Green Cleaning and Organizing Tips for Spring and Beyond
It’s that time of year again. Spring is in the air, but unfortunately so is that dreaded dust. With another new season upon us, it is time to shift some clutter, dust and therefore the energy in your home. Chances are, if you are like so many of us, you may need to make room for the new by clearing out some of the old.
A well-organized home is fundamental to ensuring that your spring clean is successful and easier to maintain in the weeks and months the follow the effort you invest in bringing your home back to a beautiful shine. Organizing your home will make it easier to clean since you’ll have better access to the surfaces which will need cleaning. It also means that you should have a place for everything, not only reducing unsightly clutter but also saving you time when you need to locate an item you need.
Finding logical and proper storage of items that you determine are important to keep, as well as potentially “letting go” of the things that are no longer serving a purpose in your home and life will be the first step in the organizing process. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t used something within the past year, it probably isn’t something you need to hold onto. This is, of course, a very personal decision, so go with whatever your gut instinct is telling you. For some, it can be incredibly difficult to let go of possessions, and if this sounds familiar, you may chose to do a trial separation and try to put some items in a labeled box into storage either on or off site from your home. Once a period of approximately six months to a year has passed, and you find you have not missed or needed these items, you may decide at that point to let them go to a charitable cause, a friend or relative, or as a last resort, your local recycle or refuse site.
Starting with an organized home, you’ll be in good shape to kick-start your spring cleaning. This is your opportunity to tackle all of those jobs that ordinarily get neglected during any normal routine cleaning, such as baseboards, ceiling fans, blinds, closets etc. Working through your home one room at a time will most likely give you a sense of accomplishment with each room that you complete, and perhaps may give you a mental boost as you go, spurring further action. While you carry out your spring clean, it is a great idea to open the windows and doors to let in fresh air, exchanging it for any old stale air. According to Feng Shui practices, this exchange of old for new air is believed to have positive influences on the energy circulating in your home. It’s also one of the best natural ways to rid your home of any viruses and germs that have been locked in your home over the winter.
Remember too, that your spring clean can be as effective as it is safe for you- that is, you don’t need harsh chemicals to get the job done. Try to use non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products for a squeaky clean home. Not only are these cleaners good for your health, they are safer for the planet’s delicate eco-system. Also worth trying are micro-fiber cloths and mops. They only require plain water, worthy for their effectiveness and economic advantage.