As the last snow melts all around us, there are telltale signs that spring is on the horizon. Spring brings about a sense of change, renewal, and anticipation for a season of warmer temperatures, togetherness, and days filled with long hours of sunshine. What could be better? For us, not much, except a clean and organized house that is ready for the new season ahead.

Why not give our homes a little bit of a change as the seasons change? Seriously though, there is just something so invigorating about annual spring cleaning that resets our minds and our homes for the better.

No matter how you decide to clean this season, let’s all agree to leave behind the dreary, cold winter days and step into a beautiful new season with a clean home.

Here are some of my favorite spring cleaning tips.

Planning is key!

Every success begins with proper planning, even when cleaning your house.
Now I get that planning out a pristine, spotless home can sound slightly over the top, but it is a much more effective way to clean from top to bottom and not leave any corner, wall, or under-bed space unturned.

I know that cleaning an entire house in one session can feel overwhelming and, quite honestly, mundane, especially if you’re home is big, but it is not impossible. The key is to plan ahead, set the time aside, and utilize others in your household to tackle projects.

The reality is that you don’t have to get it all done in one day or even one weekend, but you shouldn’t let it trickle over a few weeks; it makes it that much harder to maintain. So instead, make it a goal to get it done in under a week.

Here’s a spring cleaning hack you need:
Before you begin spring cleaning, create a checklist for yourself.

Consider organizing your list by room and make a note of the things you need to clean, update and get rid of. If you plan to clean the house over the course of a few days, create a level of accountability for yourself by adding dates next to each task. If you live with others, assign tasks based on abilities and specific needs. A comprehensive, working checklist can make a world of difference in your home’s organization.

The bottom line? The more organized you are, the easier the whole spring cleaning bit will become.

Every room matters.

Let’s get personal for a minute. When’s the last time you deep cleaned your garage? How about your laundry room? Or even your washer and dryer?

Unlike your routine home cleaning chores, spring cleaning, or seasonal cleaning, requires an unconventional approach to the way you restore your home. For example, instead of just vacuuming the living room or deep cleaning your toilets, focus your efforts on rooms that haven’t been deep cleaned in a while.

Consider a deep clean and reorganization of your:

• Laundry room
• Pantry
• Mudroom
• Porch or patio area
• Garage
• Bonus room
• Guest bedroom and bath
• Basement
• Outdoor workspace or shed
• Storage room

From the windows to the walls.

Throughout our standard daily or weekly cleaning sessions, we often perform tasks like mopping the kitchen, folding laundry, or changing out bed sheets, but what about cleaning the windows, walls, and baseboards of each room? Yes, it’s a big task, but it’s essential to your home’s overall health and care. Plus, spring cleaning is the perfect time to tackle these tasks.

Here are a few tips:

• Don’t forget the baseboards, trim, and window sills.
• When cleaning the windows, spray down the interior and exterior glass and panels and deep clean the screens.
• When cleaning the walls, use a cleaner and cloth that won’t ruin your wall paint, wallpaper, or decor.

Ideally, window and wall cleanings should be deep-cleaned every few months.

Erase, replace, embrace new space.

Spring is the perfect time to go out with the old and in with the new.

Consider replacing shower curtains, interior, and exterior floor mats, table coverings, placemats, bathroom towels, and bathroom rugs. These items are often located in the most high-traffic areas of your home, causing them to wear down more quickly than other items.

Aside from making sure everything in your home is squeaky clean, spring is also an excellent time to refresh your current decor.

Here are some of my favorite ways:

• Change out darker curtains for light and airy ones.
• Remove heavy winter blankets from the seating areas throughout your home.
• Add vases of fresh, in-season flowers to focal tables.
• Replace any winter-themed decorative items for one that exudes springtime bliss.

Finally, don’t forget the outside.

Far too often, when cleaning, we forget our home’s exterior and outdoor areas no matter the season. Seasonally you should focus your efforts on making sure the exterior is just as pristine as the interior.

Some of my favorite ways to refresh the exterior include:

• Power washing your siding, walkways, and deck space
• Cleaning out your garage and organizing all the “must-keep” items
• Work on planting new flowers and removing weeds or other reminisce from the previous seasons
• Take down all winter decorations
• Set up your outdoor space for entertaining with ample seating and dining areas

This season, spring cleaning should be high on your to-do list, no matter what you have in store. Not only will it provide you with a cleaner, more organized space, but it will also make you feel a renewed sense of accomplishment and love for your home. If you need home inspiration or are hoping to score the home of your dreams this spring, I can help. Contact me today to learn more.