Spring-Cleaning Tips

Isn't it always easier to get grocery shopping done when you've created a list ahead of time? Apply the same logic to spring cleaning. Before you begin, grab a notebook and a pen, and walk through each room you're planning to tackle. Write down the areas in need of cleaning or repair, remembering to look up high — think overhead lighting or ceiling fans — and down low, like baseboards and carpeting.

Once you've created your spring-cleaning checklist, you'll need to figure out when you'll tackle all of these projects. The first day of spring 2023 fell on a Monday, so anytime between now and mid-June is perfect!

Years ago, Barney may have motivated you to pick up your Polly Pocket pieces with the "Clean-up Song," or if you're at an advanced age like me, that big purple dinosaur is a big motivator for your now adult children. Either way, the right music can help you get the job done.

Take some time today to create a cleaning playlist of your favorite songs. It's not procrastinating if it helps you achieve your end goal. This way, when the time comes, you can pop in those earbuds — or blast it throughout the house if you have helpers — and get that spring cleaning tackled once and for all!

Most of us have that inner voice that tells us that, if it's going to be done properly, we need to do it ourselves. But when it comes to spring cleaning, especially when mental health is at stake, done is better than perfect.

You're not the only one who contributed to the mess, and you shouldn't be the only one who cleans it all up. Use your checklist to delegate tasks that might be better suited for a taller or more nimble spouse, or little hands that can easily help sort and donate old toys.

Agnes Hsu is a California-based mom of three who runs Hello, Wonderful, a creative website for kids. Hsu began teaching her children, like her youngest, Dashiell, to clean beginning at the age of 2. "I feel their ability to do chores easily is because they were exposed to it at a young age," Hsu told Newsweek. "Initially, it was simple tasks like dusting and vacuuming, but now he is a little older and helps me do a lot of sorting jobs, like pairing socks and organizing his toys."

After you've determined what you'll be cleaning in each room, make note of the spring-cleaning tools you'll need to complete each step and then take inventory of your current stock of supplies. Match your supplies against this checklist to ensure you have everything you need to get started:

• Mops
• Brooms
• Buckets
• Sponges
• Microfiber cloths
• Wash rags
• Multi-surface cleansers
• Extendable-handle duster
• Trash bags
• Squeegie

A good caddy or storage system, preferably with wheels, will help you maneuver around your home successfully and make the work go much more quickly. This way you can keep all cleaning products contained and close at hand, no matter where you are in the home.

A cluttered space can have a significant impact on mental health and clarity, so take time to remove items from your home that you no longer need. Here are some spring cleaning tips for clearing out the clutter:

• Go old school. The Flylady 27 Fling Boogie is a clutter-clearing technique that helps you power through and get rid of items you don't need.

• Set up bins as you tackle your closets. Designate one bin each for items to keep, sell, and donate. This gets clothing out of your closet and on to their next adventure.

• Declutter books on your shelves. Are you really going to tackle that TBR pile this year, or are those books taking up space? It sounds like blasphemy, but it is OK to sell or donate those titles you know you'll never read.

• Tackle that pantry! If you have three containers of cloves that expired well before the pandemic, it's time to let them go. Clear out the expired items in your refrigerator and shelves to make space for fresh products.

Taking time out during your spring-cleaning session to tend to fire safety products in your home can save you time and money, but may also prove to be lifesaving. Use your big spring-cleaning event as a reminder to check and replace batteries in items like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and flashlights.

Replenish the contents of first aid kits, clean air filters and duct work, and be sure all switches are in good working condition. Check that there is no heat or foul odors emanating from nearby walls.

Fire deaths in the United States have been on a steady incline since 2010. "If you own an older home, you might have an outlet or two that don't 'grip' the plug of, say, your vacuum," Jesse Will wrote for Consumer Reports. "This can introduce the possibilty of an arc fault, where an intermittent contact from that loose plug can cause heat or a spark, and potentially, a fire."

Pace yourself and make sure your expectations aren't too high. Knowing when to spring clean is key; the weekend of baseball or softball season is probably not the best time to begin tearing things out of your bedroom closet. Realistically, you won't get everything done in the course of, say, one weekend. Schedule time on the calendar to focus on your cleaning over the course of a week or so.

Don't beat yourself up if every single item on your spring-cleaning checklist isn't checked off. If something doesn't get a thorough cleaning this season, life will go on — and perhaps you can get to it during the late summer, before kids head back to school.