make your spring cleaning more manageable this year

​When considering the mountain of housework that's waiting to be finished for your spring cleaning this year, it's easy to get overwhelmed!  Instead of trying to do everything all in one shot, skip the headaches and drudgery by categorizing cleaning chores into different categories, and then simply tackling each category on a different day.  Whether doing one category a week or one a month, just choose the approach that works best for you!  Your spring cleaning will be much more manageable and painless when you focus on one area at a time.  Your home will be fresh, clean, sparkling, and airy when you've finished, and best of all, you won't feel exhausted and ready to drop when you're done!
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​Category:  Go Green
Sift through all of your detergents, soaps, and cleaners and try to replace them with ecofriendly, healthier options.  Cut up old T-shirts for rags, and use in place of paper towels.  Use these new greener options while doing the rest of your spring cleaning.  It'll be the freshest your house has ever been!  See how many disposable items you can replace with reusable.  Some ideas are glass water bottles, steel straws, cloth shopping bags, and cloth napkins.  Open up windows if the weather is nice so your house can air out and refresh.  Bring in an air purifier, and keep plenty of healthy houseplants to help maintain fresh, clean air.
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​Category:  Destroy Dust & Eliminate Clutter
This category is perhaps the most satisfying one, as the results are easy to see when it's finished.  It might be a good idea to enlist the help of your family.  Have each family member declutter their own possessions if possible.  This will leave you free to focus on the dusting and general decluttering.  Try to call and schedule a pickup with a local charitable organization.  The scheduled pickup will be a big help with keeping you on track.  Tip: Don't cross "declutter" off of your list until the clutter has actually left the house.  Use these steps when decluttering/dusting:  1.) Take everything out of the targeted area  2.) Vacuum/mop/dust space until it's absolutely sparkling and 3.) Only put back items that you want to keep.

15 Reasons To Get Rid Of Clutter
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​Category: Kitchen
For those who spend a lot of time in the kitchen, this is an important one.  Once finished, your kitchen will feel refreshed and just like new!  Start by going through spice racks and your food pantry.  Remove foods/spices that haven't been used in a long time or that are expired.  Wipe everything down.  Clean those areas that are often missed - Inside the microwave, oven, and refrigerator.  Wipe down kitchen walls, windows, and window sills.  Grease can build up on cabinets, so use a "cabinet cream" to cut through dirt and leave the wood clean and moisturized.  Clean stainless steel appliances with special cleaner to leave it smudge-free and shining.  If you have time, you could also give your breakfast nook and dining area a once-over.  This involves chairs and table legs, putting pads on the bottom of chairs to protect the floor, and dusting every corner of that room.  You could also add an eye-catching centerpiece to the kitchen counters or dining room table  like fresh blooms or succulents.
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​Category: Deep Clean
Put one day aside to really dive into the deep cleaning and send all dirt and germs packing!  Some starters for your deep clean list are: 1.) Vacuum/wipe down hard-to-reach places  2.) Clean out dryer hose and vacuum inside lint trap  3.) Scrub grout in the kitchen and bath  4.) Scrub inside of garbage can/recycling bins  5.) Dust off light fixtures and  6.) Clean blinds.
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Category: Textiles
For this category, focus on rugs, curtains, upholstery, shower curtains, washable slipcovers, and all other textiles you don't wash on a regular basis.  When washing slipcovers, put them back on while they're still a little damp and they'll fit to the furniture better.  Large room rugs and removable pillow covers should be taken in to get professionally cleaned.  Rent a carpet cleaner or professional to clean wall-to-wall carpeting. Obtain a steam-cleaner that's safe for textiles to clean items like drapery and upholstery.  Always spot-test first before diving in with the steam cleaner.
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​Category: Exterior Scrub-Down
As the weather starts warming up, take advantage of one of those warm days to really scrub down and spruce up the exterior of your house.  Some ideas to get you started are 1.) Clean gutters and downspouts  2.) Wash windows (inside AND out)  3.) Hose down siding  4.) Retouch paint  5.) Stain the deck, and 6.) Deep clean patio furniture and cushions.  You can also get a start on your gardening by sharpening and organizing garden tools, edging the lawn, mulching the flowerbeds, and starting some seeds indoors.  

So there you have it!  Make your spring cleaning a little more manageable this year so that you emerge from it all feeling as fresh and vibrant as your newly-cleaned home.  All it takes is a little bit of categorizing and a slightly spread-out cleaning schedule to make this the breeziest spring cleaning yet.