Spring Cleaning

Let’s get serious. Not everyone enjoys cleaning. I’ll be the first to admit I love spring cleaning, but it doesn’t magically happen all in one day. To be honest, I’ve been working on my spring cleaning for a couple weeks now. One thing I’m consistently told by family and friends is how much of a clean freak I am. Every time guests are over, they always comment on how clean my home is and how organized it is, and commenting on the decor. Surely I do appreciate their kind words, yes I do work hard at keeping a tidy home. But to some, it just doesn’t come naturally, (and I try hard not to laugh) but for example my mother. She gets overwhelmed at the thought of cleaning an entire house, stresses at how much her to-do list continues to grow. And the thing is, I completely understand how overwhelming it could be if one doesn’t enjoy cleaning or doesn’t have the time for it. Especially now that I have two little ones of my own, I really understand how overwhelming it can be. This is why I’ve compiled my secrets and methods for keeping a tidy home. Bottom line though, find some inspiration first! What do you want to refresh or deep clean in your home? What will you be able to do once the cleaning is done? For us it was having our family gatherings in our home. I love having family over and hosting. Having a clean home means we can host and that gives me great joy!

Cleaning Supplies-Baking soda, natural plant-based dish soap (I like Attitude, Puracy, or Dapple Baby). Lemons, disinfecting wipes or Seventh Generation spray, Distilled Vinegar, Attitude window cleaner, broom, mop, cleaning brush for kitchen, toilet, and a small cleaning brush for everything else. Look for sponges that don’t contain microplastics or they’ll literally go down your drain. Vacuum & Carpet Shampooer, cleaning rags, and any special cleaner you may need for your furniture. For laundry, I love Molly’s Suds found here https://amzn.to/4ioRpTo, and vinegar. If you haven’t already, I would ditch paper towels! Just look up the chemicals they have and you’ll know why, plus consider the environment.

Pro Tip: Look up a cleaner on EWG.org BEFORE you buy any. And this advice goes for everything you buy from diapers to make-up, ewg.org is the place to go! It rates the products based on the ingredients. Don’t forget to look up your laundry detergent when finding the right one for you.

The major misconception in spring cleaning, or rather any cleaning your home may need, is the idea that it all has to be done in one day. Even for the best of us, we cannot do it ALL in one day. Here are some tips I use on a daily basis to keep things in order. The main thing is to do one thing at a time, and to do SOMETHING every day.

Always, always start in the kitchen (Brew the coffee!) 20 min
Start the laundry 15 min
Dust, clean glass, & pick up living-room 15 min
Vacuum & mop 20 min
Fold laundry & start dinner 30 min
Write down any organizing project you have
Plan a day to shampoo carpets
Freshen up your home (the fun part!)
Clean the bathroom another day 45 min
Breathe, relax, repeat

First things first, you must set out a small notebook on your counter so you can write down any groceries or supplies you need the next time you go shopping. This way, if you’re in the bathroom and notice you need supplies, write it down. Next, start up your favorite playlist! The secret is to dance and have fun while you clean, it makes the time fly and before you know it you have so much energy to clean everything!

The kitchen is rather simple, and my favorite (because food is in the kitchen). Clean out your fridge of leftovers and check the dates on all condiments. Throw those dishes in the dishwasher and wipe down the counters. Check your pantry for any supplies you may need. To help me remember, I usually write down what I used in preparing meals that way I know I’ll never run out. Don’t go overboard in the kitchen…yet, spend maybe twenty minutes max then move on.

The key to spring cleaning is to have a clean home to begin with, then you can move on to that deep cleaning. Note: having dirty dishes in the sink does not mean you have a dirty home, it means you know how to cook!

Use the time between washing and drying clothes to make your bed, put things away in the living room, clean litter box, clean your coffee maker using vinegar, water plants, bake banana bread or cookies (don’t worry about making more dishes, it only takes 5 minutes to clean them up later). As soon as the laundry is dried, fold it immediately and put away. Tip: buy towels, linens, even under garments all WHITE and 100% cotton. This makes laundry day very easy. White is easier to see if it’s dirty. White is also traditional and aesthetically pleasing to a clean freak, but certainly not what everyone must have in a tidy home. You’ll want to do as much as you can while waiting on laundry so you don’t get tired out. One method I use is a timer on my fridge. I time my laundry and that way it breaks down chunks of time you have in the day. There’s more time than you may think. If you are exhausted from work every day, take half a day (or less) on the weekend to do your cleaning and the other do your grocery shopping.

Projects. Mini or big. My father always has a project that he is doing. He’s a carpenter and loves to keep busy. I’ve learned to do the same. Whether my project is writing an article, organizing the pantry, learning a new recipe, or researching healthy cookware, one must always have a project they are working on. It keeps our mind busy and gives us something to do. Your project should not be something you write down on a to-do list. This is something you WANT to do, off the page. It could take all weekend, one day, or all week. My recent projects were shampooing the carpets, researching my family history on ancestry.com, and organizing the bathroom cabinets. Your projects do not always have to be cleaning related, but rather anything that makes you happy and organizes your life is some way.

The bathroom takes a bit longer to clean. This is why I always do the bathroom when I’m good and ready, once a week. Tip: I leave wipes under the sink that way I can wipe down the sink or toilet every other day as needed. It’s simple and keeps your bathroom clean!

The easiest way to clean a bathroom is start in the tub. Sprinkle baking soda and dish soap all over and scrub clean with a small cleaning brush. Your tub will sparkle in less than fifteen minutes! Don’t fall for the commercial harsh cleaning supplies. Simple is better. I don’t know about you, but when I clean, I don’t want to be breathing in bleach or gross cleaning supplies that eat away the skin on my hands. With baking soda and dish soap, I don’t even wear gloves. Next, put some toilet bowl cleaner in the toilet, let it sit. Tip: If your tub drain needs to be unclogged, pour whatever you typically use first, let it sit with the door closed and fan on before you start any cleaning. I like to open windows when using any chemical, and walk away so I don’t breathe it in.

Sink and mirrors. Toothbrush holders, and dust ceiling fans. Sweep and mop.

One thing to keep in mind is to form habits. Good cleaning habits. For example. Every time you mop your floor, make it a habit to clean your pets’ food and water dishes. Sweep 2-3 times a week. Don’t clean everything all at once, but rather like I mentioned earlier, do something every day. It only takes a fifteen minute clean-up and one small project a day to keep your home tidy. The main thing is to love your home. When you love something, you take care of it like your own baby.

The bedrooms should be designated for their own days. Make the beds everyday if desired (I don’t make my bed everyday, only when guests are coming over) but always put fresh clothes away. If you start with an organized bedroom, you shouldn’t have much to worry about here on a daily basis. If your bedroom is crowded, or always looks messy, than maybe it’s time to get rid of all that crap. Simple is better. Now the closets are another story. We all want to go out and buy new spring and summer clothes, am I right? Well we need to make sure we have an organized closet first before we spend money on a ton of clothes we may not even need. I will typically go through and see if there are any pants that I’d love to turn into shorts. My grandma does an awesome job of “cut-offs.” It saves you money and you use what you have. Keep in mind, you don’t want to “get-rid” of all those sweaters and winter clothes, but rather, organize them so they are out of the way for summer. Be sure to donate all items you don’t need to your local Saint Vinny’s, not Goodwill.

Food. Make what you want, not what you think you should make. The worst thing to do, in my opinion, is to completely go on a certain diet and change your kitchen to reflect it. The key is to start small! So, you want to go all organic do ya? Well, start small. Next time you go shopping and you need supplies, make those supplies organic. Don’t go out and buy a ton of organic supplies just to say “I’m going organic!” because you really won’t have any clue how to use those supplies and you’ll end up wasting money, confused, and overwhelmed. Learn which healthy foods you love and how to incorporate them into meals. Don’t be afraid to fail! If you are one that likes to eat out a lot, try making a homemade dish once a week. You’ll end up loving it so much that the following week you make it again, plus an additional homemade meal. Next thing you know, you’re making all your meals homemade at home. Start small! Start small! Start small! And don’t feel bad for starting small! It took me a couple years in my marriage to figure out how to cook and enjoy it, all while being healthy. It doesn’t happen overnight, the important thing is that you try. Tip: if you read a health article from lets say the amazing Kris Carr, don’t be overwhelmed to do everything the way she does it. If you see something you’d like, try it. Just get your foot in the door, and begin learning about your food and health.

Check out my article A Lesson on Cookware to see why I love Le Creuset cookware in my organized kitchen.

AND FINALLY…

The Spring Cleaning Checklist after a clean home…(remember one day at a time)

Shampoo carpets & all rugs
Wash comforters, throws, curtains, and purchase fresh colors if desired
Organize cleaning closets, cabinets, pantry
Check all food items best buy dates in entire kitchen
Go through closets, donate any unwanted spring & summer clothes (keep winter clothes) why? You may be sick of the winter clothes and get rid of pieces you may want next winter. It’s best to get rid of pieces you know you won’t wear in the current season.
Find bird feeders, plan garden, and order flowers if normally do
Clean wood decks, patios, etc.
Replace any flour, sugar, etc. in canisters if needed, best to refresh
Clean drains, garbage disposal, and dish washer
Try to think of spring as cleaning rather than buying new
Check smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarm
Replace any light bulbs & filters for water purifiers, air purifiers, etc.
Clean/dust fans and ceiling fans/light fixtures
Make any doctor appointments, dentist, eye, etc.
Are your taxes done?
Clean out your vehicles, do any maintenance, oil changes, etc.
Replace any old make-up
Organize filing cabinet that contains bills, statements, etc. if not already done
Get a haircut
Take time for yourself, you’ve earned it!