Tips for Spring Cleaning

It's that time of year, again! Many of us are motivated by the thought of Spring Cleaning – it's an opportunity to get organized and feel free. So you begin a project and it's a great idea... so you thought. Halfway through your Spring Cleaning project you look around and take a deep breath. That's when fear sets in. You realize you've create a bigger mess than you started with.

Don't let those daunting thoughts get the best of you. You started the project; you just have to have the determination to finish it! Here are a few tips to help. So, make your to-do list and slip on some gloves. Don't be afraid to get dirty and go where you've never gone before. You'll feel better when things are in order!

Create your check list. You'll want to break it down room by room. Make a bulleted list of sub projects to keep you from getting overwhelmed by one large room. For example, in your kitchen you may need to clean and organize the pantry, under-the-sink cabinets and the refrigerator/freezer. Tackle each of those sub projects one by one. And, make sure you have all the supplies you need before you get started.

Set realistic time expectations. Will your Spring Cleaning project take a few hours or more than two days? One weekend may not cut it and you'll need extra time. If that’s the case, pick a weekend leading up to a less busy work week to start on your project. That way you'll have time to wrap things up on the following weekdays. When you dedicate a weekend to cleaning, make sure your family knows not to schedule other events. It's hard to stop once you get started.

Plan for weather conditions. Check the weather in advance. Hot days may not be the best for cleaning out your attic, and rainy days aren't the best for yard work. If the weather does alter your plans, try to pick another project on your Spring Cleaning check list so you don't lose momentum.

Delegate duties. If you have young children, make it fun and ask them to jump in. Kids can spread pine-straw or help socks find their matches.

Organize while organizing. Know that things will probably get messier before they get cleaner. That's just how it works. But try to stay organized while organizing. When cleaning out your closet, go ahead and put clothes you no longer wear into a bag you can donate to a charity, instead of throwing them into a “gotta-go” clothes pile on your closet floor.

The more overwhelming the task, the more likely you are to put it off. So take it little by little and don't get discouraged. It might help to take before and after pictures so you can see the progress you've made. When you're finished, reward yourself with a tall glass of sweet iced tea!