Why do we spring clean? There is no right answer to this, because you really can do these basic deep cleaning tasks at any time of the year. I like to think about it as saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring with a fresh, clean home. The tradition of spring cleaning helps to reset your home, and you, for the new season ahead.
A clean home has so many benefits, but for me it is about a clear head. More often than not chores can get away from me and causes chaos in my mind. I get overwhelmed with the many tasks, responsibilities and chores that always seem to be on my list. I do not have a lot of control over so many things in my life, but I do have control over the state of my house. When I am feeling overwhelmed I will take some time and really clean a room. I start at the ceiling fans and work my way down to the baseboards. It doesn’t happen as often as it should, but I always feel better when everything in the room is at its best. Spring cleaning brings me a sense of accomplishment, relief and a mental reset to take on my next challenge with a clear mind.
Why is spring cleaning done in spring? A big reason why spring is a great time of year to do these tasks is the longer days and warmer weather. Increased daylight is motivating to clean and de-clutter, while the winter months can be draining. The warmer days also allow for opening windows to let out the dust and drying cleaned fabrics outdoors. So many great reasons to get this done in the spring months!
What exactly are we cleaning during this process? Some of the essentials I like to tackle during spring cleaning are windows, walls and doorways. I brush out HVAC vents, wipe down walls and scrub window sills, door trim and baseboards. Curtains are washed and hung to dry before going back up and I do my best to clean blinds around the house. (blinds are my least favorite thing to clean and I always end up breaking some of them) De-cluttering and organizing closets that turn into catchalls over the year are always on my list. Our coat closet always ends up in piles and I often avoid opening the door, but this is a great project to tackle in the spring. It always feels great re-opening that door to a clean and organized closet and I always seem to find a fun item I forgot that we had. Finally, a deep clean of the house is in order with carpet cleaning, polishing all surfaces and washing all of the bedding just puts the finishing touches on a whole home reset. Such a great feeling!
Does this seem a little daunting to you? There are definitely ways to make the process easier. You can start my creating a checklist to stay on track. We created this checklist at Tin Box Creates to help you get started. It is a printable that you can reprint each year to get the work done. I like to do one project at a time and then one room at a time. Do all of the curtains at one time and get it done. Then when the big projects are done you can go in and deep clean one room at a time. Pick one task a day to accomplish and by the end of the month or season you will have it all done and be ready for a fun-filled summer! If you are lucky enough to have older children and a partner in the house, get them on board too! They helped to create the mess and having them help out should help them feel pride in making the house clean and fresh! It will also help get the job done quick!
We would like to encourage you to embrace a fresh start this spring. Start with your home, your mental and physical health and your family. This fresh start will help you to bring joy into your life and into your home and set you up for a great rest of the year! Do you have any cleaning tips or advice? Leave them in the comments below.
As always, thank you for reading and joining us on this journey. We love learning and growing with you.
Simply, Beth