Grand View Builders

Spring has sprung, and that means it’s time for one of our favorite rituals of the year – spring-cleaning! While it is important to keep your home clutter free at all times, there is something about the freshness and newness of the season to kick-start you into clearing out the what’s been stored away all winter long. Here are some of our tips for achieving a more open and clutter-free space.

1. Check for cleaning supplies. There is nothing worse than beginning a project without being prepared. Check your supply cabinet for rags, buckets, cleaning supplies, etc. before starting a new task.

2. De-clutter before you clean. Make sure you get everything out of the way before you begin the big scrub down. Taking out the trash and getting all of the extraneous clutter out of the way before cleaning will save on both time and frustration.

3. Get rid of what you don’t need. In the spirit of de-cluttering, make piles of things to save, donate, return to original owners and throw away. Don’t keep what you don’t need!

4. Start from the Bottom. Save yourself the trouble of cleaning what’s already been done. If you start with the floors, dust from any items on shelves, tables, etc. will eventually fall down to the ground, forcing you to backtrack. Start by clearing away the cobwebs in the eaves, slide down to the windows and give them a once over, dust off the tabletops, and then sweep up all the excess debris that has fallen from your previous endeavors!

5. Light Bulbs. Unscrew light bulbs and polish them with a micro fiber cloth. Make sure to avoid wetting the metal screw base and don’t forget to wipe down the fixture as well. By removing dust and grease from your light bulbs you can increase their output by 20 percent. That’s 20 percent more light for the same amount of energy!

6. Ceiling Fans. Did you know that changing the direction of your ceiling fan’s rotation could keep your electricity bill down? The standard clockwise rotation redistributes warm air during cold weather, so to prepare for spring run the fan counterclockwise providing a pleasant breeze, as the days get warmer. You can do this with the switch found at the base of most standard fan models.

7. Clean out your refrigerator. Keeping #2 in mind make sure to de-clutter before you clean out your fridge. Once you have all of the food that’s fit to keep, wash the interior out to remove anything sticky and hardened. Take out the removable shelves and drawers to wash them and scrub out nooks and crannies with a toothbrush.

8. Replace Batteries. Think about all of the electronics in your house that use them and swap the old ones for a fresh pair. They’re in your clocks, telephones, and desktop mice and most importantly of all, your smoke detectors!

9. Refresh your linens and upholstery. If you don’t have a steam cleaner, take the curtains and couch cushions that have survived a year’s worth of spills to the cleaners. Give your rugs and carpets a deep clean too, sending out for a specialist or taking them to one if they’re extra delicate.

10. Get the job done. If there is anything worse than a cluttered home, it’s a home in the middle of an intense cleanup session. Chaos comes before clarity, so don’t get discouraged, and make sure you have the proper time to commit to finishing the project.

We hope that you enjoyed these tips! With our help, your home will feel clean and refreshed this spring. Please be sure to post your before and after pictures to Facebook and happy cleaning!