Toss your duvet in the washing machine, clean the dust bunnies from under your bed, and purge your kitchen pantry. After a long winter, this change in seasons brings a welcome opportunity to freshen up the home. A thorough scrubbing of your living space does so much more than remove dust and clutter— it can also reorient your outlook on daily life in a profoundly positive way. Here are five simple tips for a successful spring clean.
1. Clean your windows, inside and out.
In the warmer months, morning light shining through your windows can be a glorious thing. That is, until you notice all the dust and fingerprints on the glass. An alternative to conventional glass cleaner, a warm water and vinegar mixture can achieve a streak-free finish. If you have hard-to-reach windows, this task is better left to a professional, but their services will be a worthwhile investment. If you're unsure who to hire, your realtor will likely give you some trustworthy names.
2. Wash your home's exterior
Power-washing videos are endlessly satisfying to watch online; however, to no one's surprise, the activity is far more rewarding in real life. Rent a pressure washer from your local hardware store and spend the afternoon erasing any signs of winter from your patio, driveway or home exterior. Who knows, what you assumed was grey might actually be white after all.
3. Tackle your kitchen's messy drawer
We all have that one drawer in our kitchen that accumulates everything from batteries to take-out menus. Take time to empty it, purge whatever is no longer needed, wipe out the drawer and start fresh. You'll be surprised at the weight lifted from knowing that the "messy" drawer is no longer such.
4. Vacuum behind the furniture
Dust and debris accumulate over time and hide behind furniture in places a typical weekly vacuum session likely can't reach. Use this time to pull your furniture away from the walls to ensure you can collect every dust bunny. The same goes for behind your kitchen appliances. These tedious tasks will be well worth it once you discover the number of uncooked pasta shells that can fall between the stove and the countertop throughout the year.
5. Donate what you no longer need
Cleaning the closet can be a daunting task, and even then, finding somewhere to drop off your donation can mean that you drive around with bags of clothing in your trunk for weeks. Non-profits like Big Brother are wonderful organizations that accept clothing and homewares, and they will even come to your house to collect your items.
As the final step, open the windows and let fresh air fill your sparkling-clean home. Whether these simple habits become a mainstay in your routine or a yearly occurrence, a thorough clean can help you start the warmer months off on the right foot.
