Spring Cleaning: You don’t need to re-invent the wheel

Enjoy your space now without all the fuss.

Spring is the perfect time to open up the windows, shake the mats and clean all your surfaces, but there’s no reason to spend more time on these than necessary.

Try these tips to get your home spring fresh.

Make a plan

When it comes to spring cleaning, the best approach is to be organized. “I recommend having a plan, which includes an outline of the areas you plan to clean, a schedule with time slotted to do that work (for you and any family members), as well as a list of products, tools and even cleaning techniques or tips pertaining to those areas,” says Melissa Maker, blogger and host of the popular YouTube show “Clean My Space.” 

This may seem be a bit over the top for some of us BUT putting it on paper is your visual starting place.

Choose the right supplies, why not go eco-friendly

Take note of what supplies you need to get the job done. Once you figure out what you need, now may be the time to change out some of those high chemical products for more eco-friendly ones — but make sure they’re going to get you the results you need.

Clean your cleaning supplies

Did you know your cleaning supplies, such as sponges or microfiber cloths, are most likely the dirtiest items in your home? It goes without saying that you can’t effectively clean your home with dirty supplies. So be sure to disinfect sponges or other cleaning supplies in a mixture of one part bleach and nine parts water for 30 seconds.

One room at a time

Feeling overwhelmed? Use a focused approach and DON’T jump from room to room. Choose to target one room at a time so you can see the results of your productivity quickly and not get discouraged.

Work smarter, not harder

Don’t scrub any more than necessary. Simple steps like soaking pots and pans before you scrub them, waiting for cleaning products to sit before you wipe down surfaces, and using the self-cleaning setting on your oven can save you tons of time.

Focus on the “Most Important Areas” [MIAs]

Spring cleaning can be a huge undertaking (especially depending on the size of your home), so Maker suggests focusing on the MIAs. When deciding which area to choose, think about the most visible ones, like the living room, kitchen or bathroom.

Don’t forget …

There are several items in our homes that we often forget to clean on a regular basis. Among forgotten items are cleaning the aircon/heat pump filters, behind the oven, bathroom exhaust fans, refrigerator coils and window coverings.

Get rid of the clutter

You can never truly have a clean and tidy home if you are buried in your own stuff. When cleaning out your things, remember the 80/20 rule: Only 20 percent of the items we own are truly important — so 80 percent of our belongings are just getting in the way.

Be more efficient in the future

While you are cleaning and organizing your home, take note of all the clutter that you most often find. For example, if you are finding that most of your clutter is paper, figure out the best ways to go paperless throughout the year.

Diane Takiwa