A Simple Guide to Spring Cleaning

Today I am sharing my simple guide to spring cleaning. I love the change of seasons.  With each new season it feels like we get a fresh start, with new things to look forward to.  Here in the Northeast, spring sort of creeps in.  Slowly we see the snow start melting, the daylight hours increasing, and the afternoon temperatures rising.  We open the windows, pack away the winter coats, and start to long for summer. 

This time of year many of us get the urge to do some spring cleaning. I actually kind of love spring cleaning, and I look forward to it after the long winter.  I look at it as a chance to clean out, declutter, organize ,and freshen up my home. 

Spring cleaning can mean any number of things, and it certainly is not limited to just deep cleaning your home. Here is my simple guide to spring cleaning.

Why spring clean?

I find that decluttering, organizing and cleaning my home helps to bring a sense of calm. I know it might not feel that way for everyone - but I really feel it deeply.  It can also help to regain a sense of control, when life can often feel chaotic.  It can help reduce stress levels and even improve mood.  And I just like the way my home looks when it’s clean and organized.

How can I make spring cleaning less of a chore?

I like to put it on my calendar, knowing I have time set aside just for spring cleaning.  You can open the windows, put on some music and get to it.  It helps to have a plan, and you can even set a timer if you are feeling unmotivated.  Do what you can until the timer goes off, even if it’s just a room, a closet, or a drawer.  Do more when you can.  You can also give yourself a little reward - who doesn’t love that?

Where do I start when spring cleaning my home?

This is an overview of the different areas you might choose to tackle, and some tips for doing so. Once you do step one and make a plan, you can really do these in any order you like. Let's get started!

Make a plan.  List the areas of your home you want to clean. Set aside time on your calendar. Maybe it's the kitchen this Sunday, or your kid's playroom next weekend. Have bags or boxes ready for items you might want to toss, donate or sell.

Closet Clean Out.  Take everything out of your closet and drawers. Decide what to toss, donate, sell, and keep. Try things on.  Don’t be afraid to get rid of things that don’t fit or that you never reach for.  Just keep what you love. (In this post I talk more about my strategy for your closet - an area that can be especially challenging.)

Kid’s Clothes Clean Out.  Go through all of the closets and/or drawers for each child.  What has your child grown out of?  Are there items that need to be tossed? Maybe you have items that could be donated, saved for a younger child, or passed along?  What does your child need for the next season?  Some people like to keep a bin or basket in the child’s closet so you can easily toss in clothes that have gotten too small.  When it gets full, you can donate or decide what you want to do with the items.

Kitchen Clean Out.  Go through each cupboard and drawer.  What can you toss, donate or sell?  Wipe down cupboard shelves and bottoms of drawers. Throw out expired food products. Make a list of what you need to replace.  Do the same for the refrigerator!

Bathroom Clean Out.  Take out all of your toiletries, products, and makeup.  What needs to be tossed?  What needs to be replaced?  Wipe down cupboards and drawers.  Perhaps buy some bins or baskets to organize what you decide to keep if you need it. 

Toy Purge.  Yikes. If you have kids, especially young kids, you know this is a TASK.  I try to go through our toys each season and toss, donate or sell what my kids no longer use so they don’t overwhelm our house.  At times I will have my kids help (they are 10, 7 and 4) but often I am doing it incognito.  I have been trying to be a bit more minimal with our toys but it’s a challenge for sure, as new things always seem to be coming into the house.

Purse or Bag Clean Out.  Dump it all out, see what you no longer need.  I like to have a few separate pouches in my bag, to contain things like kid snacks, my personal items, etc.

Digital Declutter.  This may not feel like spring cleaning, but this makes a world of difference. Delete apps you no longer use, put your apps in folders so your screen doesn’t seem so overstimulating, and unsubscribe to all those emails that you never wanted in the first place.  I just did this for the first time, I don’t know what took me so long!

Deep Clean. This is honestly my least favorite part.  However, we do try to do a deeper clean of some parts of our house come spring.  We’ll clean our rugs, our couch cushions, our windows, vacuum out our cars, clean out the garage, change filters.  Whatever we can fit in that feels like it needs it and may get ignored during other parts of the year.

What do I do with items I don't need, use or want?

There are many organizations that will take clothes, home goods, books, and toys.  You can also think about selling items that are in good condition on sites like Poshmark or Facebook Marketplace. I tend to use Poshmark for clothing and shoes that are in good condition (or even new) and Facebook Marketplace for furniture, home goods, and larger toys. Another idea is to think about local ‘Buy Nothing’ groups where you can post items that you no longer want and people can come pick those items up. A great way to clean out your home and pay it forward to someone in your community.

That is my simple guide to spring cleaning. One last thing I'd like to add - don't let spring cleaning make you feel stressed. None of these are must-dos. For me I want to do these things, and I feel better when I do. There is no timeline. Maybe you do one thing on this list each weekend, or even one thing a month. Make it work for you.

For more on spring cleaning, check out my post Five Simple Steps For Spring Cleaning Your Closet.

If you are enjoying the content here on The Lifestyle Notes, I'd love for you to sign up for my weekly newsletter, here. And please follow along over on Instagram @thelifestylenotes!