Spring Cleaning & Decluttering Simplified

With a big project like spring cleaning an entire home, the desire to quit when you get overwhelmed or bored can be strong, so taking it step by step, room by room, or project by project each day will ensure that you stay motivated. You don’t have to get every nook and cranny, and one project done is better than none. Once you get the ball rolling, you just might find yourself inspired to keep going and check off every item on your spring cleaning checklist. By breaking down the big project into smaller parts, you’re more likely to find success.

Before you get started, prepare some boxes.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Box 1: Donate/Consign. Anything you want to donate or consign goes into these boxes. If the items won’t fit into a box, like furniture, then keep a list of them to refer back to later.

Box 2: Throw Away. While you’re decluttering and cleaning, you will come across items that might be so tarnished that they should just be thrown out. Place these items in a box and throw them away when you’re finished or keep a trash bag handy so you can throw as you go.

Box 3: Put-Away/Storage. Put away all the clothes and sports gear you won’t use for awhile as well as décor and sentimental items you want to keep safe.

Some simple steps for tackling spring cleaning room-by-room include the following:

The Bedrooms

• Go through your clothes. If you didn’t wear it in the last few months or longer, you may want to consider donating it. Don’t hang onto it for another year.
• Revitalize your bedroom. Switch out old décor for new items, rearrange your furniture for a fresh feel, and wash all your sheets, pillow coverings, blankets, etc.

The Kitchen:

• Get rid of expired foods. This includes going through your refrigerator and pantry. When you’re going through them, this is a good time to wipe down your shelves.
• Clean your oven and microwave. Get some cleaning solution and take the time to wipe down your microwave and get the grime out of your oven.

The Living Room and Dining Room:

• Dust. Clear off all your tabletops and dust them well. With the spring season comes allergies, so now is a good time to get rid of all that pesky dust.
• Vacuum and clean your carpets. After removing all the dust from your surfaces is the perfect time to finish it up with vacuuming all the remaining debris.

All Over:

• Get rid of clutter. Anything you haven’t used recently can be considered for removal. One of the best things to do with items you no longer need is to donate them to Goodwill or another charity.
• Wipe down the walls and baseboards. This may sound intimidating but all you’ll need is a bucket of warm water, a little bit of soap, and a rag to wipe off any grit that’s built up.
• Clean the windows. Get rid of all those fingerprints and smudges to let the spring sun shine in.

There are undoubtedly other things that you could think of to do to get your house clean and in tip-top shape, but this list is a good start. Again, when you work room by room, it feels like you’ve accomplished a lot more than just doing little projects scattered around the house, plus it won’t be so overwhelming.

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