Spring Cleaning Your Home

Most of us have heard the term “spring cleaning,” and many of us have certainly cleaned in the spring, but doing a deep clean on the whole house often feels insurmountable.

However, several countries do some serious spring cleaning, including Jewish and Iranian cultures, which ties back to their religions. Other cultures found that spring was the perfect time to air out their homes and wipe down all the dirt, dust, and soot that accumulated over the winter.

Whatever culture you’re from, spring is a great time to clean. The short days of winter are lengthening, and it’s finally warm enough to open the windows to let in fresh air. But if you’re still feeling overwhelmed, follow our guide to help you get started.

Start Small

It’s easy to look at a long checklist and want to quit, so just start with one chore. Maybe it’s doing the laundry, dusting, or sweeping, but whatever you choose, stick with it until it’s done.

You can even multitask a few chores. For example, while your laundry is in the dryer, grab the duster and dust all the surfaces you can. You can even make it a game to see how much of the house you can dust before the dryer goes off!

Whatever chore you choose, try to see it out to the end. If that feels too difficult, break it down into steps.

Going back to our laundry example, start by just washing and drying one load. The next day, iron or fold your clothes, then put them away. Start with whatever feels achievable.

Organize One Area at a Time

Again, looking at your whole house can feel unachievable, so start with one area. Good places to organize include drawers, your closet, and your garage. (And don’t neglect the pantry or the fridge!)

Start by throwing out any obvious trash. Then take everything out and sort into piles. Give the area a good wipe down and put everything back neatly. (Bonus points if you find things to donate!)

Repeat this process with singular areas until you’ve organized everything you need. And if one area feels too big, organize one container instead. One drawer, shelf, or tub is a good way to start.

Or if you want the whole house to look cleaner, tidy up one room at a time until everything is back in place. Then you can decide if you want to tackle smaller areas or save them for another day.

Do the Weird Chores

While you’re cleaning, why not add some odd chores we tend to forget about? We’ve provided a handy list of oddball chores to complete. Some are meant to be done every month, and some just a few times a year, but now’s a great time to start.

Check out this list of chores for this year’s spring cleaning:

  • Change your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries.
  • Wash your pillows – some can be washed in the laundry machine while others have to be dry cleaned, so check the labels.
  • Clean your mattress – Sleep.org has a great guide on how to do this.
  • Scrub and wipe down your washing machine and dryer.
  • Scrub and wipe down your dishwasher.

Try doing a few of these weird chores this week and knock off more every week until everything on the list is done. Your house will be spick and span come summer!

Disinfect/Wipe Down Surfaces

With the weather warming up and your family on the go, germs are inevitable. Grab your favorite sanitizing solution and wipe down all commonly touched items like your TV remote, doorknobs, computer touchpads/mice, or drawer handles.

Other items to sanitize include your countertops, your desk, cabinets, sinks, showers, and toilets. And speaking of sanitizing, always run your dishes on the sanitize cycle if they can handle the high temperatures, and swap out your soap for something antibacterial to ensure there are no germs on your dishes.

Finish With the Floors

Now that you’ve dusted, donated, and disinfected, it’s time to do your floors. First, grab a broom or a duster to sweep up all the hair, dust, and debris on your floor. Move objects out of the way to get underneath every obstacle.

Then, go over it all again with a vacuum to get every last crumb. (And while you’re at it, clean out your vacuum bag and the brush roll.)

Next, determine how you clean your floors. Each floor requires a different method of cleaning; ceramic tiles only need light scrubbing, but wooden floors need de-waxing once in a while.

Check out this guide from Good Housekeeping to figure out how to best mop or scrub your floor.

Lastly, make sure you clean your tools (like your mop head or sponge). Otherwise, you’ll be “cleaning” with germs the next time! Either throw them in your (clean) washer on the sanitize setting, or use a bit of bleach and hot water to sanitize them. Then marvel at your clean floors!

Have Fun!

Spring cleaning can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be a bore. Turn on music, a podcast, or a movie to have something pleasant to listen to.

Or instead, make each chore a game. You can even get your family involved to see who can clean the most items! Adding a reward increases the stakes and can raise motivation.

Other Suggested Chores

Did you know that spring cleaning can potentially keep your insurance low? It’s true! Some chores can reduce the risk of claims, usually resulting in lower insurance rates.

Great outdoor chores that can reduce your rates include:

  • Clearing moss off your roof and sidewalks
  • Inspect your sprinkler system
  • Cleaning your gutters
  • Treat for pests (diatomaceous earth is great for killing bugs!)
  • Tidy your garage and seal up any pet food

However you choose to spring clean, Trucordia wishes you a healthy and fun spring. If you have questions about our agency or the insurance we offer, contact us via a phone call, text, or email. You can also use our booking website to schedule a visit. We’re here for all your insurance needs!