5 Top Tips for Successful Spring Cleaning

Spring is the time where everything is coming back to life. The weather warms up, leafless trees start to blossom and our eyes start witnessing greenery everywhere again. This must be nature's way to rejuvenate its home and so should we, by Spring cleaning. 

Eager to start cleaning but not sure where to start? We have some suggestions to help kick start your Spring cleaning this year. Before we begin let’s start with a saying by Marie Kondo, “The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.” Let’s all find that happiness together. Here are our top 5 tips for joyful spring cleaning.

1. Let the fresh air in

Open all the windows, doors, cupboards and closets to let the fresh air in. This gets rid of the built up pollutants, bacteria, moisture and unpleasant odor in the house. A good ventilation after cold stuffy winter throws stale and stagnant air out of the house while setting the mood for Spring cleaning. To add to this fresh air experience, you can also use some natural fragrances like essential oil to enjoy pleasant and relaxing smells around the house. 
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2. Make a plan

Pick up a pen and a paper, go room to room, check which area of the house needs the most work and write those areas down. Regardless of where you start, having a plan keeps you focused and reminds you of areas that need extra attention. I am a checklist person. It helps me manage my task, keeps me on track, organized and gets me to complete my work on time. Try it, if you haven’t already.
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Plan to deep clean one area at a time and spread it out over days to avoid exhaustion. Recently cleaned areas can be skipped or only require a quick light cleaning. This reduces the workload and the energy can be diverted where needed. 

Remember planning is to check the cleaning inventory, not an excuse to hold you back from getting started. 
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3. Create a family tradition

It can feel overwhelming to think about deep cleaning the whole house all by yourself. Involve your family to help out this year. You can assign age appropriate chores, give them deadlines and incentives, put on some fun music and get the work done in no time with helpers. It can become a fun family tradition every year. Think about ways you can celebrate and enjoy your accomplishments (big and small) with a special treat, favorite meal, or watching a movie together in your sparkling space.
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4. Declutter & Clean

Select the area to clean, and analyze if it needs to be organized or decluttered. When you declutter, determine if the item should be donated, recycled, stored or thrown away. A good rule of thumb for getting rid of something is if an item hasn't been used for at least a year, then consider getting rid of them.  

• Declutter: Check out our declutter checklist to help you find items that can be donated.
• Donate: Once you are ready with the items to donate, visit the Donate Good Stuff website to find organizations near you that need your items.
• Fix: Here are 100 things you can fix - and how to do it from Family Handyman. 
• Repurpose: If there are items which cannot be donated, think about fixing, reusing in a new way, or up-cycling the items, like the Mottainai concept. ​
• Store: If you can’t part with an item or it is something only used seasonally, store it. Things like winter clothing can be stored to take up less space and easily pulled out when needed. 
• Dispose: If it's impossible to do anything with it, or the item is in poor shape, try to find the best possible way to dispose of your item. Some companies have take-back programs. You can also look at what your city or county have to offer.

After these tasks are completed, move onto cleaning. Having a system helps find items easily. It can also become a good habit for everyone in the house over time.

One highly recommended way to do this is to start from the top of the room downward. Start with dusting ceiling fans and the tops of doors, end with scrubbing or vacuuming the floor. Always put out fresh linens in your kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom

While you are at it, try to tackle the seasonal chores like cleaning the beddings, grill, patio and windows. 

Always consider natural and DIY cleaners - (Check our our top 10 DIY recipes). They are safer and healthier, save you money, and often work as well or better that purchased cleaners.
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5. Add fresh touches to your home

Spring cleaning is the best time to rearrange your furniture and make subtle changes to your interiors. For example, if you feel a certain place of your house feels dark and compact, you can rearrange items, add some colorful pillows or hang some art and help make it bright and more spacious. Replacing bedding, towels, table linens and adding fresh flowers also makes it feel new. Let’s not just Spring clean this year but also transform your surroundings. 
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Enjoy the experience

If you embrace cleaning rather than stressing over how much work you have, you can relax and enjoy the experience. Treat it as a gift to yourself. You can even approach it as a kind of meditation - When you clean, you focus your mind on the task at hand, allowing you a sense of positivity and calm.

At the end you’ll feel  accomplished with a sparklingly clean home.
​Happy Spring Cleaning!   ​
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Author: Shreena Tuladhar 

Shreena always wanted to give back to the community and believes writing to inform is one of the ways.

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Donate Good Stuff exists to help you find the best home for your donation items and we recognize it's just part of the challenge of having too much stuff. How do you declutter what you have, reduce the amount of stuff you bring into your home, and continue to move toward sustainable and environmentally kind living? We can help with that, too. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or subscribe to our newsletter for regular tips and creative ideas for managing your stuff, reducing waste, sustainable living, and being part of a connected community.
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