Spring Cleaning Tips to Motivate You

05/27/2022 How To Guides / Organization Tips

Spring Cleaning

Have you begun your spring cleaning, or, as many of us, are you procrastinating until it’s almost summer? Maybe if you wait long enough you can call it “fall cleaning.” If you delay even longer, you can call it “holiday cleaning.” Eventually, spring will roll around again, and you can begin making new excuses.

Needless to say, by that time you’ll need to call in a deep cleaning team to save the day, and you’ll definitely need a self storage unit for the accumulated clutter. Once you declutter your home, the cleaning will be a smoother, less time-consuming process. If you don’t already lease a self storage unit, Handy Storage is your place for a wide variety of types and sizes that will fit your needs and your budget.

In the meantime, maybe reading about the history of spring cleaning along with a few tips will motivate you to get started before it’s too late to contain the mess.

A Brief History of Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning is an age-old tradition that has both religious and cultural origins.

For example, Catholics traditionally clean the church altar the day before Good Friday, and Greek Orthodox church members clean the house for a week leading up to Lent. The Jewish tradition of spring cleaning is connected to Passover in March or April. This holiday marks the liberation of Jews from slavery in Egypt. The cleaning that takes place at this time is traditionally centered on removing any yeast bread from the home. Because unleavened bread is symbolic of survival, bread made with yeast anywhere in the house is considered ungrateful.

According to the Washington Post, during the 1800s, an annual cleaning took place in the spring because winter left homes coated with a layer of soot and grime. This was due to lamps being lit with whale oil or kerosene that had to be heated with coal or wood. Needless to say, this left an unimaginable mess. Proper cleaning required open windows, which could only be done during warmer weather.

Lucky you. You don’t have to scrub the soot from the walls and windows, and you have convenient, time-saving appliances and cleaning essentials to help you give your home some love.

Here are a few tips, tricks, and cleaning hacks to get you through your tasks before summer arrives.

Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Create a Schedule

Feeling overwhelmed? A good place to start is with a schedule. Go room by room to determine the jobs that you skip during your routine cleaning, and make a plan to tackle these projects.

Declutter

A disorganized home leads to mental and physical stress. According to a study in The Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, people who live in cluttered homes full of unfinished projects have higher levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol has been associated with greater chronic stress, disease progression, weight gain, and even mortality risk.

Set aside some time to declutter and organize your office space, junk and desk drawers, and closets. You’ll be ready for the big projects once you eliminate the unnecessary clutter. And don’t forget that self storage unit for the items you aren’t ready to

Work From Top to Bottom

If you own a vacuum with an extension hose, begin by cleaning cobwebs and dust from corners and ceiling fans. Work from the ceiling down when dusting walls or shelving, then dust your furniture, saving floor cleaning for last.

Arm Yourself With a Hepa Vacuum

If you have allergy sufferers in your household, invest in a high-quality HEPA vacuum. It will catch pet dander and tiny airborne particles that can aggravate allergy symptoms. If you don’t feel that you need a HEPA, look for a vacuum with dusting brushes, crevice tools and hoses that can be used to clean tight spaces, corners, pillows and other hard to dust areas.

Attack These Common Trouble Areas in Kitchens and Bathrooms

Kitchens: Wipe down the shelves and dispose of old and expired items in the pantry and refrigerator. If you have stainless steel appliances, use gentle cleansers or a steam cleaner to avoid damaging scratches.

Bathrooms: Change the shower curtain and clean your medicine cabinet, disposing of any expired items. If you don’t already have one, consider installing a bathroom fan. If your bathroom has an older fan, replace it with an upgraded model. Fans will ventilate moisture during showers, removing orders and vapors that cause unsightly mold.

For Chemical-Free Cleaning, Add a Steam Cleaner to Your Toolkit

If you don’t want to be exposed to the chemicals in toxic cleaners, a steam cleaner is for you. It can be used to clean tile, hard floors, kitchen appliances, bathrooms, and even outdoor furniture. Steam cleaners use only hot water vapor, making them 100% natural and free of chemicals. There are some surfaces that should not be cleaned with steam. To learn more, read What Not to Clean With Steam Cleaners.

Don’t Forget Your HVAC Filters

Don’t overlook replacing your HVAC filter. Air conditioner ducts build up dust during the winter, and upgraded filters catch unwanted particles to make sure you’re breathing clean air. Look for a quality filter with an efficient MERV rating.

Reward Yourself With a New Look for Your Home

After all of your efforts, brighten up your home with some small changes for an updated look. Add some new pillows, throws, and art work to freshen up your space. Replace bedding, table linens, and window treatments. If you’re all in for a bigger change, try some new paint colors or a trendy coffee table. In the event that these things don’t seem rewarding to you, a spa day should work!

If you’re still not motivated to dive into that spring cleaning, check out this fun quiz and get to the cleaning tomorrow!

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