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Beauty | Home | Southern Living

Where To Start With Spring Cleaning

March 22, 2023 · Home

Where To Start With Spring Cleaning

Everyone loves a clean house but most of us don’t enjoy the process it takes to get there. Spring cleaning can sometimes be discouraging and overwhelming. How about a few cleaning tips? And have you ever wondered where spring cleaning came from? Today we are talking about where to start with spring cleaning!  

I love a clean house and have found it easier to break it down into rooms and different days that I work on things. Some people like to get it all out of the way at once and spend an entire day cleaning their house. I occasionally do that but most of the time I have a rotation schedule for cleaning. Week 1 is the first floor of our home. Each day I have an assigned room that I clean. Week 2 is upstairs. I have found that this works for me. It also helps to make spring cleaning easier because almost everything is clean for the most part!  

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Where Does Spring Cleaning Come From?

Turns out that the concept of spring cleaning has been around forever! Modern-day spring cleaning is in the “springtime” because that is when we are emerging from the cold dreary dead winter months. Everything is coming back to life, and we are opening the windows to let fresh air in. It is the best time, and you will be most likely to be motivated to do some deep cleaning!  

Spring cleaning is thought of as a time of renewal and has been around for centuries. It goes back to biblical times, during Passover the Israelites are told to leave no traces of leaven in the house. In springtime in Thailand, they celebrate a festival of purification called Songkran. It’s a time when people scour their homes from top to bottom. The Japanese celebrate Golden Week which people clean their homes to welcome the deities of the new year. In Persia, they celebrate the new year in March with “khaneh tekani”, which means “shaking the house”. Everything gets cleaned, and the dust of the old year is swept away.  

Where To Start

I think we can all agree on all our typical spring cleaning. But I have a few tips that will hopefully help you get started. I know once I get started, I get the motivation to keep going! If you need help decluttering then you might want to check out our blog post, 10 Everyday Things to Declutter from Your Home. You can read that here.

1. Walls & Baseboards

I don’t know many people that clean their walls and baseboards as part of their regular cleaning schedule. Well unless they get unusually dirty or are in a high-traffic area. I have two ideas to help keep you off your hands and knees while doing it!  

If you don’t have a spin mop and bucket, then you need to grab one! These work amazingly for cleaning baseboards and walls. When we moved into our Florida house, we purchased one and used it to clean all our walls, baseboards, and even our doors! Most of the mop heads are washable too.  

A second way is using a Clorox toilet wand brush. It already has the cleaner on it, just grab a bucket of clean water and a towel and get to cleaning! I would not recommend this method if your baseboards were not white. I also do not recommend this for walls, only baseboards.  

2. Pantry

In a perfect world, we would stay on top of our pantry items. But it can easily get out of control. Things expire, we misplace items, and before you know it you have multiple items you didn’t realize that you had. When we moved, I was really surprised by how many items we had that had expired.

If you are organized, it will help your process go more smoothly. I love using baskets to group similar items together, can organizers, and containers for flour/sugar.

I also learned something new over the past year about dry goods/baking supplies. Things like flour do expire and go bad! Flour goes bad in about 8 months – 1 year and if it’s gluten-free even sooner! Using flour past its best-by date can cause issues like food poisoning. Typically, the flour will have an off odor and discoloration to it. Always store it in an airtight container to help prevent it from going bad. You can also freeze flour! 

So, I recommend going through your items and checking the expiration dates, regrouping items, and placing the items that will be expiring sooner towards the front.  

3. Carpets & Area Rugs

Spring cleaning is a great time to clean your carpets. You can either do it yourself or have someone else come in and do it for you. We do it ourselves. We bought a carpet cleaner a few years ago. They really aren’t that expensive and pay for themselves. I don’t like the idea of renting a carpet cleaner. And there is something therapeutic about cleaning carpets! Lol! Most carpet cleaners have attachments that can be used to clean your upholstered furniture also.

Don’t forget about your area rugs, front doormat, and any other rugs you have laying around.  

4. Trash Cans

Our trash cans have a habit of getting neglected. We often wipe down the outside of them while cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms but forget or choose not to clean the inside of them. They can get pretty dirty! If you use a recycling bin you will also want to give that a good cleaning too!  

If your garbage can has an inner can liner remove that and either take it outside to clean it or you can clean it in your bathtub. I recommend either using an all-purpose cleaner that is also a disinfectant or Dawn Powerwash. If you missed my blog post on Dawn Powerwash you might want to check that out here. Fill the can up with some water and cleaner and use a scrub brush. Clean the inside and outside of the can.  

You don’t want to forget to clean the inside of your garbage cans. While you are waiting for the inner can to dry this would be a good time to clean the inside and outside of the can.  

If your cans are extra dirty let them soak for a little while. If you have a sunny day, it’s always a good idea to let them dry in the sun. This also naturally helps to kill any remaining germs and bacteria. You can always sprinkle a little baking soda in the bottom of the garbage can. This is a natural deodorizer and helps to absorb spills. Just in case!  

5. Return/Air Vents & Fan Covers

These are easy to forget! I don’t know where yours are in the house but ours are high or on the ceiling. So, it is not easy to get to without a ladder. They aren’t something that regularly gets cleaned in our house. 

It is recommended that you remove the covers and soak them in hot, soapy water. After they soak for a bit, use a soft microfiber towel to wash them off. Rinse with water and gently dry with a clean dry microfiber towel. Make sure you dry them well, so they won’t rust.  

If you can reach your vents, about once a month try to dust them with a duster. This will help to maintain them until you are able to give them a good cleaning. You can also use your vacuum with an attachment if they are within reach. It is also recommended that you turn off your AC system when removing the covers.  

Spring Cleaning Tips

  • Clean lamp shades with a lint roller
  • Start from the top and work your way down 
  • Use a pillowcase to clean fan blades
  • Good time to check the hangers in your closet. (If you don’t know what that is, read more here.)
  • Wash your shower liner in the washing machine. Yes, that’s right just put a towel in with it. 
  • Keep all your cleaning supplies together so it is easy to grab, and you aren’t running around looking for them all. 

Do you participate in spring cleaning or do you just keep with your regular cleaning cycle? I know a lot of people build in a lot of these things into their routines so there really isn’t a “need” for a spring cleaning ritual. If you have any tips or hacks that you would like to share please share them below in the comments!


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Beauty | Home | Southern Living
𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒔 12:6
Let’s age 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆fully together 👇🏻

Julie  Manquen
•
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝. 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚋𝚜 𝟷𝟻:𝟹
It's difficult sometimes when someone hurts us. We sometimes wonder why God "isn't doing anything" about the bad things in the world, or the bad people in our lives. 
But it isn't up to us. We only need to worry about ourselves. He sees it all, the good and the bad. And sometimes we only see a small part of what is really going on in someone's life. It is easy to make a judgment. It is difficult to 👇
Give it to God 🤍
~𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕! 
 #christianblogger #hellosouthblog #Floridablogger #prayonit #Godsgotthis #prayerchangesthings #talktojesus #inspirationalwords #Godisgood #praywithoutceasing #proverbs
📌 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬? 
There are a lot of benefits to having a dog, besides unconditional love. 🤍 Studies have shown that just petting a dog can:
• Lower your blood pressure
• Lower heart rate
• Slows breathing
• Relaxes muscle tension
I think Theo has been doing a good job of all of the above! I won't even get into what he does when I have a migraine. 🤯 Dogs are amazing. 🤍
Do you have a dog? Do you agree with what these studies have shown? 
~𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕! 
 #dogblog #lifestyleblog #hellosouthblog #Floridablogger #shinefromtheinsideout #doglife #doglover #dogloversofinstagram #therapydog @theos_corner_
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Have you been looking for someone that is always by your side, someone that you can always talk to, and someone that you can count on? God has your back, you just need to invite him into your life. 🤍
~𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕!
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𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒔. 🐚 
It took me a while to find some barstools that I liked. I didn’t want your classic ones. I wanted a coastal feel to them. I also didn’t want to spend an arm & a leg for them! Can you believe how expensive bar stools have gotten?! 🫣
I am a bargain shopper and I finally found these at @target of all places! I have them linked over on my 𝐋𝐓𝐊 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 if you want to check them out. 👇
https://liketk.it/46BcW
~𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕!
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𝐇𝐞 𝐢𝐬 ℛ𝒾𝓈ℯ𝓃! 
Happy Easter friends! Jesus' story didn't end on the cross. It only just began. 
Sometimes on our hardest days or toughest times in life we look back and realize it was the beginning of something good. 🤍
~𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕!
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𝓗𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓸 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 💧
If you have read any of my blog posts over on 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐠 then you know that drinking your water is important for both healthy skin and hair. 
Our body is made up of about 50-70% water. So, staying hydrated is important! Experts recommend that you drink half your body weight in ounces. 
I was gifted this great water bottle to help me remember to drink my water from @venturepal_usa. It has such cute reminders on it to help keep you motivated throughout the day! They also come in different sizes and colors. 
How much water do you drink every day? I need to drink more so hopefully this will help! 🤍
~𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕!
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𝐈'𝐦 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲! 
The world around us can get stressful. We have become a society of being "honest" to the extent that it doesn't matter if it's true but it's that person's opinion. Opinions have become facts. I don't know about you, but a lot of this causes me anxiety. 
Do you struggle with anxiety? If not, you are lucky. But if you do all is not lost. The Bible talks about anxiety and worry. God doesn’t want us to be anxious, He wants us to come to Him for help. Remember, you are never alone! 
Head over to 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐠 to read our post, I'm Only Talking To Jesus Today! When I am worried and anxious, I often find myself going into this mode. 
We are sharing a few tools to help get you through those times. The link is in our profile! 🔗
~𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕! 
 #christianblogger #hellosouthblog #Floridablogger #shinefromtheinsideout #prayerchangesthings #prayonit #inspirationalwords #Godsgotthis #Godisgood #anxietytips #praywithoutceasing
•
𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝.  𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝟷𝟸:𝟸𝟷
This has been a rough week for a lot of us on many levels. What makes evil happy? Tearing each other apart, dividing, and breaking down. How do we overcome evil? With good. 
Be good. Be kind. Don't participate in the unkindness and negativity. And above all else, pray. 🤍
~𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕! 
 #hellosouthblog #Floridablogger #shinefromtheinsideout #christianblogger #inspirationalwords #prayonit #Godsgotthis #talktojesus #Godisgood #prayerchangesthings #bibleverse
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