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New homeowners must deal with a lot of new responsibilities but need to make time for spring cleaning as the weather gets warmer. The season of growth is the best time of year to clean the house and start fresh.
These six tips will help you create a simple yet effective checklist you can use for years to come.
1. Declutter First
Decluttering should always be your first spring cleaning chore. Reorganizing your belongings will make the cleaning stage much easier. Pick up loose items off the floor, rearrange your furniture, and sort through your cabinets, drawers and closets. Discarding items you don’t need will ease your anxiety and boost your productivity for the rest of your tasks.
Since you’re a new homeowner, decluttering should be fast and easy. You can also try unique options like the KonMari method, Pomodoro technique or Swedish death cleaning.
2. Go One Room At A Time
Some parts of the home naturally get more dirty and cluttered than others. Kitchens and bathrooms tend to be the most problematic. If you have children, you know that their bedrooms can turn into toxic waste dumps overnight. You should take an “eat the frog” approach and tackle these messy areas first while your energy levels are high.
You should also create an individual checklist for each room. This strategy helps you mentally separate each task, making them feel more manageable. It will also help your entire family get involved in spring cleaning. Everyone can clean their own room with minimal supervision, including the kids.
3. Clean From Top To Bottom
The top-to-bottom approach is the best way to thoroughly clean each room. Many new homeowners make the same mistake — they neglect the top half of the room and focus too much on eye- and floor-level items. You need to clean the whole room, not just the parts you immediately see.
Start with the ceiling — the hardest place to clean — and then work down to the walls, windows, furniture and floors. Each task becomes more manageable as you get closer to the bottom.
However, there are exceptions to the top-to-bottom rule. The garage is a great example because of its unique layout and function. The garage door, in particular, is crucial for security, and you should ensure sealing joints and locking rods are working properly. You need to closely monitor its condition throughout the year, not just during spring cleaning.
4. Know Your Lawn’s Needs
Landscaping is often the first chore people think of when they hear spring cleaning. You might not be familiar with your new yard’s unique requirements. Start by determining your lawn’s drainage so rainwater doesn’t flood your property. You might have to manually drain the yard if puddles keep popping up after every rainfall.
As the weather gets warmer, you must keep your lawn at the right height so the grass’s root systems can get stronger. Spring cleaning is also when you should establish a consistent watering routine. Make sure you follow Ontario’s water usage guidelines when creating your schedule.
5. Remember Those Overlooked Areas
Even the most experienced homeowners can forget to clean certain parts of the house. There are dozens of hard-to-reach places you can easily overlook. Remember to clean these items or locations during spring cleaning:
- Electronics
- Houseplants
- Trash cans
- Drains
- Gutters
- Door cracks
- Shower curtains
- Ceiling fans
- Crown moulding
You can add these tasks to your individual room checklists to avoid forgetting them. Your family uses many of these items daily, so you must keep them in good condition.
6. Keep Your Cleaning Products Simple
You should try to keep your cleaning products simple for three important reasons. First of all, most aren’t necessary. If you need a strong chemical cleaner, you can always use simple household ingredients like soap, vinegar and baking soda. Second, simplifying your products helps you minimize your spring cleaning spending.
Third and most importantly, chemical cleaning supplies can hurt your home’s air quality and cause health problems. Stick with nonchemical tools such as brooms, dusters, vacuums and steam cleaners as much as possible. Your home is still relatively new, so you shouldn’t need heavy-duty products.
Spring Into a New Cleaning Routine
A new living arrangement calls for a fresh cleaning routine. You may have many more rooms and miscellaneous items to take care of, but there’s no need to feel overwhelmed. Follow these six tips for a successful first spring in your new home.
About The Author
Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded, where he writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Check out @TModded for regular updates!
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