It’s Spring Cleaning Time

I honestly couldn’t wait for the snow to melt so that I can start cleaning up. Since being pregnant all spring and summer and then giving birth in the fall (with huge after birth complications) I haven’t been able to do a serious cleaning. I’m still working with Lowe’s doing some DIY’s and things. My March project has to do with spring cleaning but I have no idea how to tackle it. My house isn’t that big at all we have a small two bedroom but I am thinking a lot about the small space in the upstairs hallway. It’s big enough to put a nice console table, a small area rug and using the console table as a charging station. Around here we have phones and kindle and the kid’s Nintendo 3DS and there’s cables and chargers everywhere. It would be great to keep them all organized in one central location. Right now that small upstairs area looks crazy. There are so many things on the floor, sometimes I just want to throw everything out and start over. So here are some tips on spring cleaning:

• Tackle the house one space at a time. Thinking of the big task can be overwhelming so start with one area each weekend or when you can. Like the kitchen you can toss old lids and plastic ware, organize the pantry, clean the fridge…you can really spend a few hours in the kitchen. Shoot I know I can spend a few hours in the kitchen.
• Have a basket with you. You can put in the basket the things you find that need to go in another space. I tend to get sidetracked, for example if I am in the kitchen cleaning and there are a few things that go in the dining room, I end up in the dining room picking things up instead of finishing what I have going on in the kitchen. The basket can help you with those odds and ends that need to be put away in other places, or things that need to go upstairs or downstairs.
• Make a donate and toss pile. Just like cleaning out your closet, you should throw out or donate anything that is deemed as extra in your house. I’ve been doing this for a while since we have gotten a bit cramped with the second baby. Whatever doesn’t get used but can still be used, donate. Otherwise throw it on the curb. Hubby hates that I do that but someone is always going curb shopping and it will get picked up. One person’s trash is another’s treasure.
• Reevaluate your furniture. Does that table still work in that space? Do you have some clutter zones? I’ve gotten so tired of complaining about the clutter on my kitchen table that I’ve threatened to sell it on Craigslist. We barely use it, we use the dining room table instead. And it seems like everything ends up on that table. So annoying.
• Try to keep it clean. After doing all that work, call a family meeting if you have to and ask your family to help you keep the house clean. Spring is a time to start fresh and the inside of your house can be a great space to relax if it’s clutter free and clean!

Here is a checklist to help you get started from Martha Stewart and some more tips on exterior and interior spring cleaning.

Hope you like my tips on spring cleaning. I like to get my spring cleaning done inside my house around this time of year where the weather is still not as nice. That way when the weather turns nice we are outside enjoying it instead of inside cleaning the house! Do you have any tips to share for spring cleaning?