Cleaning is not my favorite home topic, yet if we see it as an art, there is no telling where it will take us. I like to start with a plan so I don’t run into never ending syndrome” If we clean randomly, we’ll keep seeing dirt and damage in layer after layer and become discouraged before we finish the entryway! Let’s walk through every room first to survey every nook and cranny, then do the following:
Make three /ists: (I) deep cleaning (window washing or de cluttering closets), (2) routine maintenance (clearing cobwebs or polishing doorknobs), and (3) freshening up (dusting and organizing tabletops). • jot down what you need—cleaning supplies and tools or reorganization products.
• Create a schedule and timetable to complete your entire house. One week? Six weeks? Three months? A year? Using a separate calendar just for cleaning, write a particular task or tasks on each day of your calendar that is available to the project.
• Before starting, buy yourself a gift certificate for lunch at your
favorite restaurant and put it away in a safe place. (Or splurge
on one item for your home, wrap it up, and save it as a
reward for the end of the spring cleaning project.)
• Start with a nourishing snack or meal, dress comfortably, tie your hair out of your face, and don a pair of lightweight gloves. Beginning with your front door or at the heart of your home and working clockwise, declutter the first room along with its cupboards, drawers, and closets.
• Open all the windows in the room where you are cleaning. Start at the ceiling and clean downward, sweeping away cobwebs; wiping down walls, doors, cupboards, and countertops; washing windows; and finishing with the baseboards and floor:
• Celebrate the completion of each room with a favorite beverage or snack. Give yourself a hug and a pat on the back!
• Reward yourself when your spring cleaning project is complete. Get dressed up, grab your lunch certificate, and head on out for fun.