Creating A Spring Cleaning Plan In 5 Simple Steps

Spring is a time of renewal, of fresh new scents, bright sunshine, and soft rain—the kind of atmosphere that inspires us to make our homes feel just as airy, refreshed, and light. However, no matter how many good intentions you may have, spring cleaning can easily fall by the wayside unless you create a workable plan to ensure that the job doesn't become overwhelming. To keep yourself on track, try working in the step-by-step fashion described below:

1. Set a date and time for your spring cleaning session (and stick to it).

The longer the idea of spring cleaning remains just that—an idea—the less and less likely it becomes that you will get started on the actual work. So, grab your calendar, look for the next available weekend, then commit your house cleaning plan to writing.

2. Create a list of tasks for each room.

Spring cleaning, by virtue of being such a big job, can easily become chaotic unless tasks are defined for each room. Take a piece of sticky notepaper and write down each job that needs to be done in one room (starting with the biggest jobs and ending in the smallest), stick the paper to the wall, then move on to the next room, etc., until you have a clear, visible plan set out for the whole house. This approach has the added advantage of making life easier for anyone you recruit to help you; your helper will be able to see what needs to be done at a glance, rather than relying on you to explain things.

3. Organize your cleaning supplies.

Nothing delays cleaning quite like having to pause mid-task to leave the room and look for a bottle of cleaner or a certain brush you may or may not know the actual location of... Or, worse still, finding out that you lack several things you need and must put everything on hold to go to the store.

To prevent the above from happening, make a list of all the house cleaning supplies you will need to clean your home from top to bottom, make sure you have all of them on hand, then organize them. (For best results, use a single carrier for all of your supplies so that you can easily carry them from room to room with you.)

4. Remove clutter from your home.

The primary goal of any spring cleaning session should be to remove all of the clutter that has accumulated over the course of the preceding year. Any small appliances you bought and never used, for example, any toys your children have outgrown, and any Christmas gifts that were not on your wish list should be rounded up and given away. Remember, anything that you're not regularly relying on or enjoying is simply an obstacle in the way of creating a clean home.

If you have a lot of clutter and aren't sure where to begin getting rid of it, try going through each room, dividing the necessary items in the room (for example, in the bedroom, you absolutely need to have a bed, dresser, lamp, and so on) from the unnecessary items. Once this is complete, allow yourself to choose just three to five unnecessary items to keep and give the rest away.

5. Hire a professional to clean your carpets.

Once you have removed the clutter from your home and cleaned each room, set aside an additional day to have your carpets cleaned professionally. Having your carpets cleaned at least once per year with professional equipment will both remove accumulated dirt and allergens and help to extend the lifespan of your carpet. Note that while you can rent a “steam cleaner” and try to complete this job yourself, professional carpet cleaning is considered the better option as professionals have access to hot water extraction carpet cleaners which provide a superior clean.

Once you have completed the above steps, your home will be refreshed, sanitized, organized, and ready for another year of use. What's more, your efforts will be rewarded with a sense of being truly “at home” in your house; after all, a clean and beautiful abode is every bit as tranquil and rejuvenating as the great outdoors.