3 Spring Cleaning Tips

May 26, 2015 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips | Share

 

Spring has sprung! You can smell it in the air, so fresh and exciting, when the plants starts to grow and bloom, birds and butterflies are busy and the spring rain is just around the corner (we hope!) The change of season always brings with it an intention to do – what else? – Spring Cleaning! Here are 3 simple tips to make yours swiftly effective and fun.

 

 

1) Clean from the top down

Don’t fight gravity! Start by dusting ceiling fans, shaking out curtains, wiping blinds, and definitely do the tops of your cabinets and fridge before you get to the countertops and later the floors.

Use a microfiber cleaning tool to grab dust instead of pushing it around – Rubbermaid, Lowe’s and Walgreens all have low-cost, flexible tools. Choose something washable instead of disposable.

Freshen fabrics – launder sofa and pillow covers. Wash matching items at the same time so they always have the same wear and color. Wash your mattress pad and flip your mattress while hanging your sheets outside for that extra-fresh smell.

Sanitize high-traffic surfaces – doorknobs, drawer handles and light switches deserve extra attention. But skip the antibacterial products – plain dish soap and water or citrus-based products are the best natural antibacterial and don’t contribute to our environmental chemical load. Use bleach sparingly.

 

 

2) Clear the clutter

Visual clutter is disruptive to an effective work life and home life. Banish belongings to hidden storage or eliminate them altogether with these quick steps.

Remove anything that hasn’t been used within the last 7 days – either put it back into its storage location, donate it to a friend or charity, or recycle it. Landfill is the least desirable option so try to find a new home for it first.

Develop and regularly use a storage system – whether that is cardboard boxes labeled with sharpie pen, or clear plastic bins with label maker stickers, or glass jars with canning labels, keeping items separated and clearly labeled makes it easier to find and maintain them over the entire year without a huge investment in time. If it can be done in 2 minutes or less, you’re more likely to keep it up.

Group related objects together in storage – hats, gloves & scarves can go in the hall closet or up in the attic until next winter. Rotating your items seasonally means you have less to wade through in your most-used areas.

 

 

3) Clip ideas from social media

Don’t be afraid to go someplace unexpected for cleaning advice and inspiration. Social media is full of people thinking about and doing spring cleaning at this time of year, just like you!

Create a scrapbook of ideas – you’ll need a new Pinterest spring cleaning board or a Houzz spring cleaning ideabook for all the great ideas you’ll come across.

Find inspiration – Follow a friend whose organizational smarts you admire. Look up a celebrity. Or go with a brand you trust that is natural and organic.

Celebrate your accomplishments – After you’ve sweated, take some photos to show off your sparkly-clean results! Post them to your social media of choice with a relevant hash tag such as #springcleaning, relax with a glass of wine and wait for the kudos to roll in!

 

Kimball Starr Interior Design is an award-winning San Francisco interior design firm providing clutter-free interior design for both residential and commercial spaces.