Spring Cleaning 101

As the thermometer begins to rise again, we Canadians are presented with the opportunity to open our windows, doors, and hearts to bring in some of that fresh spring air. While we should all be appreciative to have the light finally pouring into our homes, it unfortunately also reveals the labours of our laziness over these last few dreadfully cold months. Suddenly there’s a petting zoo of dust bunnies under every piece of furniture, a thin layer of what can only be described as God-knows-what (FYI, that’s a scientific term) covering every surface in the washroom, and somehow your bedroom closet has become the envy of that crazy cat lady from Hoarders.

Spring Cleaning. The mere mention of it has probably given you either a pang of anxiety, a thrill of delight, or a mixture of both. While many view it as a painful inevitability, I personally say carpe diem and celebrate it as an opportunity to start the season fresh. Whether you’re crazy like me or not, it has to be done. It’s time to roll up your sleeves, get on your hands and knees, conquer those cobwebs, and take control of your house again! Beyond the obvious suggestions of purchasing stock in Swiffer, mopping, and vacuuming, here are my OCD-inspired Spring Cleaning tips to help get your home back without having a total mental breakdown…

Up the Upholstery
You know that slipcover on your couch? Yeah, the reason you can take it off is so you can wash it more than once a decade. Slip covers are crawling with bacteria, are total dust and fur magnets, and are a shrine to whatever you dragged up with your socks from the floor. Getting it professionally cleaned will have it looking like new, smelling fresh, and will bring your dusting workload down considerably.

Baby Steps
Most people think of Spring Cleaning as a radiant Saturday when you become a total domestic goddess and get the entire job done in a whirlwind day of cleaning frenzy. For most of us, however, this is not the case. To help make sure you get it done no matter how tired you are, spread it out into manageable tasks across a schedule – room by room, task by task. This will let you focus on the things that need to get done without becoming overwhelmed. Also, you’ll get the added benefit of seeing the results every day and feeling good about yourself.

Be Honest
Do you really need all those Christmas sweaters? Or that weird pile of newspapers that is more-likely-than-not a total fire hazard? Chances are, if you have to ask yourself the question then you probably should let it go. One tip in the case of clothing is to start a box where you put all the pieces you’re not sure about. If you wear them over the course of the subsequent two weeks, then you can keep them. If you don’t wear them, though, and the only excuse to keep them is that they made you look super hot in middle school, it’s probably time to let them go.

Shine, Shine, Shine!
Cleaning windows is one of those tasks that most of us neglect, unfortunately. While easy to forget, a little elbow grease and Windex is the quickest way to brighten up your home with relatively minimal effort. Also, remember to wipe down all your metal surfaces to have them shining like new as well. Getting things pretty again may require a little work but the results will keep you happy and motivated for the tougher stuff. #PrettyHurts

Get Hot and Steamy
You don’t need the best vacuum cleaner on the marker. Invest in a steamer. Seriously. Given the bed bug scares of the last few years, regularly steaming your carpet, drapes, mattress, and upholstery is pretty much the best way you can avoid a trip to Bed, Bug and Beyond. It also leaves your stuff looking new again, smelling better, and not totally saturated with years of dust and God-knows-what. Anything you can’t steam should also be vacuumed like crazy. For rugs, that actually means vacuuming it, lifting it up, and then vacuuming underneath it as well. Ain’t nobody got time to be lazy, honey.

Enlist Help
Whether you live with a roommate or a partner, they should also be involved in the cleaning. Besides being better for house politics, doing things with company just always seems easier. Live alone? That’s what friends (and maybe that sexy neighbour you wish was your friend) are for! Buy some beer, turn on the Beyonce, and put on a ring on Spring!

What are some of your spring cleaning tips? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.