5 Spring Cleaning Tips

Spring cleaning can be a real hassle, but trust us, it leads to a less stressful life

Spring-cleaning can feel like a daunting task, especially if you haven’t done any deep cleaning in awhile. But according to UCLA’s Center on Everyday Lives of Families, having a well-organized and clean home actually reduces stress for families, particularly moms. There are, of course, other added benefits of scrubbing the house in the spring: After months of winter hibernation, just getting the windows open and your body moving can give you an instant boost in happiness.

1. GET THE KIDS INVOLVED

Children as young as three or four years old can help with organizing and putting toys away, wiping down surfaces, and dusting baseboards. Plus, they can help pick out unused items from their own rooms for donation.

2. YOU MUST DUST

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, a thorough deep cleaning can help rid your home of dust mites and allergy-causing agents. Bob Kremer, director of Laundry and Environmental Services at Mayo Clinic Health System Eau Claire, recommends using microfiber cloths and cleaning from top to bottom. “Dust an area before you decide to start deep cleaning,” he adds. Amy Koenig, owner at Servicemaster, recommends people pay special attention to the tops of kitchen and bathroom cabinets, “They’re easiest to forget but usually the dustiest place in the house.”

3. DON’T FORGET THE FABRICS

When you’re shampooing the carpets, don’t forget about the upholstery that’s been collecting body oil, dust, and mystery stains for the last year. Gather all your drapery, shower curtains, bed linens, and bathmats and follow their individual directions for laundering. Sometimes comforters, blankets, and pillows don't need to be cleaned, but they do need to be aired out after a long winter. Take them outside and hang them on a clothesline for a day.

4. GET RID OF STUFF

If you haven’t used it in the last year, you probably don’t need it. While there are some exceptions for seasonally specific items, the majority of unused items will just end up shoved in your closet somewhere, taking up valuable real estate when they could be donated to a charity or another family in need.

5. SALT + SODA

It’s the perfect recipe for sparkly appliances. Mix the two together and the bubbling action of the soda water combines with the abrasive texture of the salt to make a great cleaner. But don’t forget the area around and under your appliances either. According to Wanda McVinnie of Environmental Services at MCHS Eau Claire, “Cleaning the drip tray underneath a refrigerator makes your refrigerator run better.”