Strategies for Sprucing Up Your Home This Year
Spring is a time of rebirth, with buds appearing on the trees and perennials starting to poke through the ground. It can also be the time to put a new face on your home. Spring cleaning can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips for helping you clear the cobwebs and get organized in 2024.
Tip #1—Start with a Plan
Before you do anything, do a little mini-inspection of your home. Take a legal pad with you and write down everything that you want to get done. Are any of those tasks time-sensitive? Are some jobs more pressing than others? Prioritize your list and formalize it with a plan of attack.
Tip #2—Start by Reducing the Clutter
Clutter has a physical and an emotional impact. You’ll find it much easier to be motivated to dust, polish and mop a tidy home. In addition, if you dust first, then start organizing and sorting things, you’ll likely have to dust all over again when you’re done. Tackle one task at a time, but strive to address all clutter before you start to clean.
Tip #3—Work Your Way Down
The earth has gravity…that means that dust and dirt fall down. If you start your cleaning at ground level and work your way up, you’ll end up doing it twice.
Tip #4—Don’t Forget to Dust the Walls and Windows
A common mistake when cleaning—sweeping or running a dust mop on the floor, but neglecting to remove dust from windows and walls. Don’t use a feather duster on these surfaces—you’ll just send the dust into the air and some of it (maybe a lot of it) will simply resettle on the windows and walls. Use a damp towel or cloth instead.
Tip #5—Make the Kitchen a Separate Project
Your kitchen will likely need the most attention. In addition to dust, you may have grease, food crumbs and other substances, particularly in your pantry. It’s a good idea to take everything out of your pantry (as well as your refrigerator) and scrub the surfaces clean. To do the job right, you’ll need an entire day to thoroughly clean the kitchen.
