfecting cleaner. Wipe down the outside surfaces with a rag. Go over the tank, base, lid, and seat. Don’t forget the floor and wall areas tucked behind the toilet. To clean the bowl, use a toilet brush. Angled bristles makes the job easier.
Clean glass surfaces and mirrors with glass cleaner. A squeegee can get a great shine without any streaks. I keep a small squeegee in the shower for my glass shower doors after each shower. This cuts down on any grime and water spots that could accumulate and makes a big clean much easier.
Finally, sweep the floor and give it a good mopping. Don’t forget the area behind the door. Wipe down the baseboards to complete the job.
After cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, you probably are getting the hang of the deep cleaning process. In your living areas and bedrooms, you will follow the same general order of cleaning. First declutter. Then move onto dusting and cleaning all the hard surfaces in the room. Fabric items should be laundered and deodorized. Move large furniture to get behind it or under it.
Finally, clean the floors. If you have room carpeting, you can rent a carpet cleaner or plan on having your carpets professionally cleaned. Do this after you’ve done your spring cleaning in the room so it gets all the remaining dirt and dust from deep spring cleaning.
The garage is one place where unused items pile up. Think of what you’d like your space to look like. Can you transform it into a home office or an exercise space? Have a goal in mind to make it easier to start. Consider scheduling a residential dumpster rental for your waste before you begin.
“By having something to look forward to, no matter what your circumstances, you bring happiness into your life well before the event actually takes place.” —Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project
Since it may be challenging to get all the supplies you need, plan your project first. Then, begin your renovation.
When you think of spring cleaning, you’re probably thinking about your home, not your car. Keeping things clean during a pandemic means cleaning your car, too, especially if you use it frequently.
Disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as windows, door handles, and armrests. Thankfully, you can use the same cleaning products for your car as you do for your home, Consumer Reports explains. A mixture of at least 70% isopropyl alcohol kills germs and is safe for most car interiors.
Your home is clean, but what about your online life? As more people work from home, your work life can bleed into your home life. You'll have less time for friends and family. Lighten the load with a digital cleansing.
A service such as mailstrom can help you delete emails. To clean up social media, unfollow friends you don’t connect with regularly. Remove any groups you aren’t interested in. Cleaning up your digital space is a process. Your mind will thank you.
While you’re spring cleaning your home and car, don’t forget about your mind.
Let go of what doesn’t serve you. This could mean furniture, books, or unhealthy relationships. Take time for self-care, and prepare to be the best version of yourself.
A thorough spring cleaning gives you the opportunity to do some serious organization. I’ve found the best way to completely organize a room is to first declutter and empty it as much as possible. By removing many of your household items, clothing, and books before you start your spring cleaning in each room, you are on your way to better organization in your home. Before placing items back in your cupboards, drawers, and closets, toss what you don’t want to keep. Then take the time to organize each area as you put items back.
I know what you’re thinking. Spring cleaning fun? How can it be fun? It doesn’t actually have to be a huge burden.
There are a few ways to make the chore more enjoyable. Put on some upbeat music and get some of your favorite snacks. Make sure you have the right tools and supplies available so that you always have what you need at your fingertips.
Even better, enlist some help. Whether it’s a family member or a good friend, having someone partner with you to get the job done helps make the work more enjoyable. You can even plan on helping your friend with their own spring cleaning job. Once your home is done, plan for another spring cleaning day at their home. Doing the work together makes it go faster and lets you spend time with a friend or loved one.
So, what's next? The best way to keep your home in tip-top shape is daily maintenance and keeping up with clutter. Controlling dust is a great daily strategy. George Mazreku, owner of G’s Cleaning NYC, says,
“The real secret to containing dust is to vacuum daily, especially if you’ve got carpets.”
Joyce Marrero, blog owner of My Stay at Home Adventures, advises that it is just the simple little things that can help keep your home tidy and clean after a full deep-cleaning. Regular tidying when you leave a room can make a big difference. She is an advocate of cleaning schedules and chore charts for family members. They help promote good daily habits. She explains:
“Once you do little things like this long enough, it’ll become second nature. That means things will stay cleaner because it’s part of your routine now.”
Finally, Marie Kondo, author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, is a big advocate for daily tidying:
“The secret to defeating clutter,” she says, “is to give every item a home—a designated place for that object to live when it’s not in use. When it comes to objects that multiple family members use, it’s essential to tidy together, decide where these items will go, and agree to always put them back where they belong.”
With a good deep cleaning and a commitment to daily tidying afterward, you will have a refreshed, clean, and neat home…at least until next spring!
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