10 Things to Spring Clean This Season

It's hopefully behind us now: That sluggish mess of winter that stretches from the Post-Holiday blues through the beginning of March. Dreams of spring begin to beguile me as the Equinox approaches: thoughts of greenery and flowers and baby lambs float through my head, and there’s just enough sun to fool me into thinking I don't still need a jacket. Surprise, I do. Thanks East Coast.

For Spring cleaning, I think about my plan of action well before the first pollen spores start poking their sleepy, villainous little heads up.

The more items I can get taken care of before the season is in full swing, the less likely I am to surrender to laziness in the face of crippling allergies and bulk tissue buying.

So in February I begin with indoor tasks. Wiping of the walls, baseboards, and mouldings. Yes, I said wiping the walls: Get ready to dig in for some deep cleaning, folks.

Faux hyacinths — saving your sinuses one beautiful bloom at a time.

As we travel through these weeks together, remember that tasks may vary for you depending on your living situation, available time, and your own physical abilities. Adjust as needed, give yourself some grace, and remind yourself that this is a great energy investment to leave your home (and mind) refreshed for the months ahead!

So suit up and arrange that cute cleaning caddy you bought last year but never used— it’s time to get started!

1. Dust: top to bottom. Don’t forget moldings and tops of pictures.

2. Wipe walls (as needed), moldings, decorative items/shelves, couch, wood shutters, wood fireplace surrounds. Use water or water with a drop of dish soap sprayed on a microfiber cloth until just damp. Don't make the cloth fully wet. Avoid harsh cleaners that could change the wall or molding finish.

Along corners of panels and baseboards are an area that often gets forgotten, but makes a huge difference when glancing around the room. Be gentle with wood shutters, wipe same as moldings. Leather couches can be wiped down with a 1:1 mix of water and vinegar (check your manufacturers directions).

3. Wash curtains. Vaccuum first with curtain setting/attachments. Lint roll if you don’t have attachments— this will help rid any excess dust and animal fur before washing so that you’re not just washing the fur with your curtains. Be careful depending on your drapery material, not all are suited for lint rolling and it could damage some fabrics.

4. Move furniture to pickup any hidden items underneath.

5. Vaccuum furniture and floors, taking extra strokes and longer strokes to really get the winter dust out.

6. Have fireplace checked by licensed Technician. Spring and summer are great times to have this task done: Fireplace technicians have less on their schedule during this time, whereas fall and winter are their busy seasons.

7. Wash pillows, pillow covers, blankets. Like with the curtains, lint roll first to remove lint and pet hair. Hang pillow covers to dry so that they don’t shrink.

8. Wipe down entryway, doors, and windows outside. If your location has pollen in the spring this may seem unnecessary, but it gives you a clean base to start with so that the pollen isn’t building up on top of winter gunk.

9. Hose down sidewalk, driveway, patio now or after the worst of the pollen.

10. Clean windows and window tracks inside (and outside if possible). Use a mix of vinegar and water for the tracks and plastic components.

There you have it!

When do you begin your spring cleaning? Do you do it all in a couple weekends or do you spread it out throughout the coming months? Let us know in the comments!