Its official. It is spring. You can continue to add to the piles and clutter that have accumulated over the winter or you can get to work. You can get organized. The transition from winter to spring can seem overwhelming, but it doesnt have to be. You can complete a few tasks each day until you are ready to welcome a season of warmer, albeit unpredictable weather.
Choose a warm, sunny, breezy day and open up the windows. Get some fresh air into the house. This alone will make your home seem cleaner.
Wash the walls: Use a mild all purpose cleaner and a soft sponge and give walls a wipe-down. If you tackle this each season, walls never have a chance to get really filthy. Kitchen walls are especially susceptible to dirt because of grease and moisture. Use a mild solvent-free degreaser.
Wash curtains or blinds: From a distance they might look clean, but curtains and blinds can get very dusty in a house that has been sealed tightly for the winter. Pull the curtains down and throw them in the wash or dry clean if necessary. This might be a great time to put up lighter curtains that allow more light and serve more form than function like heavy winter drapes. Dust blinds and wipe with a soft damp cloth.
Vacuum: Vacuum everything; the carpets, the furniture, the dog... everything. Todays vacuums are better than ever. Attachments are there for a reason. Use them. Pull the cushions off the couch and dig in with the upholstery brush. Retrieve the lost remote, Polly Pocket dolls and the change. You might find enough to buy yourself lunch.
Change linens: There may be a few cold nights ahead, but its safe to say you wont need the three wool blankets and down comforters much longer. Switch over to lighter linens. While youre at it, flip the mattress so it wears evenly. Wash winter blankets and store them. Those vacuum bags are great and will allow you to store things under the bed or even in the garage or basement if you lack storage space.
Clean closets: Put winter items away and break out the spring and summer gear. If you see dust on the shoulders of anything hanging in the closet, give it away to a charity or church. Dust means you have not worn it; you will not wear it and just because the bell-bottomed pantsuit got you your first job and the acid washed jeans remind you of your big hair days does not mean you need to keep them.
Clean cupboards: Kitchen and bathroom cupboards have a funny way of sucking things in. Your collection of As Seen on TV pots, pans and various gadgets wont do you any good unless you use them. In the bathroom, get rid of expired cosmetics and beauty products. Lotions that once smelled like coconut that now smell like old shoe can be safely rinsed and tossed in the recycling bin.
Dust: Dust everything. Remove items from shelves and dust with a dry duster. Ceiling fans are dust magnets and may need more work. Remove the dust that looks like a furry animal, then wipe down with a damp cloth. Dont forget refrigerator coils and the back of the stove. Appliances last longer and run more efficiently when they are not coated in a layer of dust.
Wash windows: Clean windows look better and allow more light to come into the house. Newer windows tilt in for easy cleaning, but if your windows dont have this feature, break out the ladder and be careful. White vinegar and a lint free cloth or newspaper is still a great environmentally-friendly way to clean even the dirtiest windows. Fear not, the smell dissipates quickly so your house wont smell like a salad for long.
Theres plenty more to do, but this will give you a good starting point. Remember, you dont have to do it all at once. A little here, a little there, a little coaxing from family members who helped get it dirty to begin with and you will have a clean house ready for another season to make it dirty again.
