March has always been an unpredictable month, especially with the unpredictable weather we tend to have around here. Maybe schools will close because of massive amounts of rain the last day of February (hey there 2021). Maybe we'll get 6 inches of snow. Could be some tornadoes. Maybe it'll be close to 70 degrees most of the month. Kentucky weather is WILD. We dress for 30 degrees in the morning and by 3 pm we're stripping down to the bare minimum. March has also come with surprises the last few years. Two years ago on March 13th we found out I was pregnant. Last March 13th the COVID shutdown began. I'm anxious to see what this March 13th brings. This month is guaranteed to come with a couple of thrilling items: Daylight Savings time (helloooo sunshine!) and the first day of spring! With spring comes with the thought of spring cleaning. This gorgeous sunshine is even better than caffeine in motivating you to get the house cleaned out. Assuming basic household cleaning is taken care of, check out this list to get your spring cleaning done! OPEN YOUR WINDOWS.Before you start anywhere else, start opening your home's windows! According to the EPA, "Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations." Did you catch that?? This is even in urban areas where we'd be concerned about smoke, smog, or car exhaust. Most of us have spent all winter with our windows up because nobody wants to let the cold air in. Even opening your windows for just 5 minutes a day can have a positive impact on the air quality in your home. If it's a beautiful, temperate day outside, crack those windows for hours! Air out as many rooms as you can: bedrooms, living spaces, bathrooms, and the kitchen. I'll talk more about keeping pollutants out of your home later, but this is an important first step in your spring cleaning! OUTSIDE
HOUSE-WIDE
KITCHEN
LIVING SPACES/OFFICE
BATHROOM
BEDROOMS
LAUNDRY ROOM
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I'm not going to lie, the mass amount of all of this can feel terrifying, especially if cleaning isn't your thing. Before having a child I would have joyfully burnt through it all in a few weeks. Now, with a toddler running wild, there's precious few free hours. Tasks get accomplished while she sleeps, or when it's something we can do together. The good news is that it really doesn't all have to be done in the spring. Spring is just a great time to remember that it's time to refresh everything. If you feel like you might drown in the midst of all of this, do what I do. Organize the big tasks on Google Keep by month. I know that in November we clean the dryer vents, and in April we test the garage door auto-reverse feature. I'll talk more about these lists and routines later, but they keep life from feeling so overwhelming with the amount of work it takes to maintain a home. Spread all of this out over the next few months if you need. After all, spring is three months long! Use your fresh air, sunshine induced euphoria to get the house in tip-top shape this spring, and get ready to feel refreshed. Follow the tutorials linked, along with the printable checklist, to make sure you've got everything done and you're ready to relax this summer.
1 Comment
Erica Roth
3/10/2021 10:07:27 pm
Thank you for these helpful ideas. I was never taught many of these housekeeping skills growing up. I am so thankful to have stumbled upon this blog! I am going to try throwing my shower curtain liner in the washing machine as instructed.
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