Get started on spring cleaning

For homeowners, spring cleaning is one of the annual rites of spring. The return of warmer weather presents the perfect opportunity for homeowners to open the windows, let some fresh air in and tidy up after a few months spent cooped up inside while the weather outside was frightful.

But now that spring has arrived, the time to clean up around the house has come. Homeowners about to start on their annual spring cleaning should consider the following before beginning.

Get the right tools

The right tools won’t necessarily be a hammer and nails, but cleaning products that can make spring cleaning more efficient. Consider natural products that are good for the environment.

Take some inventory

Many people have no problem buying new clothes, but they do find it hard to get rid of older items. Part of spring cleaning is tossing old items you no longer use, and that includes clothing. Clothing can take up a significant amount of space, so take some inventory on your wardrobe and decide which items you want to keep and which ones you can afford to discard or even donate.

Tidy up the bed

You likely wash your bed linens regardless of the season. When spring cleaning, toss these linens into the washing machine and don’t forget to wash the mattress pads and bed skirting as well. While those items are in the wash, flip all the mattresses in your household.

Address the windows

If the last several months have been especially cold or snowy, then you might not have looked out the windows in quite some time. Unfortunately, those windows might have accumulated quite the amount of dirt and grime while you were huddled inside. When washing the windows, do so on a cloudy day, as the sun can actually cause streaking. In addition, be mindful of what you’re using to wipe down the windows post-cleaning. Microfiber rags typically give windows a great shine without any streaking.

The blinds and drapes will also need to be addressed, as they have likely accumulated some dust over the last few months. Dust the valance and the frame, and wipe the blinds down with a damp cloth. You can also use your vacuum’s upholstery and brush attachments to further clean blinds and drapes.

Don’t forget the kitchen

The kitchen is not immune to clutter, and it’s especially easy for items to overstay their welcome in the refrigerator and the kitchen cabinets. Look for old takeout containers in the refrigerator that have managed to stick around, and throw these out as well as any items that have passed their expiration dates. While items in the kitchen cabinets might not have an expiration date, it helps to remove them from the pantry and then dust and wipe down the shelves. When doing so, discard any items that no longer seem appetizing.

Clean the bookshelves

Bookshelves are one the biggest collectors of dust in many homes. Open the windows in the home and then remove books from the shelves. Once the books have been removed, dust the shelves and wipe them down with a damp cloth. And don’t forget to dust the books and reorganize titles before returning them to their newly cleaned shelves.

Spring cleaning is annual event at many households, and a few simple strategies can make it go much more smoothly.