Inspire a Fresh Start: Spring Cleaning Tips

In the Midwest, spring is in full swing. We're bidding adieu to winter (and it's about time) and ushering in spring. Many people choose to venture outdoors and appreciate nature after the dead of winter. Flowers are blooming and everything feels at peace. But this is also the perfect time to purge, clean, and organize.

(photo/RetailMeNot)

Spring cleaning is a way to have a fresh start at your house. You were "cooped up" indoors during the winter season. You probably didn't care about organizing your closets or kitchen cabinets. But that's about to change. It's time to clean your house, organize your storage, and donate items you no longer need.

Just in case you need some inspiration, below are some tips to get you started. Now, I'm not Marie Kondo. I'm not an expert on organization, but I have found ways that work best for me. Maybe these tips will work for your household, as well. Good luck!

• Clean as you have the time. You probably won't have time to clean your entire house in one day, nor would you want to do that. Instead, dedicate one week to just one room of the house. Focus on the kitchen, which has plenty to clean and organize. Then, focus on the main living room, and then move on to the other rooms of your home. In a few weeks, you will have your entire home cleaned from top to bottom. If you only have an hour or two to clean, then work with that schedule. No one says you need to finish your spring cleaning in one day. It's your house; do what works best for you. 
• Take 10-15 minutes to clean out a desk drawer. You can easily clean a desk drawer while watching a television show. It's something simple, but it often contains the most "clutter." Throw out any items you no longer need. 
• Don't forget to wash your windows and curtains. They're often forgotten about, but curtains collect a lot of dust. 
• Use a Swiffer with a dry cloth (not wet) to dust the walls and baseboards. A Swiffer is a great way to reach high ceilings if you're short, like me. Also, don't forget about those pesky cobweb corners! 
• While organizing your closet, take everything out of the closet and only put back in what you really need to keep. If you haven't worn an outfit in one year, you're probably never going to wear it again. So, donate it to a local Goodwill and use the space to treat yourself to something new. 
• Start organizing your closets in February. February is a good month to start organizing your closets because it's in between the seasons. It's after the holidays, so you'll have your holiday decorations stored away. Consider what you want to keep in the storage and what you no longer need. 
• Clean out your garage, attic, and basement. Don't forget about these areas of your home! They need to be cleaned and organized, too. Donate items you no longer need or use. 
• Organize your kitchen cabinets. Again, only keep what you need or what doesn't have any sentimental value. If you have more food storage containers than you regularly use, donate those additional items to people who really need them. 
• After you finish organizing and cleaning your home, you might want to redecorate a room or add a fresh coat of paint to the walls. Painting the walls not only makes your house feel fresh, but it also gives a whole new change to a room that you didn't know you needed. 

(photo/House Beautiful)

No matter what you decide to do in order to clean your house this spring season, remember to be calm. Don't stress over spring cleaning. Yes, it's a tedious task at times, but you don't have to satisfy anyone's standards. Clean as you have the time. Start with small projects. Clean at your own pace, and that will help eliminate the stress. 

Your house deserves some TLC (tender, loving, care), so do take the time to clean it this spring. Just don't worry about your pace. You'll do just fine. 

-KJL-