I don’t know about you, but I am so ready for Spring. The trees are budding out, the birds are chirping, and animals are coming out of their hibernation. Know what else is happening? Spring cleaning!
Oh yes, that’s definitely going on. These are simple and easy spring cleaning tips. They’re all things that need to be done in your home, but aren’t meant to overwhelm you.
These easy Spring Cleaning tips will get you started on the journey. Check out the easy housekeeping tips for real people, too.
Put the heavy stuff away
Put the coats, the extra blankets, and the winter toys away. The chances that you’re going to need sleds or skis at this point in time are slim. Maybe keep the coats and a blanket or two within easy reach for those late season snowstorms.
Flip your Mattresses
Did you know that a lot of mattresses have a winter side and a summer side? The winter side keeps you warmer, the summer side keeps you cooler. Flip your mattress to the cooler side. This also helps them wear more evenly and your mattress will last longer. You might also want to vacuum your mattress and box springs or platform. Get all the dander, dust, and little particles taken care of.
Change the batteries in your smoke detectors
You should change them twice a year anyway, so might as well do it with your Spring cleaning. It’s an easy way to remember.
Change your filters, too.
From your water filters to your air filters and furnace filters, get them all done at the same time. This is one of my favorite spring cleaning tips, as it’s easy to remember when you last changed your filters.
Change the batteries in your keyless locks
If you have a keyless entry system for your house, change those batteries as well. They should be changed out once a year or so, and you can usually tell when they need it, as the lock starts sounding labored when it turns. However, sometimes they jam when the batteries are getting low, and you have to find an alternate entry method. Ask me about almost having to climb through the window because I didn’t change my batteries.
Vacuum your couch
This is one of my favorite spring cleaning tips, and it’s oh so easy. Your sofa and other soft furniture could use a deep vacuuming. Pull all the cushions off, and get the crevice tool out. Vacuum up the random crumbs, dirt, debris, and if your couch is anything like mine, the beads that have fallen down between the cushions. As a bonus, I usually find a couple bucks in pocket change that’s fallen out, too. It’s like getting paid to do a chore. Consider rotating the cushions, too, if you can.
Clean off your Patio Furniture.
With warmer days, we want to spend more time outside. Get the furniture out and cleaned, so you can enjoy the sunny days. Spray it down with the hose or pressure washer to get all the grime off it. Even if it was covered, you never know what might have wintered in your patio furniture. Clean the upholstery and cushions with a scrub brush and a gentle cleanser. Cleaning your furniture also helps it last longer. You want to protect that investment, don’t you?
Get rid of the Stuff You Don’t Need
Too small clothes? Broken toys? Movies and books that aren’t age appropriate? Get rid of them. Throw away or recycle the junk. But for the good stuff, have a yard sale, donate them, or sell them off at one of the kids consignment sales. Try your local Buy Nothing group, too. There’s lots of good things happening in there.
Clean your windows.
You want to enjoy the great sunny days don’t you? Clean off the winter weather leftovers like salty spots, dirty streaks, and all the spots. Don’t forget to dust the blinds and give them a good cleaning. A microfiber mitt or old sock works wonders to get the dust that regular dusting misses. And then you can open your windows to help air out the house.
Clean out the pantry
Get rid of the old stuff. If you have food you’re not going to eat, and it’s still good, consider donating it. There are several food drives that start during the spring, or find your local food bank and see if they’re accepting donations. Many schools are now also operating donation centers. Throw away the out of date stuff, and get rid of, or repurpose, all the mismatched plastic containers.
These spring cleaning tips are things you can accomplish in a few minutes to an hour or two. Just take one or two items and work on the list slowly if need be. It’s not meant to overwhelm you, just help you get kickstarted with a cleaning routine.
What are your best Spring Cleaning tips?