Springtime means more than just sunny days, blooming flowers, and outdoor activities; it means getting your home nice, clean, and organized. Of course, while most people get excited about the outdoor activities and events that happen during the spring, there are only a few who like spring cleaning. Here are some tips to help you get through your spring cleaning so you can enjoy the outdoors and the indoors!
While there still may be a bit of chill in the air, spring is just around the corner. As we get closer to spring, it’s time to think about getting your outdoor areas, including your patio furniture, ready for warmer weather. Use these top spring cleaning tips to be ready to spend time outside with friends and family the moment it begins to warm up.
Try to come up with a plan before you start. Some areas of your home may need more attention than others, or they need to be done first. One of these may be the garage. If you are wondering where you are going to store items, but your garage is cluttered, dirty and a mess, you may want to get that space organized first, so you have storage space for items from other places in your home.
Once you have somewhat of a game plan, you can think about what all you may need to make it happen. That’s right, even though you may be trying to declutter or throw out some stuff; you may need to buy some items first. If you need more storage, you may want to look into bins that can fit under your bed for extra clothes, or perhaps, extra shelves for storage containers in the garage or a storage closet. You may also need to buy some cleaning supplies too. If you have tile, wood, and carpet floorings, you will need different cleaning solutions and tools for each surface. Other cleaning supplies may include glass cleaner, dusting supplies, and bathroom or kitchen cleaning supplies.
Try to declutter before you start organizing or cleaning an area. If you are going to dust off the mantel of your fireplace, but you have little knick-knacks on it, it may be a little difficult to dust. Throw away any items you don’t need or want anymore so they are no longer a problem for you. Once you have everything somewhat decluttered you can then clean with ease; for the most part at least.
This tip may seem difficult at times, mainly when you are decluttering one room and find something that belongs in another. You should try and take care of one area at a time. A lot of times when you are picking stuff up, you get distracted easily, and it becomes harder to make progress in one area. Instead, make small piles of items that need to be returned and then when you are finished with that particular area, you can put away other items.
Try to keep safety hazards in mind as well. Many homeowners don’t think about future safety matters when they are spring cleaning. This may mean instead of trying to plug things into one power outlet or surge protector; you find somewhere else to plug items in to prevent and electrical fires. Avoid stacking several boxes on top of one another. Too many boxes in one stack can become unstable and fall, either on you or a visitor, which would mean you may have to file a liability claim with your homeowner’s insurance.
If you see that something is broken, such as a pipe is leaking or a door isn’t completely on its hinges, go ahead and fix them if you can so you won’t have to worry about water damage from pipes or a break in from an unsecured door. Check with your insurance company to see what particular instances they may cover because some companies don’t cover problems that could have been prevented.
Additional Cleaning Spring Tips
Ask for assistance
If you are looking to get your home and outdoor space ready for friends and family, it can’t hurt to ask for their help. Throw a cleaning party so that you can recruit your kids, friends, and family members to help with sprucing up around the house. With more people, you can ensure that all of the work is done quickly, so no one has to take on too much on their own.
Don’t Be Afraid to Throw Out Things That Don’t Work
Spring is a great time to take an inventory around your house to see what you need and what may have seen its better days. Spring is a time for new beginnings in the form of budding flowers and sprouting trees, so it should also be a time of new beginnings for that old moldy outdoor patio furniture that you’ve wanted to replace for so long.
Remove Stains from Countertops
Removing stains from granite countertops can be tricky. Make sure to have your countertops sealed after they are installed and periodically after that. To clean your countertops, use a solution of half cup ammonia in a gallon of water.
Create a Different Mood In and Around Your Home
One way to dress up your home this spring is by using different types of pillows, towels, and bedding to dress up any room. Colorful pillows can make that patio furniture look new again without much effort. Do not forget to clean also the upholstery and cushions for the garden furniture. You may try to clean them at home using appropriate cleaning products, or you may use professional cleaning services to make sure the garden furniture is perfectly clean for the warm evenings.
Painting
Whether it’s your deck that needs a facelift or your grimy walls, paint can go a long way to giving your home a completely new look. Using the paint can give your home a new look without spending a fortune. When people typically think about painting, they think about the inside, but adding a coat of exterior paint to a deck and even outdoor furniture can really up to the curb appeal of your home.
