Can you believe it’s already that time of year again? The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and it’s time to tackle this year’s spring cleaning! For a successful and stress-free clean, avoid these common cleaning mistakes:
Going in without a plan. A big cleaning job can easily get stressful without a plan in place. Try mapping out which rooms you are going to tackle in what order, including a check-list for each room.
Not starting from the top. Working from the ceiling down will ensure that you’re cleaning in the most efficient manner, with the floors being cleaned last to get all the final bits of dust and debris that fall from higher areas.
Leaving your windows closed. When using cleaning products, it’s important to properly ventilate the area! This is helpful even when using organic cleaning products, but it is especially crucial if you choose to include chemicals in your cleaning routine.
Doing it all at once. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be tackled all in one day! Depending on the size of your house, your schedule, and how many helpers you have cleaning with you, you may wish to stretch it out throughout a weekend or even an entire week, cleaning one room each day.
Cleaning before decluttering. You can’t clean around clutter! Once you’ve tossed or donated all of the items you no longer need, it will make the area they were stored in much more accessible and easier to clean.
Ignoring the out-of-sight areas. We know, it’s just so easy to shove everything into a closet or under the bed and pretend it doesn’t exist. But we promise you’ll feel such a relief knowing that your home is truly clean and organized in every area. And next time you’re planning to move houses, you’ll thank yourself that you did so!
Not cleaning your mattress. This is another task that can be easy to avoid, as it’s not something we see on a day to day basis. If you haven’t done so already in the past 6 months or so, it’s the perfect time to take the opportunity to give it a good vacuum and flip your mattress!
Using dirty cleaning tools. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: you can’t get a good clean if your tools aren’t clean! Check out last month’s blog post for step-by-step tips on how to clean them.
Using paper towels. In addition to being harmful to the environment, over-using paper towels during your cleaning routine can be quite counterproductive. They can leave behind dust and streaks, unlike regular clean dish towels and microfiber cloths.
Treating it like a chore. Spring cleaning is only as fun as you make it! Throw on some comfortable old clothes, jam out to an energetic playlist, and enjoy the fact that you’re doing something kind for yourself by keeping your space clean.
Happy spring cleaning, from your friends at GHC!