The first day of spring for 2012 is March 20 so you might be thinking you have plenty of time before you need to think about spring cleaning. But this isn't your best choice. Most people have a vague idea that spring cleaning means their yearly carpet cleaning and window washing. While these items are included, spring cleaning is actually about a lot more.
Spring cleaning is the time to remove all of the excess stuff you have accumulated from the year before. You know the mantra, one new item in, one old item out. You also know you failed at this mantra and now your tight San Francisco home is even tighter and filled with clutter. The process starts by placing two large boxes near the door of your home. One should be labeled 'Donate' and the other 'Sell'. Place a large plastic garbage lined trash can close by.
Start at the room furthest from the bins and start going through your stuff. All broken items should be thrown out, items you have replaced should be sold or donated, clothing outdated or replaced should be sold or donated, cosmetics and medications should be looked at by their sold by date and discarded into a special disposal container. Winter clothing should be mended, laundered, bagged and stored. Shoes should be reduced to the actual amount that fit comfortably in your closet. Go through each room. Empty your containers as often as necessary. If you are selling items, keep your camera handy and pop them up there online immediately.
After your rooms are sorted, remove your winter linens and mend, launder and store them. This means you should clean your curtains, area rugs, and furniture. Refresh or replace pillows and bring out your seasonal linens. Vacuum your walls to remove dust and wash your room doors and trim. When you are cleaning your windows repair your screens and wash the outside at the same time. Spring cleaning is about preventing bug intrusion and inspecting your home for winter damage. Look for wood rot, water stains from roof leaks or leaking pipes, mildew or signs of mold. Keep your windows open if you are using cleaning products as they will offgas. Throw out old wall paint after copying down the brand and code. Make a list of home repair projects you discover. Replace light bulbs that have burnt out. Check your fire detection and air quality systems. Replace your furnace filters and check on your water heater for signs of failure. Replace weatherstripping around your doors and check your doorbell and outside gutters.
As you can see a good spring cleaning takes a lot of work and time. When you are finished your home should feel clean, a bit empty and fresh. You should have removed the overstuffed look of buying too much and removing too little. It's a fresh start -- it's spring!
Tips: Go through your food and fridge and throw out anything with an old date. Clean the fridge and cupboards well to remove spilled food and stains that can attract and feed bugs. Vinegar is an excellent natural cleaner that is environmentally safe.
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