Some people dread it, and some people look forward to it. But whether you loathe it or love it, there’s a simple truth that spring cleaning is important to the cleanliness of your home. It gives you a chance, once a year, to get rid of built up clutter and dust. It’s like a fresh start for your spring. There’s just something about springtime that makes you want to reorganize and have a cleaner home. Maybe it’s the warmer weather, and maybe it’s just that you still have holiday wrapping paper somehow still living under your couch. When you’re getting ready to do your spring cleaning this year, here are a few things to not forget.
Go through old things
We have a habit, as humans, to hold onto old things that we really don’t need. It’s a natural human instinct. As long as your storage isn’t reaching hoarder levels of capacity, you should be okay. But going through your bins and boxes of stored memorabilia should be a part of your spring cleaning. This gives you a chance to purge the items that are no longer worthwhile to you, whilst also giving you a chance to reorganize the items you decide to keep to be more efficient and save space.
Reorganizing instead of throwing out
I know that when I see a huge mess, my first instinct is to throw it all away and start over from scratch instead of cleaning it up. And I know I’m not the only one who feels this way sometimes. But, unless they’re items you don’t need or they are due to be replaced anyway, you are better off taking a deep breath, and reorganizing instead. Things like piles of books, your “junk drawer”(we all have one), everything under your kitchen sink, and the dusty corners of your storage closets. Get shelving and storage bins to make your job easier, and tackle one unorganized mess at a time.
But, it’s okay to throw things out
That being said, don’t feel guilty keeping things that you really should be throwing away. Or better yet, try to donate or recycle as many items as possible. This gives new life and meaning to the items that you no longer need, which can make it considerably easier to say goodbye to them. If you are struggling to say goodbye, put these items in a box and put them away where you can’t see them, such as your garage. If you haven’t used them or wanted them after a month, you can feel comfortable getting rid of them. You don’t need them.
Windows, baseboards, and all the nooks and crannies
I am horrible at cleaning my baseboards. I forget they need to be cleaned, until they have collected so much dust that they’re visibly covered in the greyish substance. Dedicate an afternoon to wiping down your baseboards, window sills, and windows, both inside and out. Wash down doors, walls, trim, shelving, and furniture. Basically, all of the little things you forget about throughout the year, now is your time to get them cleaned.
Keeping pests at bay
Spring is a notoriously busy time for pests. Or rather, they are all trying to make their way into your home, where they aren’t welcome. During spring cleaning, make sure to set up traps, schedule an appointment with your local pest control, or just do a bit or preemptive checking for pests, before you get any infestations that get out of hand.