Spring Cleaning? Yuk!
What is spring cleaning? The dictionary states “ a thorough cleaning of a house or room, typically undertaken in spring.”
The weather is warmer and nature is in full bloom. It’s also that time of year for spring cleaning. If that makes you shudder, you are not alone. Who wants to clean when the sun is shining and there are so many other things to do that bring you joy? Unfortunately, there is no magic genie or cleaning fairy that is going to do that job for you. It’s better to put on your gloves and resign yourself to the task at hand. Besides the fact that cleanliness directly affects your health, it will also help you get your security deposit back in full when you make a move. Keeping your place clean will give you a much better chance of recouping.
So, where do you start spring cleaning?
If your home isn’t already organized, now is the time. Wait! Didn’t we say we were spring cleaning and now we’re telling you to get organized too? Well, it all works together. If your home has a place for your items then it’s much easier to put them away when not in use and then have the room to clean up. Don’t let this stress you. This is a process that has been perfected over literally, thousands of years. If you aren’t sure how to do this, take a look at this article, “ 3 THINGS SUPER ORGANIZED PEOPLE DO WHEN ORGANIZING THEIR APARTMENT”. You’re welcome!
Basically, everything that you don’t clean on a regular basis constitutes spring cleaning. Take one room at a time (it’s less overwhelming).
- Move the furniture out of their normal places and vacuum the dust bunnies then wet mop the floor and wipe the baseboards down for a deep clean.
- Remove scuffs and spots with magic eraser (truly a monumental product)..
- Lift the rugs and repeat the vacuum and mopping.
- Clean the rugs. You can rent a carpet cleaning machine at your local grocery store or have it professionally cleaned. This is key to getting that deposit back!
- Remove the curtains/blinds and wipe down the windows and seals with damp cloths.
- Take everything off of the countertops in the kitchen and bathroom and spray with antibacterial cleaners.
- Wipe down the windows and window seals, wash the blinds.
- Remove contents of the closets and give away/throw away unnecessary items (ouch, this may be painful but truly cathartic).
- Spray showers/tubs and wipe down.
- Remove and launder shower curtains.
If you’re feeling truly motivated at this point, go ahead and add these to your list.
- Clean out the pantry – donate those canned good that you are obviously not going to eat, or take them to a food bank or local charity
- If you didn’t clean out the bathroom cabinets when you tackled the closets, now is the time. You are probably asking yourself at this point, “Why did I buy this or why did I feel the need to keep it?” This is clearly a topic for another time! If you insist on going down that path now, here’s great reading on that. Slate Article on Decluttering Your Home and Your Life
Spring cleaning will take you 6-8 hours depending on the size of your home so set aside the time to do a good job. Once you get finished, your home and your soul will feel fresh and clean. You will feel a sense of accomplishment and also be in a much better position with your landlord or property manager. That equals a higher percentage of getting your deposit back with the bonus of grea t references for your next place.
If you need a written version to go by, here’s a great cleaning checklist, compliments of Oprah.com !
Summit Property Management is a full-service family owned company servicing the Northwest Arkansas area.
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