Spring Cleaning Challenge in 5 Simple Steps

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Spring Cleaning seems to have started a bit earlier this year and, honestly, definitely more urgently.

Yes, it is mid-March 2020 as I write this. At this point of the year, we are normally facing the transition phase between winter into spring. Spring cleaning, weight loss, spring break, March Madness, and Easter are the usual topics of conversation.

However, this year is different. We are in the beginning phases of the Coronavirus self-quarantine stage. Every morning I wake up and there is something new! Who knows what the future holds.

But what I do know right now are 2 things that we MUST do:

1) Boost our immune systems from the inside.

Check out this post I wrote specifically for boosting the immune system during this global outbreak.

2) It’s time to not only clean but disinfect!

Most of us were planning or have already started some deep cleaning and now with many of us and our kids being directed to stay home, what better time to dig in!

Whether your house is cleaned on the most consistent daily and weekly schedule or your disinfectant hasn’t seen the light of day in a long time doesn’t matter. It’s never ok to hold onto shame or guilt in any area of your life.

In the words of Elsa, LET IT GO, and let’s move on!

It is what it is!

ACCEPT IT

The only way to move on from where you are is to first accept where you’re at then make a plan to change it.

Being the mom of 4 kids, 3 of them being boys, I have had to do this more times than I’d care to admit. But it’s worth it. It will make you feel better overall, inside and out.

TIME TO DIG IN

If you’re anything like I was, Spring Cleaning sounded incredibly overwhelming, and let’s be honest, not fun… so I would avoid it like the Coronavirus.

I don’t know about you, but I work well in chunks. When I decided that I didn’t have to Spring Clean the entire house in ONE DAY I felt better.

I broke it down into bite-size pieces.

Room by Room Please!

5 DAYS = 5 ROOMS

Since we seem to be gifted with much more time at home, let’s get this done!

Be sure to grab your FREE SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST

Spring Cleaning your Bedrooms

You will often hear at my house: Time to Strip the Beds!

So let’s start here

• Sheets
• Pillowcases
• Bedspreads
• Baby Blankets
• Favorite Snuggle Animals
• and grab your curtains while you’re at it. (read your care labels)

I set my wash machine to the sanitize setting, use my favorite detergents and boosters, and let it do what it does best! Clean, baby, clean.

Next

• Flip and rotate the mattresses.
• Pull beds away from the walls and vacuum or dust mop the entire room.
• Wipe down the baseboards with a damp cloth.
• Dust dressers and nightstands.
• Clean mirrors and windows.

Spring Cleaning your Bathrooms

Living with 4 guys, this room is NOT my favorite. I don’t know what it is but the aiming seems to be a real challenge.

In 2 of our bathrooms, the toilet is literally right next to the shower. It took me some time to realize that the shower curtain was catching a lot of the splash. TMI?

I would clean and clean the bathroom but it still just SMELLED something awful.

Until one day it struck me, I needed to clean the shower curtain. And wouldn’t you know it, it completely freshened up the entire room!

So let’s start here

• Fabric shower curtain: follow the laundry instructions on the label.
• Vinyl shower curtain or liner, drop it in the bathtub filled halfway with hot water. Add a cup of bleach and let it soak as you clean the rest of the bathroom.

While that is soaking and cleaning let’s get to

• Counters
• Door
• Light Switch Plates

Toilet

This is where the real work happens. One thing I need to stress with my boys when they are cleaning is to not only focus on the inside of the toilet but the outside as well.

To me, cleaning the toilet is inside, outside and the floor surrounding it.

Cabinets and Drawers

• Wipe down the outsides
• Clean and declutter the insides
• Pull out all items
• Wipeout

Check expiration dates or ask yourself how long you’ve REALLY had that body lotion that was found in the back of your cabinet

Put back ONLY the items you use.

Did you know that Skincare and Makeup have “Best By” dates?

Basic rule of thumb:

• Unopened products are good for up to 36 months
• Opened products 12 months
• Makeup toss after 6 months
• Mascara and eyeliners replace every 3 months to avoid bacteria and infections

Spring Cleaning your Living Area

First, we must dust!

If you don’t want to do the work twice, then let’s start here.

• Tackle all surfaces with a damp cloth.

One way I have found to cut down on the collection of dust is by using an air purifier.

Only the Atmosphere Sky™ Air Treatment System offers Inteliflow technology, which captures 99.99% of airborne particles as small as .0024 microns – this is better than HEPA.

Atmosphere Sky™:

• is the best performing HEPA air purifier among top competitors for removing allergens and other contaminants*, and it’s the only air purifier among top competitors to reduce odors like cooking, pet, formaldehyde, mildew, and chemicals like ozone.
• Removes 99.99% of airborne particles as small as .0024 microns – that is 30,000 times smaller than a human hair, including over 300 contaminants (such as viruses, allergens, bacteria, mold, and mildew).
• Reduces odors from smoke, cooking, pets, formaldehyde, and more.
• It provides 300 cubic feet of clean air every minute.

Not only does it help cut down on my dusting and cleaning but definitely helps with allergy season!

Entertainment Center

• Empty them out
• Dust
• Reorganize

The Furniture

• Pull cushions off, if possible, otherwise, take the hose of your vacuum and clean in between those cushions. So many goldfish are found this way!
• Spot clean

Treasure hunting:

• Move the furniture away from the wall

…And there before you will lie many treasures. Some that will make you scratch your head, but nonetheless, they are found and can be put away or hopefully thrown away.

Finish by

• Vacuum rugs and dust mop floors
• Wipe down baseboards.

Spring Cleaning your Kitchen

Again, being the mom of 4, 3 of them being boys, this is our most well-loved and definitely high trafficked room in the house.

The kitchen may take longer than the others because you can use it as an opportunity to declutter as well as clean.

Start here

• Empty each cabinet and drawer
• Vacuum the inside and wipe them out with a damp cloth.
• Put back only the items you really use and donate the rest

The Fridge

• Empty everything out
• Check expiration dates and toss or keep
• Scrub each shelf before putting items back.

Microwave

• Remove the pieces you are able to and clean
• Scrub inside from those explosions of pasta sauce! (is that just me?)

Coffee Maker

• Descale insides by using white vinegar to run through it
• Be sure to run several pots or brews to clear out the vinegar

Pantry

• Check expiration dates of food

Vitamins and Supplements

• Keep what you are actively using
• Toss what you are not
• Check expiration dates

Appliances

• Take your stainless steel or multi-purpose cleaner and go for it!

The Counters

• Pull everything away from the wall and clean

Finish by

• Sweeping and mopping the floor

Spring Cleaning your Closets and Entryways

Do you have closets you are afraid to open? Me too.

I feel like these small spaces could take more time than the entire house.

But what I’ve learned was that if I do a good clean out and choose a quarterly maintenance time then my closet Spring Cleaning won’t be so overwhelming.

Start here

• Linen closet: sheets, towels, and extra blankets are neatly stacked
• Coat closet: swap spring out jackets for winter coats and hats

Again, use this as an opportunity to weed out items you no longer use.

You’re done! Now your home is brighter and fresher, allowing you to enjoy the warmer days ahead.

Products for Spring Cleaning

The products I grew up with and the only products I use today are Amway Home Cleaning Products.

If you know anything about these cleaning products you know they are the BEST. Not only are they good for cleaning but they’re safe for your family and the earth too.

Here are the products I recommend for Spring Cleaning! Let me know if you have any questions about them.

So, friends, how do YOU tackle your Spring Cleaning? I’d love to hear!

Be sure to grab your FREE Spring Cleaning Checklist!

Here’s to a safe and healthy home this spring.

xoxo,

Mo

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