Spring is just around the corner, it’s a time of newness and refreshing, AND naturally a time to deep clean and organize.
What should Colorado home owners focus on for cleaning and organizing. When it’s time to clean, it forces you to take a closer look at the house. This always results in plenty of projects which you promptly put on my honey-do list. As you go through your cleaning and de-cluttering, you set aside all that extra “stuff” in a donation or garage sale box.
Besides spring creating the natural tendencies for most of us to clean a little deeper, there are a few great reasons why we should set aside a few weekends, make a list, and get scrubbing.
1. It prevents the build-up of dirt, dust, and clutter.
2. It’s the best way to prevent the hoarding items we no longer use or need.
3. Creates a new excitement for your space.
4. Everyone is more relaxed when they live in a clean, organized, de-cluttered space.
Big tasks can be overwhelming to think about and, as a result, we can shut down mentally and forget about it. While there are literally hundreds of tasks that can be tackled, let’s focus on the most important for you.
First, sit down and do a brainstorm of absolutely everything that needs to be done in your house and around your house. Inside and out. Walk through each room, look at the walls, ceiling, baseboards. Check out the windows – is there any air coming through or cracks? How about your shower or the kitchen. Notice the condition of grout, tile, and look for any leaks. What is the condition of your floors? Need any paint touch-ups? How is the condition of the exterior of your house?
Now that you have your list, remember that most likely you will not be able to do them all. THAT’S OK. Prioritize your list based on need or based on what is truly realistic for you to accomplish. Then keep your list handy for next spring (or the next time you are ready to clean). Not everything needs to be done every year.
Here are our top areas/items that need attention for your Spring Cleaning project. Compare it to what you wrote down. Don’t worry about doing everything. Personalize and tailor your spring project to what is prudent and reasonable for you. Below I’ve listed the basics. If you don’t have time to do much, at least deep clean these areas to help rid your home of allergens, dust, mold, and leave it feeling fresh.
They are the first places to collect dust and sticky grime. It is a quick job and really does clean up a room.
Then use warm water and vinegar (or a natural cleaner like Basic-H) and wipe them down. Make sure to use a damp cloth so you don’t leave the boards wet. If the boards are unstained, then a natural wood cleaner should be used.
Sometimes we forget that our appliances need attention. Mold and mildew, along with mineral deposits, can build up in our coffee pots, irons, steamers, etc. Use a mild solution of warm water and white vinegar to soak for 20-30 minutes. Rinse several times and wipe down.
The source of many allergens can come from where we lay our heads. Deep clean those pillows by putting them in the sanitize setting on your dryer. You may also want to spray them regularly with essential oils such as Lavender or Roman Chamomile.
We forget about those spaces we can not see. However, that is where you will find the largest accumulation of dust and sticky residue. All a breeding ground for allergens just waiting to get stirred up by a summer breeze.
Take down your blinds and wash them with a hose on a warm day. You will still need to use a sponge to clean off any grime. Warm water and vinegar will do the trick for most of the work.
Again, I’m tackling the areas that hold dust mites and other substances that we inhale and can cause allergic reactions or even colds. If you can hire a professional to clean your flooring once a year, that’s great.
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