10 Simple Spring Cleaning Tips

It’s about that time of year to begin thinking about Spring cleaning!  Since we just moved I don’t have any super deep cleaning to do, but I’m definitely continuing with tackling small projects each day as I get our house in order.

The bathroom remodeling saga has made a mess in three other rooms, so I’m just making the best of it.  :) Hopefully everything will be put back together before too much longer. {fingers crossed}

It is so much more fun to decorate a clean house, which is why I enjoy cleaning and organizing. It’s impossible to put a decorating “bandage” over a messy house.  The messes will always glare brighter than a new thrift store candlestick.

Before you do any Spring decorating this year, check out these 10 Simple Spring Cleaning Tips…

1. Formulate A Plan & Set Reasonable Goals

Jot down the areas of your home that you need to clean, come up with a plan and be sure to budget in time for distractions so you won’t get discouraged after just a few hours cleaning.  In essence, make a reasonable plan of attack that has at least a 98% chance of being accomplished!

2. Check For Cleaning Supplies

There is nothing more frustrating than to start a project {or Spring cleaning} only to find that you’re out of supplies.  I’m on a chemical reduction kick, so when we moved, I got rid of THREE boxes of chemically-laden cleaning supplies.  White vinegar, baking soda and Basic H are among my favorite household cleaning aids.

3.  Involve Your Children {or work while the littles are napping!}

I loved having small tasks to accomplish when I was growing up. My Mom was really good at delegating age appropriate jobs for us.  Since Ridley is 2 years old, it’s a bit challenging to get much accomplished while he pulls everything apart behind me.  I’m thankful that both sets of grandparents are close by, so I can send him to play with them, crank up some music and get busy cleaning!

4. Tackle One Area At A Time

It’s exciting to get started cleaning and I sometimes tend to get distracted with various projects throughout the house.  But, I’ve found that it’s incredibly helpful and sanity-saving to work on one area at a time.  Inadvertently, piles of stuff will migrate to other rooms in your house, but those can be tackled when you get to them.

5.  Declutter Before Cleaning

It is frustrating to be ready to dust an area only to realize that you have to move 15 knick-knacks, 10 pieces of junk mail, broken crayons and wadded up kleenexes before you can get started. Ask me how I know. Humph.  Save yourself a headache and get rid of the garbage and extraneous clutter before cleaning!

6. Use Bins To Organize The “Get-Rid-Of” Stuff

Instead of just dividing up things into separate piles that will likely get knocked over or mixed up, use plastic bins to keep them organized. I like having a bin for garage sale items, items to donate, garbage and things that need to be returned to others.  Are we the only family who has five different, un-matching forks in our silverware drawer? I think they reproduce while we sleep at night.

7.  Open The Windows For Fresh Air

I love filling my lungs with fresh country air.  I can do without the man-ur-e smell, but I love Spring air {minus the pollen, of course}.  After being shut up inside for months, it is so refreshing to open the windows and have fresh air flowing through the house.

8. Clean Each Room From Top To Bottom

Let gravity make your job easier by working with it!  Start at the ceiling by dusting the ceiling fan or light fixture then get all the “webbys” off the crown molding.  Work your way down the walls, over the furniture, all the way to the baseboards and flooring.

9.  Change Up Your Accessories For A New Look

I don’t know about you, but I like to change up my accessories a little bit for each season. I’m not talking about redecorating necessarily, but just freshening up things.  Since it’s Spring, try switching out heavy, darker items out with lighter and brighter accessories!

10  Design A Daily Cleaning Schedule

After all your hard work is done and your house looks like a magazine cover {not really!}, make sure that you have a good cleaning schedule in place.  Whether you need to make one from scratch or update the one you have, set small daily tasks that will help keep your house in order until next Spring…or until you decide to deep clean your house again!

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Now, I have a fun “Spring Cleaning” giveaway for you! I was recently contacted by Kristina, a Shaklee distributor.  She sent me a sample bottle of Basic H2.  This stuff is amazing!  Did you know that for window cleaner you only use two, yes two little drops in 16 ounces of water? Truly amazing and frugal!  I’m so excited that Basic H2 is not only economical and free of toxins, but it works!  Y’all just have to go see all the ways that Kristina has successfully used Basic H2 while I work on picking my jaw up off the floor.

Kristina is giving away Basic H2 samples to 10 readers!! Each sample contains enough to make 2 – 16 ounce bottles of cleaner which would last a long time around my house!  Check out Kristina’s website for more fabulous Shaklee products and contact her directly to find out about current specials.

To Enter:

• Tell me if you typically do Spring cleaning or not.  Easy peasy!

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each):

• Like Safe And Healthy Solutions on Facebook
• Like The Casabella Project on Facebook
• Visit the other posts listed below as part of the Put Your House In Order Series!

Giveaway open to US residents only. I will draw a winner at random on Saturday, March 12th!

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Put Your House in Order

I’m participating in a series, called “Put Your House in Order,” with a great group of bloggers. Each of us is tackling a different area of home management and sharing suggestions for organizing in the new year.

Check out how the others are ordering their homes this Spring:

Spring Cleaning Your Finances at Kingdom First Mom
Spring Cleaning with Kids at Smockity Frocks
Welcome Spring To Your Kitchen at Good Cheap Eats
Modest Spring & Summer Fashions at Women Living Well

That’s a wrap for today, y’all!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. Winners have been notified!