Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty of Spring Cleaning

The big brouhaha over spring cleaning can make people feel like they have been neglecting their homes for the other three seasons of the year. But it’s really more of an opportunity to get into the nooks and crannies and address projects that have been overlooked during the cozy days of winter and holiday hustle and bustle.

The warmer days and extra sunlight give homeowners the opportunity to see the cold-weather grime built up on windows, curtains, shades, and blinds. In fact, as you begin to open up your home to fresh air and direct sunlight, you may be more apt to spot the cobwebs stealthily lurking in the corners or the smudges on walls brought in by wet kids and muddy dogs.

Cleaning walls and baseboards or scrubbing the cabinets, removing and soaking blinds or washing window treatments are some of the most common and needed spring cleaning tasks. Same goes for any upholstered furniture, mattress covers, throw rugs, bath mats, and pet beds.

Other popular projects include cleaning the fridge, defrosting the freezer, tuning up the air conditioning, and cleaning decks and patios. It may be an opportune time to stain the deck, or do any interior painting before the dog days of summer set in and make physical projects feel quite simply, unappealing.

If it all seems daunting, take baby steps. Choose one bigger project now and another for the fall. Make a list of what’s important and set aside one day for two or three weekends, or even half a day, to get it done. A plan makes everything more manageable and in the end, it’s often done before you know it.