Spring Cleaning Made Easy

By: Vanessa Greaves

Ever notice how good you feel when you're in a space that's clean and tidy? Hang on to that thought to give you greater purpose as you clear out the clutter.

Springtime Checklist

Springtime is a good time to:

Change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and in flashlights.
Make an emergency-preparedness kit.
Organize your computer folders and download security updates.
Update insurance documents.
Sort photos.
Switch to energy efficient light bulbs and appliances.
Choose eco-friendly cleaning and gardening products.
Clean out the medicine cabinet (safely dispose of old medicines--ask your pharmacist for advice and store new prescriptions in a dry, secure place).
Declare your house a no-shoe zone. Simply removing your shoes as you come in the door cuts down on dirt and pollutants.
Vacuum coils and vents on furnaces, air conditioners, and refrigerators. Replace filters.
Take down storm windows and put up screens, making repairs as necessary.

It happens every spring. As the days grow longer, we start to notice the dust bunnies and the cobwebs, the piles of papers and the overstuffed closets. We throw open the windows (noting the grime on the glass) and vow to clean up this mess. Then we stall out after one round with the grubby tile grout. Don't throw in the towel yet--we have simple strategies for cleaning and organizing your home, and ideas for keeping yourself motivated from start to finish.

Divide and Conquer

A couple of generations ago, spring cleaning might have meant a thorough wash down of every household surface due to a winter's worth of soot from coal and wood fires. Although modern heating methods might eliminate the need for that sort of cleaning frenzy, you can still get overwhelmed with your to-do list. The solution? Take on only one or two jobs at a time--this keeps your list manageable, especially for a busy household.

Ask yourself: does spring cleaning have to be accomplished all in one day? Let's hope the answer is no, because that allows you to finish one or two rooms or tasks every few days with a breather in between to enjoy the results.
Prioritize: if a tidy family room is going to make you feel better immediately, start there and make an agreement with your family to keep that room picked up no matter what. After a top-to-bottom cleaning, a quick tidy up at the end of every day will keep things from getting out of hand again.
Group the tasks: are you washing windows today? Dust the blinds and clean the curtains, too. Vacuuming baseboards and doorsills? Do them all while you have the tools out. Spot cleaning the couch? Deal with carpet stains at the same time.
Sneak clean: organize a kitchen drawer or take a swipe at some fingerprints while dinner is simmering on the stove. Searching through your pantry? Toss out the old stuff while you're at it, and don't restock until you've wiped down a shelf or two.

The Right Stuff

Gather your tools before you start:

Arm yourself with cleaning supplies such as rubber gloves, a stack of microfiber cloths, paper towels, buckets, sponges, an old toothbrush for the gunk around faucets, a floor mop with washable heads, extra bags for the vacuum cleaner, and so on. Include face masks if you're dealing with deep dust.
Choose non-toxic cleaners whenever possible or make your own; there's a lot you can do with hot water, distilled white vinegar, baking soda, and a little liquid soap.
Gather boxes for sorting, recycling, trash, long-term storage, and give-aways. Hint: schedule a donation pickup to motivate you to clean a closet by a certain date.
Find attractive organizers for everyday clutter such as keys, cell phones, bills, magazines, and school papers. Having a place for everything helps keep the important stuff where you can find it.

For a complete rundown of environmentally-friendly cleaning solutions, check out Allrecipes' Cleaning Advice: