A clean home is a healthy home! If you’ve put off your spring cleaning this year, it’s not too late. Here are ideas to help you get started.

Begin with a checklist.

Walk through your home and make a list of the most important tasks for each room. Make high-traffic areas and places that are often overlooked – such as behind furniture – your top priorities.

As extra motivation, cross off each task as you complete it to give yourself a sense of accomplishment.

Declutter first.

Before diving in with cleaners and wipes, mops and dust cloths, go through your closets, cabinets and drawers to get rid of unused items.

Try the three-box method to sort everything:

• Keep – Items you use and need.
• Donate – Items in good condition you no longer need.
• Trash – Broken, worn-out or unusable items.

Swap out seasonal items.

To save space, store heavy clothing and winter blankets in vacuum-sealed bags. Freshen your home with lighter bedding and seasonal décor.

Begin at the top of each room and work your way down.

To prevent dust and dirt from falling onto areas you’ve already cleaned, begin with ceilings, light fixtures and shelves. Then clean walls, furniture and floors.

Refresh windows and curtains.

A vinegar-and-water solution (one part vinegar to two parts water) is ideal for cleaning windows. To remove dust and allergens, wash or vacuum your curtains and blinds. When the weather cooperates, open your windows to let fresh air in.

Deep clean your appliances.

Tackle your refrigerator one shelf at a time. Throw out expired food and wipe down the shelves. Do the same with the freezer.

For both your washing machine and dishwasher, run a cleaning cycle according to the manufacturer’s instructions. And don’t forget to clean behind and under appliances where dust and grime build up.

If this sounds intimidating, you don’t have to do your spring cleaning all at once! Spread the work out over a couple of weeks or months to make the tasks more manageable.

Source: Reliance Matrix