Pet-friendly Home Spring-cleaning Tips and Tricks

With the warmer weather comes the annual tradition of spring cleaning. Yes, it's that time of year when people declutter, purge, and organize their homes in preparation for summer. But if the idea of Marie-Kondoing your entire house seems overwhelming, we've got you covered. These five spring-cleaning tips will help you clean out your home for spring.

Start With Zone Cleaning

What is that? It's a method of cleaning coined by The Fly Lady that divides your home into zones that you clean one at a time. Depending on how big or small your home is, you'd have anywhere from two to five or more zones. Common zones are the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, living areas, and garage. So, instead of scheduling all your spring-cleaning into one overwhelming weekend, you'll clean a new zone each week.

Declutter Before You Clean

Now, that you've divided your home into zones it's time to declutter. It's hard to clean cluttered spaces, so begin by throwing away any trash and removing things that don't belong in a certain room. Old magazines are a great example of things that need to be decluttered, while books, toys or appliances should be moved to the rooms where they belong. If you're swapping out winter blankets and clothes for warmer garments, you can do that during this phase.

Clean From Top to Bottom

Once you've successfully gotten rid of the clutter, it's time to start cleaning. With each zone, clean from top to bottom. As you clean and dust, dirt will inevitably fall to the floor. By saving the floor for last, you eliminate the need to sweep twice. Dust the ceiling tops first, making sure to clear any cobwebs and wipe any light fixtures, curtain rods, or ceiling fans. Then move on to the wall, windows, surfaces, and appliances. For rooms with cupboards and drawers, you may want to open them one at a time and reorganize them before dusting the outside

Use a Timer

Spring-cleaning doesn't have to take up your entire Saturday. Instead, set aside an hour or two every day or over the weekend. Set a timer for 60 minutes, start with zone one, and do as much as you can during that hour. You could divide the tasks listed above (declutter and then clean from top to bottom) into 15-minute sessions. The goal is to make a little of progress, so you don't get overwhelmed by a massive spring-cleaning project. Once the timer goes off, stop and take a break. Celebrate! You got something done. 

The last spring-cleaning tip is to only take out what you can put back. For instance, if you're decluttering your pantry, clear out one shelf at a time – starting with the top shelf and making your way down. Life happens, and you might have unexpected visitors or need to run an errand. In the event of surprises, you won't have a messy kitchen waiting for you once you're done.