Do you participate in spring cleaning?

I do, in a sense. Something about the warm weather permanently setting in makes me feel the need to clean, clean, clean. I notice that my baseboards are dirty, my fans are dusty, and my windows are in desperate need of a good scrubbing. I’ve started a list in the last week or so of some house projects that I would like to tackle in the upcoming weeks. Some things include:

•    Wipe down the baseboards
•    Clean off any visible icky spots on the walls
•    Clear off the kitchen counters and purge the insides of the cabinets
•    Purge anything that doesn’t have a home
•    Organize my pantry.

I’m sure I will add to the list in the upcoming weeks. I also really want to re-paint my bedroom and get a new comforter and sheet set, and replace my bathroom medicine cabinet with a plain mirror.

I think spring cleaning really does go with the spring idea of rebirth and renewal. It’s great to start the summer with a clean slate. This is going to be particularly important to me this year because I will be home all summer with a rowdy nearly-5-year-old and a young infant. I fear that if we start out with a messy house, it will just get worse.

I’ve also been thinking about other things that can be metaphorically “spring cleaned.” Spring is a time that I will take to re-evaluate friendships and make sure that the friends I have are all beneficial to my life. Ideally, I will spring clean my money habits. They really could use an overhaul.

But right now, I want to focus on the physical aspects of cleaning. I am always trying to get rid of clutter, which seems to multiply daily. Here are some trouble spots in my house that you might also want to take a look at when you start your spring cleaning:

Spring Cleaning Tips

•    Closets – Closets are notorious for hiding heaps of junk. I’ve actually done a pretty good job of streamlining mine, but there’s still more work to be done. We got rid of our linen closet when we renovated our bathroom, so I had to get creative with linen storage. Our linens are all in our own closets now. Also, don’t look at an empty shelf in a closet as an opportunity to store more stuff. Try to keep it empty! Shelves and cabinets don’t have to be full.

•    Pantry – I like to keep a good stockpile of basics in my pantry. Some that come immediately to mind are rice, pasta, canned products, oils and vinegars, spices, and snacks. Spring is a great time to go through and toss anything that has gone past its expiration date or is stale.

•    Craft supplies – This is a big one for me because I love the idea of crafting. The practice … not so much. Not that I don’t enjoy it. Just at this point in my life, I’m 26 with two young kids, I work from home, and I manage a household. That unfortunately doesn’t leave a lot of time for crafts. Craft supplies also seem to multiply like rabbits, in my house at least.

If nothing else, spring is a good time to take inventory of what you have and organize it!
I recently (FINALLY) finished my daughter’s nursery, so that can be crossed off the list! We have also started trying to get our backyard under control. It’s getting overgrown!

Please let me know in the comments if there are places in your home that you plan to spring clean that I haven’t thought of! I could certainly use more inspiration.

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Category: Home

Tags: clutter