By Emily Squance, Blogger
Spring cleaning is a tradition that partially originated in the 1800s when cleaning was a necessity due to homes being covered in soot from the sources of heat homeowners used during the winter. However, as time passed, the tradition became deeply rooted in society. Today, many people use the beginning of spring as an excuse to declutter their homes in an effort to start the season off with clean and organized spaces. Some experts have even said that a clean home can potentially strengthen your immune system and help you avoid illnesses.
Make a Plan
Even though spring cleaning obviously has benefits, it can also be overwhelming depending on how dirty your home is. If you feel yourself starting to become overwhelmed with clutter, make a plan or list for yourself. Section off each individual room you want to focus on, taking note of how much effort and time each room will require. You can even try to use the “time blocking” system to try to section off how you’re going to be spending your day and time. Sometimes when you write out everything you want to get done, you are able to create more of a mental image of how long each cleaning activity will take. If you really want to bump your spring cleaning up to a new level, search online for printable cleaning checklists!
Declutter
Decluttering your space can mean many things depending on your current living situation. It can mean just simply organizing your room, cleaning out your closet or it can mean doing a full-on deep clean that involves getting out with the old and in with the new. Decluttering your space can not only alleviate anxiety and depression but potentially help you sleep better as well.
Don’t Forget About the Walls & Windows
I am very guilty of forgetting to clean more than just my room. I often forget that windows and walls are sometimes the dirtiest things in a house. Cleaning your windows in the spring is very important due to all the bugs and dust that might have built up on the outside screen. The beginning of spring also means summer is slowly approaching. Getting a head start on cleaning your windows before summer may prove very beneficial for you and your family. Starting to clean your windows before summer also gives you a chance to check the security of your window screens, examining for any potential holes bugs can get through.
Get Your Household Involved
Whether you live at home with your parents or in an apartment/house with roommates, it’s important to remember that you’re not in this alone. The other members of the house should be just as responsible for cleaning. Don’t be afraid to ask others for help. You can even make a fun game/activity out of cleaning by giving your roommates points or incentives for doing certain jobs/tasks. Be clever! Even though cleaning isn’t the most fun activity, you can make the day interesting by offering rewards or prizes for whoever is the most productive.
Dust, Dust, Dust
For me, dusting is the most important element of cleaning. I suffer from really bad allergies and they only get worse as summer approaches. Make sure you keep up with dusting your house while focusing on very problematic areas such as fans, blinds, floorboards, ceilings, and even lamps. If too much dust starts to build up in your house, it can affect your lungs and breathing ability. Dust particles and dust-containing macrophages can collect in the lung tissues, causing injury to the lungs. If you only do one thing this spring, make sure it involves dusting; you’ll thank me later.
Don’t Forget About The Air
This next tip may seem a little odd but it can be a lot more important than many people realize. Oftentimes a clean home involves a home that smells good and fresh. When spring cleaning, many people focus so much on the physical appearance of their house and forget about what it might smell like. Granted, if you’re cleaning with special disinfectants, your house probably smells somewhat clean. However, maintaining a house with a clean and fresh smell can be hard. I would recommend using candles, oil diffusers, and even wax melts to your advantage. The smell of your house may not be important to your guests but it could potentially affect your mood and overall tone. Try to find very simple yet fresh scents for your home like lemon, mint, or vanilla. You can even use aromatherapy by incorporating scents into your house that improve the health of your body, mind, and spirit, while overall enhancing your physical and emotional health. Spring cleaning isn’t just about cleaning your home, it can also be about treating yourself and making yourself feel relaxed and comfortable in your own home!
Save the Wall Scuffs for Last
Typically when we think about spring cleaning, it isn’t common to think about the little things like wall scuffs. However, there are many small spring cleaning tasks that require minimum effort, being perfect to save for last. One tip for dealing specifically with wall scuffs is to make a light mixture of soap and water on a sponge. If that doesn’t work, I highly recommend trying a magic eraser.
As you can see, there are many ways you can take advantage of the spring season by starting off with a clean slate for yourself and your home. Keep in mind while cleaning that anything you’re thinking of getting rid of may be of use to someone else. Try to donate as much as you can; giving back to another person during the spring season is the perfect way to show your gratitude to your community.
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