I’m just going to lay it all out there…I despise cleaning. I’m terrible at it and terrible at keeping up with it. But there comes a time when just tidying up the house just won’t cut it anymore. Enter the spring cleaning frenzy. (Promise I do it a little more often than once a year.) Over the past few weekends I’ve been tackling one room at a time. We started with organizing and decluttering the playroom, deep cleaning the bathrooms and now I’ve tasked myself with .
If shiny new things gets your gears rolling, then be sure to stock up on some new cleaning supplies. This trick typically works for me with anything really…want to entice yourself to go to the gym? Get new workout clothes. Spring cleaning? Stock up on new sponges, soft rags, a new mop and even cleansers like . There’s something about ripping off tags and opening up new packages that excites me…maybe even an upbeat playlist will help do the trick.
Step 1: Declutter
My kitchen counter is the catch-all spot for mail, keys, and even random toys. The top of my microwave is loaded with Pre-K papers and crafts that I just haven’t organized to save yet. The side of my fridge has save-the-dates for events that have taken place several weeks back. Grab the trash can and start loading it up. (Except for those adorable handprint crafts your kid brought home. Those I can’t part with.)
Step 2: Deep Clean the Microwave
If your family is as busy as ours, your microwave gets more use than the stove. To get those hard, stuck on splatters off, microwave a bowl of water (and lemon juice) on high for five minutes then let sit for another two minutes before opening. Take a wet sponge, sprinkle on Bon Ami and the splatters should come right up with minimal effort.
Step 3: Clean out the Fridge and Pantry
Time to toss the potato chip bag with only crumbs left in it and that suspicious container in the back of your fridge that mainly looks like a science experiment now. Wipe out the cabinets and refrigerator shelves. Now would be a great time to organize snacks in glass jars before returning to the pantry.
Step 4: Sink, Dishwasher and Stove
Confession: I never knew you had to empty the food trap in the dishwasher. Be sure to check yours and wipe down the inside and outside of the dishwasher. Run empty dishwasher on a high-heat setting to sanitize.
The sink and stove can be cleaned with a soft-sponge and . Take your wet sponge, sprinkle on the powder cleanser and scrub. This cleanser works so well on almost all surfaces in your kitchen (or bathroom). One of the reason we love using it in the kitchen is because it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals or strong odors. Using nontoxic cleansers has been really important to us since having kids, yet it’s powerful enough to tackle all the tough, cooked-on stains found in the kitchen.
Spring cleaning isn’t so bad when you break it up by room and get the family involved. The little ones are great runners and will help take things back to their home during the decluttering phase. They even love wiping down tables, counters and walls! Hopefully these tips helped alleviate some of the stress that may arise when you hear the words spring cleaning mentioned. Always be sure to stop for dance breaks!