Getting Ready for Spring Cleaning

Originally, spring cleaning was a grueling ritual made necessary by long winters of heating with wood, kerosene and candles that left a layer or soot and grime throughout the home. Today, spring cleaning is much less an onerous chore and more an opportunity to throw open the windows, let some fresh air in, and make our homes clean, happy and efficient spaces.  This is the opportunity we create to do those things that don't make it on our daily, weekly, or even monthly cleaning lists.

I am not a fan of spring cleaning, or cleaning at all.  I am, however, a fan of how my house looks after a spring cleaning.  I always plan my spring cleaning for the week I am on Spring Break, but this year I will be spending half of that week on vacation with my hubby and the kids.  Can't wait to spend some time in Charleston!  This means I'll have to start my spring cleaning early.

If you are like me, you have to psych yourself up for it.  Make a plan, make a list, shop for all of the supplies, buy a case of Red Bull, etc.

Before you begin, Here are some extra spring cleaning tips:

1. Set aside at least a week for a thorough spring cleaning. Work from one end of your house to the other.  If you have two levels, I would suggest working from top to bottom. 
2. Plan some easy meals for the days you will spend cleaning. Consider using your slow cooker. A crockpot full of stew at the end of a day of intense cleaning is a beautiful thing!
3. As you clean, keep a list of any jobs you notice that need to be done around the house: little paint touch-ups or a pillow that needs to be mended. Don't get distracted by these chores during your cleaning, save them for when you are done. (Or else you may never be done!)
4. Keep another list of things you notice you need. Especially when you clean out your fridge and pantry, you will probably become aware of some supplies you are out of or running low on.
5. Take an empty laundry basket and pile in it anything you need your hubby or kids to sort through (miscellaneous receipts you're not sure you need to keep, random bolts and screws you've found in his pocket a year ago but you're afraid to get rid of because if you do he's sure to come to you tomorrow asking if you've seen that little bolt that is vital for something or other, that singing Christmas tie you're really hoping he'll finally part with... you get the point!)    Give each family member their own basket and ask them to sort through the basket when he has a chance. Just make sure they find that chance within the next week!

Tomorrow I'll post a full cleaning checklist!  Stay tuned...

http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/2011/03/checklist-for-thorough-spring-cleaning.html