For many years, I tried to do a good Spring Cleaning- fully intent in my idea of making my home ready for the new, fresh energy of Spring and wanting to banish the energy of Winter so that I can move forward with the New Year. I came across a few problems over the years:
- I didn’t plan my time
- I put too much pressure on myself
- I ran out of steam half way through
- I didn’t plan what I was cleaning- so I forgot something
Does this sound familiar to you? I remember acutely one year of waking up thinking I was going to tackle the kitchen today- on a spur of the moment plan- and by the end of the evening the best I’d done was grab my cleaning supplies, and half wash my kitchen. To help you avoid this burnout, I wanted to share my top tips for a successful spring clean. Got your pen and notebook? Let’s begin!
1- Make A Schedule.
How long do you want your Spring Cleaning to take? Well, that depends entirely on you- on how long each day you can set aside to do your cleaning! Spring cleaning is a deep clean, on top of your regular clean, so you want to spend longer on your Spring clean. Can you only do weekends? Plan them out and block out your calendar so you know you have time to do your cleaning. Once you have a plan, stick to it. Get your family involved, to make quick work of your list.
2- Do it Room by Room.
Spring cleaning can seem overwhelming when you think of all that you have to do- you do have a whole house to clean, afterall! So, break it down into rooms to make it a more manageable work load. You may spend a day on one to two rooms in your home (including your garden). If you have your checklist for what needs doing in your room, it doesn’t seem so daunting suddenly and it’s easier to get through your list and get your cleaning done.
3- Work Top to Bottom.
In each room, start at the top of your room- dust, brush and wash the ceiling fixtures, walls, etc and work your way down. Your carpets should be one of the last things you clean before moving onto the next room! Doing it this way means that any dust or dirt that falls as you disturb it from up high is still caught when you clean your floor last- work effeciently, not harder!
4- Do it Twice a Year.
This was one of my biggest downfalls- I wanted to do everything once a year! I find it so much easier to do a Spring clean and an Autumn clean. My housework can get negelected over the Winter cold and the Summer heat, so the seasons in between is the perfect time to refresh and prepare for what’s coming! You may not do such a deep clean at Autumn (I don’t) but I like to make sure that the things I may have not kept up to over Summer (like washing windows) is done ahead of the darker nights creeping in!
5- Declutter Using the 4 Bin Method.
I hate trying to clean a room that is cluttered- so I often declutter a room as part of a Spring Clean. It’s so much easier to clean a room that has little to no clutter in it, everything has a home and fits in with the purpose of the room. I use the 4 bin method that means having four containers (or bins) to organise your belongings. Everything within the room fits into one of four categories, and they are
- keep/put away – anything that should be in that room needs a home and to be put away
- donate / Sell – anything that you no longer need but someone else could benefit from, you can sell or donate
- Storage – anything that has a sentimental value or you are saving as an heirloom, etc but does not need to be out can be put into storage. This also includes seasonal decorations, clothing, etc
- Trash – anything no longer wanted, out of date, damaged or beyond use can be put straight into the bin
Have four containers with you (of a decent size) to help make this process quicker. I also have an extra box for items that I know belong in another room so that they can be returned to their correct homes. Doing this regularly helped make my home less cluttered- but it is something I need to keep on top of, as clutter can soon accumulate again!
6 – Keep Products to a Minimum.
There are so many products out there for cleaning your home- do your research and check your cupboards before beginning your spring cleaning- multi purpose sprays, washable cloths etc are all great to help you clean as well as keeping the clutter in your cleaning cupboard to a minimum. I like using reusable cloths that can be washed after use, just make sure you have enough!
7 – Set Your Intentions.
When you’re cleaning or clearing a room of clutter, set your intentions. What is the room used for? What do you want to bring into it? Maybe you want peace and tranquility in your bedroom. Perhaps you want a calming and relaxing energy to the room you use most often. You may want a vibrant and energetic energy to your kitchen. Think on this as you clean, clear and sort that room- your intentions will come through your actions, helping to set the tone for the room once it’s been cleaned!
Have you got any amazing tips for Spring Cleaning? Have you found an easier method to declutter and organise your space? Let me know!