5 Quick Spring Cleaning Sprints
I have to admit, I’m a bit of a freak. I actually like to clean. I find it soothing and restorative to my soul. Cleaning up my house is kind of like cleaning up my act - it frees me emotionally, mentally and physically from being stuck and bogged down. It helps me spring into action with a renewed sense of clarity.
But I get that most people hate cleaning. And even I get daunted by the big tasks that are associated with Spring cleaning.
So…if you want to make it less overwhelming, do just these 5. Or at least start with these 5. They’re quicker ones that also make a big impact in freshening up your home and your soul after a long winter.
A sprint is a quick-clean of just one area at a time so you don’t get bogged down with too much and tire out. Anyone can find 15 or 30 minutes to do one task. And that feeling of accomplishment and fresh energy you get when it’s done is SO worth it.
But before you start cleaning…
Consider ditching the gazillion chemical cleaners you’ve got lying around. It's a simple switch when you do it over time as your current supplies run out. Using natural, organic cleaners keep your home healthier, your lungs cleaner and your wallet fatter. Plus you’ll be able to declutter the gazillion bottles of cleaning supplies taking up space in your closets and under the sink!
My favourite natural cleaner? Vinegar and water with some lavender and orange essential oils mixed in. You can also add a drop or two eco-friendly dish detergent for an all-purpose cleaner that works for your kitchen, bathroom and floors. I pull it out every day and use it with a cotton cloth to clean my countertops. Make up a batch - see the formula here - and forget all the many bottles of different cleaners that are filled with toxic chemicals that are a waste of money. Keep it simple.
NOTE: Since COVID-19, we’ve been super vigilant with disinfecting surfaces, so you might want to have one strong disinfectant cleaner for wiping door handles, your phone, etc.
5 ESSENTIAL SPRING CLEANING TASKS
1. Clean your entryway, and make a place for shoes.
If there’s an organized space to keep shoes and you ask everyone in your household to always take off their shoes at the door, you’ll have way less daily cleaning to do. The less dirt and gross-ness being tracked into your home, the less time you spend cleaning it up.
clear out any winter boots, coats, scarves, etc. that can be put away for the season.
Make sure you have a mat, cubbies or bins/baskets to corral shoes at the door.
Scrub your entryway floor and floorboards with an all-purpose cleaner. It’ll disinfect and smell great as you come in the door, plus get rid of any lingering yucky stuff tracked in over the winter.
Use a nice bowl or basket as a place to keep any keys, lip balm, sunglasses, change, etc. that hangs around entryways nice and neat.
More info on essentials for a small entryway is over here.
2. Wipe down kitchen counters and cabinet fronts.
This one can be done in one short sprint - OR - if you’ve got a lot of clutter on your kitchen counters, it might have to be broken down into multiple sprints.
First: clear up some clutter so you have more surface space on your counters. It’s easier for cooking, prepping and baking, and it’s visually more calming. I’m not saying you need to get rid of everything on your counters and become a minimalist. Not at all. Keep the essentials out and easily accessible, but keep the extra visual clutter to a minimum. Bonus - it also makes daily cleanup a breeze.
Then: Wipe down your counters and the fronts of each cabinet with a damp cloth and a vinegar-water spray. Reach back into those dark corners on your counter that collect crumbs. Get down low so you can see all those spill marks and dust bunnies pooling at the bottom of the cabinet doors. Give any small appliance you have on the counter a wipe-down as well.
3. Clean your windows and mirrors.
Use a simple solution of vinegar and water to clean all the winter grime off of your windows, inside and out. It'll do wonders to brighten the space and your outlook on life. If this will be a big job in your home, break it up by setting a timer and do just 15 minutes a day.
4. Freshen your bed and bedroom.
Having a calm and fresh bedroom is really important to lower your cortisol levels. And especially over the winter, your bedroom can pile up with clutter and can feel suffocating.
Fling open the windows and let the fresh air in.
Remove any clothing lying around on your floor or furniture that needs to either be put in the laundry, put away in the closet or donated.
Strip your bed and wash your sheets and mattress cover and pillow covers.
Vacuum your mattress to get out any dust mites.
Flip the mattress if possible (to the other side and end-end).
Sprinkle a little baking soda mixed with ground cloves from your spice jar onto the mattress. Cloves are anti-bacterial and the mixture deodorizes and also smells great (thanks Mom for this wise tip!).
Let this mixture sit on your mattress for about an hour, while your mattress cover is being washed and dried.
Vacuum this side of the mattress, as well as the headboard and footboard if they’re fabric (wipe them down with a wet cloth if not).
Put on your clean mattress cover and clean sheets. Try to go for a light, natural material like 100% cotton or linen for your bedding - it's better for your health.
Lighten up your blankets - maybe turn down your duvet to the bottom of the bed and have just a lighter blanket underneath.
Take delight in your clean bed and sheets tonight. There's nothing better, right?
5. Clean the air.
Add a couple of new plants to your home to help filter out toxins (here are the easiest ones to keep alive!).
Open the windows.
Ditch the chemical room spray in favour of natural essential oils that freshen your space through an essential oil misting diffuser, a reed oil diffuser or a simple linen spray using water and lavender oil.
If you burn candles, make sure they’re natural soy or beeswax.
That's it for essential spring cleaning! Bigger projects can be done later, but if you tackle these five, your home will feel fresh for a new season and day-day life will be just…nicer.
Happy Spring!
