Spring is right around the corner and we are sure that you have been itching to shake away the winter blues. Spring cleaning marks the end of the cold season and the beginning of a more enjoyable and fresh new time of the year. But even if there is a spring in your step, cleaning is not exactly an activity you would look forward to. Here at Pristine Home we have a few tips to help you prepare for spring cleaning.
Tips From the Experts
1. Set aside time each day for some cleaning – Let’s be realistic. Whenever spring comes rolling around, there are a bunch of activities that always eat up our schedule. With so many things going on, how on earth can you possibly finish spring cleaning your home? The solution is simple: break down this humongous task into smaller, more doable ones. We would like to suggest finishing all tasks within a month’s time and for you to accomplish this, assign a specific task for each day of the month.
As you can see, breaking down the task of “spring cleaning” makes it a more realistic goal. When you have a schedule set up like this where it is easy for you to tick off a task when finished, you can easily feel a sense of accomplishment. Any task you feel you can’t do, like scrubbing off grout, give us a call and set an appointment for one of our professional cleaners to do it for you. Set appointments ahead of time so you have no excuse to miss your cleaning
schedule. If possible, for the next month or so make your daily cleaning tasks one of your priorities.
2. Get your cleaning tools ready – You can’t start cleaning without the proper tools and materials, and there is nothing worse than running out of product midway through cleaning and you’re forced to head to the store or you’ve just found out that the tool needs to be repaired or replaced. Quite annoying to say the least!
Avoid this by making a list and checking it twice (make it thrice, for good measure) and head to the store to gather all the stuff you need for your one month cleaning tour of your home. Once you’ve gotten everything prepared, set them aside to one specific area in your home (where children and pets can’t get a hold of them). This way you can easily grab whatever it is you need for a specific cleaning task.
3. Get in the mood – We’re not just talking about music here, but we’re also referring to coffee, tea, or whatever it is that gets you in a pleasant mood. You will view cleaning more of a hassle when you are not in the right frame of mind. It might be helpful to go online and browse through photos of how to you would want your house to be (even if
they may seem like a dream at this point). Having such visual cues can motivate you to clean up. Opening the windows and letting the fresh air and sunshine can make even the grumpiest person turn his/her mood around.
4. Gather boxes and containers for decluttering – Decluttering is something you can do any time of the year. You don’t have to wait for spring to do it. But in the off chance you do need to get rid of things and reorganise your home, we’ve got a few key points we’d like you to consider:
a. If it’s something that hasn’t been used in the past year, let it go.
b. If it is a seasonal item, keep in a designated area in the house away from all the stuff you do use daily. The garage or a spare closet would be a good spot.
c. Learn to turn down hand-me-down items from relatives and friends if it’s something you don’t really need. Don’t be ashamed to say no. That clock your Uncle bought from his vacation in the Bahamas is just gathering dust….
d. If it still presentable and in good condition, consider donating to a local shelter or set up a garage sale outside of your home.
e. As for your closet, check each piece of clothing carefully and discern if it is something you would still wear in the coming year. If not, donate!
Whatever items you have left, start to organise them. How you organise such things may take another day or two and we suggest assigning a specific day for this. Buy some colorful yet practical containers to keep your things in so you’ll be motivated to keep your home mess-free. If you have children, give them the small responsibility to be in charge of their own set of containers in their bedrooms or their playroom.
5. The more the merrier – Get everyone in on the task and let them know about the different cleaning activities you’ll have everyday. Remember that you don’t have to do everything by yourself. Involve the kids and your spouse, as this will be a great way to bond.
6. Throw expectations down the drain – It’s easy to envision a home that’s sparkling clean from top to bottom, but having realistic goals will prevent you from feeling stressed out. Cleaning doesn’t have to be a cumbersome task. Your main goal is to simply get the house back in shape after the dreary winter season.
A Word of Advice
Keep in mind that spring cleaning wouldn’t be that big of a task if your home is well maintained during other times of the year. When your done with this year’s spring cleaning make a mental note about keeping your home as it is. Pristine Home has an awesome team of professional cleaners that can easily visit your home on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Making an appointment with us is a click away. We will be happy to answer any of your inquiries.
