As the weather warms up, many of us begin to feel motivated to do a good spring cleaning in and around our homes. Spring cleaning is an essential part of clearing out the stuffy remnants of winter and making room for the new.
“Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a dreaded list of chores. It can be a rewarding experience that helps provide some structure and organization in your life.“
Peter Walsh
However, there are a few misconceptions about spring cleaning, and it is important to clear those up before embarking on spring-cleaning your bedroom and other areas.
Spring Cleaning Defined
Here is spring cleaning in a nutshell… what it is and is not.
Spring cleaning is the practice of thoroughly cleaning a house in the springtime. The practice of spring cleaning is especially prevalent in climates with a cold winter. In many cultures, annual cleaning occurs at the end of the year, which may be in spring or winter, depending on the calendar.
The term is also used metaphorically for any kind of heavy-duty cleaning or organizing enterprise. A person who gets their affairs in order before an audit or inspection could be said to be doing some spring cleaning. (Source: Wikipedia)
Fresh Start to the Year
By the time we are a few months into the year, most of us can use another fresh start. When winter begins to fade into spring, we are ready for a chance to get rid of the old and get on with the new.
Spring cleaning gives us that chance to turn over a new leaf, and clean our way into a fresh mindset.
Good Thorough Cleaning
Firstly, spring cleaning is not just your average weekly chores such as cleaning glass shower doors. Secondly, spring cleaning gives us a chance to turn everything over and clear out the cobwebs, literally and figuratively.
Lastly, spring cleaning is a thorough change from the way we are currently living. It is a chance to get things moving back in the right direction if our standards have slipped at any point.
All About Organization
Spring cleaning is not just about wiping away the grease and taking a swish at the dust. It is a great time to make an extensive checklist to follow, both now and on smaller levels for the future. Find ideas on the internet or in books about home organization.
Add to the lists anything that is specific to you and your home so that no stone is left unturned in the process.
Is Not All-or-Nothing
As much as you may want to do as thorough a cleaning as possible, don’t go overboard. Do your best to make your home sparkly and bright, but give yourself a break when necessary.
We should strive for clean, functional homes… but they must also be liveable. Do your best, and then relax with the results you acquire.
Isn’t Just About Home Cleaning
Spring cleaning is generally focused on turning your home into a better, more organized version of its previous state. However, there are plenty other things in your life that you can focus on when you are finished.
Spend some of your time spring cleaning your car, and you will once again be able to enjoy your drive to and from work every day. Extend spring cleaning to your purse, and you will be able to find what you need more quickly when you are away from home.
Seven Benefits of Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning is a great idea for anyone who lives in their own home. Whether you have a large or small space, every dwelling needs a good thorough cleaning on a regular basis.
This rewarding experience brings many benefits, and here is a list of the important ones.
Definite Happiness
Having a clean home is a great feeling. A cluttered, messy environment can wreak havoc on one’s emotions. Being able to come home every day to a space that is tidy and organized is a great gift you can give to yourself.
Stress Relief
It is a depressing feeling to wake up to disorder every single morning. Many people can attest to the fact that living in an untidy environment brings you a great amount of unnecessary stress.
Spring cleaning will ensure that your home feels peaceful, rather than the chaos that you may have been forced to become used to.
Pride of Ownership
No one wants to invite their friends over to a home that appears uncared for. It is embarrassing when your home is in disarray, and someone calls out of the blue and asks to drop by.
When your home has been through a detailed spring cleaning, you will feel proud about the way it appears. Inviting guests over will be a pleasure for you, and for them as well.
Time Saving
Time is yet another benefit to be achieved. When you have to dig through a pile of clothing to find a small piece you have misplaced or search yet again for the keys or shoes you lose on a consistent basis, valuable time is being lost.
Spring cleaning saves time, as it gives you a chance to reorganize. It allows you to sort through everything you own once again, and give each tiny item a place of its own in order to be easily found each and every time.
Organization
To be organized is a great feeling. When you are organized, life runs more smoothly. If your home is orderly, both you and your guests will feel the difference. It will be easier to go about your daily duties, and keep on top of everything you are responsible for.
Spring Cleaning Health Benefits
Spring cleaning is a great workout. It may be surprising to some, but both light and heavy housework give your body a boost. You may be surprised at what a sweat you work up while getting your home into tip-top shape.
You can be sure to move your muscles, stimulate your lymphatic system, and even get a bit of cardio in while organizing items and scrubbing walls.
Generosity to Others
One of spring cleaning’s outcomes is finding things that we realize we do not need. This is a great time to give away what we cannot use anymore to someone who can benefit from our unwanted items.
When you have sorted through clothing that no longer fits, appliances you no longer use, and books that your children have outgrown, you have a choice what you will do with it all.
Consider donating to a charity or someone in need. The feeling of satisfaction will be worth all the time and effort you put into it.
Wrapping Up
Spring cleaning has many benefits and is something every individual should embark on. It is a great time to make your home feel like a brand-new place, but your plan of attack can extend to whatever part of your life you choose.
Go through a mental checklist of every area in your life that needs some overhauling, and find ways to make those changes. Consider all the bonuses that this yearly ritual will bring you. Keep yourself going through the hard work with the thoughts of everything you will gain.
Related Resources
33 Easy Spring Cleaning Tips for a Sparkling Home
30 Day Spring Cleaning Checklist
With a little bit of organization and a lot of effort, you will have a beautiful home and surrounding area to enjoy once again.
