Winter comes and I look forward to snuggling under a crochet afghan while I finish my knit holiday gifts. After a while, though, it because tiresome and the house loses that warm and snuggly feeling and just begins to feel stuff and closed in. The first day after a long winter that I am able to throw all the windows and doors in the house open air the place out is a joyous occasion. The fresh air breezing through the house is refreshing and cleansing, clearing out the stale winter “funk” that comes with keeping the house closed up tight against the elements. As soon as I get the chance to do this, it also lights a fire in my motivation circuits and I’m put into “Spring Cleaning Mode.” I clean the house top to bottom, but I get frustrated that I always run out of purchased scrubbies, dusters and wet mop towels. Finally, I realized that I didn’t have to use disposable products; all I needed was my hook/needles and some sturdy cotton yarn and I’d have all these things on hand no matter what season it is. From knit dish clothes to scrub walls and dishes, or reuseable floor mop covers.
Free Crochet Spring Cleaning Patterns
Simple and Easy Keyboard Duster
Free Knitting Spring Cleaning Patterns
{CLOSED!}
In the sprit of Spring Cleaning, we are cleaning out the stash closets here at StitchandUnwind, and thought that we’d share the love with our faithful readers. We even have enough stuff that we are going to pick TWO WINNERS!!!! All you have to do enter is answer the question below.
2 WINNERS WILL EACH RECEIVE:
- 2 skeins of Red Heart Rigoletto Yarn
- 1 pair of Lion Brand Pompoms
- 1 set of Susan Bates Knitting Needles
- 1 Susan Bates Crochet Hook
- 1 bottle of Unicorn Baby “Beyond Clean” laundry detergent
- Bundle of Leisure Arts knit and crochet books
OFFICIAL RULES FOR GIVEAWAY:
- There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
- Winners will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post.
- Winners will be announced here on this blog post April 30th, 2015, as well as contacted by the email address provided.
- You have until April 29th, 2015 at 11:59pm EST to leave your comment. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
- Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.
GIVEAWAY CLOSED!
Winners chosen via Random.org :
Deanna and Vanessa – please check your emails!
What is your favorite Spring cleaning tip?
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Start cleaning in the most obvious areas or the areas you least like to mess with.
Pick up the clutter and dust the most obvious places first.
When switching out winter and summer clothes, it’s a good time to clean out those you no longer wear and take them to a donation site.
Time to grab the denture tablets & clean vases, the coffee pot, and the toilet bowl. Drop in a tablet or two, wait ten minutes, swish, rinse & you’re done.
Spring is time to dust off the fans for the coming warm weather.
wash the windows
I ask my 20- and 15-year-old grandchildren to come help and then take them out to eat!
My favorite tip is to start with the windows. Always makes me feel better having those done.
If you haven’t worn it in six months, get rid of it.
I use baking soda to scrub off greasy cabinets or even glass, especially the coffee pot.
To clean the ceiling fans in each room of my house without having all the dust just fall onto the floor, I slip a pillowcase over each blade and slide off to gather any loose dirt neatly inside the pillowcase.
Thanks for that tip. I’m going to test it out.
That is a great tip, thanks for sharing, I would take a damp rag but it would take me many trips up and down to get them all, then I brought 8 damp rags with me and hung on the top rail of the small step ladder to take only 1 trip up and down, but I sure do like your way better, definitely going to do it that way.
My favorite spring cleaning tip would have to be …find someone else to do it. LOL 🙂
I work my way from top to bottom, then sides to middle for dusting. Then I gather all items that don’t belong in a laundry basket to put away neatly.
This is my favorite solution!!! Now I just have to find someone who is willing to do it for me!!!!!
I was responding to Pam Wingfield’s post!
I like that the Best! LOL
My spring cleaning tip is do the windows first. They’re always grimy after the winter and it makes everything instantly look better 🙂 Extra sunlight = happier cleaner.
Start with the kids’ clothing!!
Spring cleaning is like eating an elephant- it can only be managed one “bite” at a time!
Take one room at a time and do it well then move on to the next.
Start in the winter while you’re snowed in and have nothing else to do!
Start at the top and work your way down to the bottom. That way the “dirt” falls down as you work your way down. If you start at the bottom and work your way up by the time you get to the top you have to clean the bottom again.
However, if you are WASHING walls you should always start at the bottom and work your way up. If you start at the top the water that runs down will leave streaks that you can’t completely remove
I make sure I wash all of the windows, which includes the blinds/curtains. I use vinegar on the windows, both inside and outside. It doesn’t streak and the vinegar cuts through all of the winter muck that is on the outside of the window. I also use the vinegar to wipe down the blinds.
One other thing I do is make sure that all of the fans, ceiling types and floor types, are cleaned and ready. Even though they are not used in winter, they still attract dust.
Ya know those socks that come out of the laundry that have lost their partner? Well – don’t throw them out! LOL Using old socks on your hands helps you to clean anything! Using them to dust, wax, polish, wipe away cobwebs, clean glass and mirrors, scrub countertops, cabinet doors, sinks, toilets, etc makes all types of cleaning a lot easier and faster.
I like to do an inventory of my yarn, material, and beading supplies. Whatever I decide that I don’t want to keep, I love donating to facilities that offer craft classes for their patients.
You can wash your windows quite well with some white vinegar splashed in a pail of warm water. Use newspaper instead of paper towels for a streak free shine and you can still recycle the papers!
My favorite part of spring cleaning is washing the curtains, taking down the blinds,cleaning them, and scrubbing. I love to let the sunshine in my house
I meant to say scrubbing the windows before putting the curtains back up.
If it’s still too cold to open the windows, as it is here in Michigan’s U.P., I load the wax tart warmer with a spring like scent. Smelling that gets me revved up and in the mood to clean. Another tip is, vinegar kills germs as well as bleach and it’s not harsh or harmful.
Make it fun! Crank the music up, give kids tasks they can handle, take breaks and have a reward at the end (especially for yourself!)
My favorite spring cleaning tip is when you do your windows use newspaper instead of paper towels to keep streaks from appearing. I do it all the time, great results!
I like to start with a list, of what needs to be done first and then cross things off that way I can see the progress from the list because sometimes what you clean is not always obvious. And it helps me stay on task!
Open the windows and let the fresh air in!
Don’t neglect to clean vent covers, and ducts. And using baking soda with a little vinegar water sprayed on, then let it sit, gently scrub with a crocheted dishcloth, and wipe off will do wonders for grout and countertops to make them look great! Especially for older formica counters. 🙂
As soon as it gets warm open the windows and let the fresh air in.
Do the task you hate the most first. I have no tips. It just isn’t fun. I would rather crochet…lol
My spring cleaning tip for big jobs is to take them one step at a time. When I do that, the big jobs are always more easily managible.
Gather all of your cleaning supplies in a small bucket or handled tote. This helps you to carry them from room to room and you aren’t having to stop repeatedly to go get something you forgot.
My favorite spring cleaning tip is just to work on a little cleaning each day. That way you won’t have a bunch of cleaning to do all on one day!
Get rid of anything you haven’t used in over a year.
Gather all of your cleaning supplies in a small bucket or handled tote. This makes it easy to carry them from room to room and you don’t have to keep stopping because you forgot something.
Let’s get cleaning!!!
My favorite and best Spring cleaning mantra: “Spring to CLEAN to Cling to Spring!” #TmBJ
i found dr bronners sal suds. It works wonders on everything! Even as a laundry stain remover. I will never be without it!
I like to start in closets and cupboards, that is the best hiding spot for unwanted items.
I like to start by clearing the clutter collected over the winter months. I gather things suitable to give to charity, toss out the things that need disposing of, and then the house feel’s lighter, and the extra space inspires me to get busy.
Concentrate on one room at a time. Clean from top to bottom before moving to the next room.
My tip is don’t try and do it all at one time. Not good to over do it.
Wash winter blankets befor putting away and rewash lighter spring blankets before using.
To keep clothing in your closet under control, turn all the hangers in your closet backwards. As you wear and wash something, put the hanger in correctly. At the end of the season when packing away seasonal clothes, remove and donate all clothing on hangers that are still turned backwards. Since you haven’t worn those during the entire season, you are not likely to do so, so don’t let them take up valuable space.
Start in the kids’ rooms and get rid of everything they don’t play with – or half their toys. If the toys aren’t cluttering up other rooms, it’ll be a lot easier to manage!
My tip would be get rid of the kids and possibly the husband for a day or 2 and whip it all out!
I take it one room at a time, beginning with the living area ….thorough dusting/polishing of shelves, knickknacks, picture frames, then everything goes into the middle of the room and the vacuum comes out (don’t forget to vacuum the furniture, too!…also a good time to do any furniture rearranging you can get away with). Next on to the windows and curtains/drapes/blinds. I use the same technique in each room of the house.
I always open all three windows and take one room at a time. I don’t do just the surface. I clean out and organize all the drawers and closets, cabinets and boxes. Then when you put everything back clean you’d be amazed at how much room you have. I recyclable, reuse and donate as much as u can along the way. Happy spring!
My favorite spring clean up is going through the house and re-organizing! I clean out every closet and get stuff ready to take to goodwill. This way I clean out my house and re-cycle items that are in good shape to be used again by someone who needs them!
Most cleaning can be done with vinegar, baking soda or dish soap and they have low impact on the environment.
Time to get busy to make my own cleaning accessories – and help the environment in the process
Call a cleaning service!
opening up my windows and turn the radio on, then start cleaning the kitchen. Starting with vinegar and water to clean the shelves.
The easiest way for me to clean is to make sure I have the vaccuum cleaner and dust rags handy. Start at the ceiling and get those nasty cobwebs, dust those horizontal surfaces then vaccuum. Sounds great doesn’t it! Now to find the ambition to do it. I loathe cleaning 😉
I love that for Earth Day (week) you are supporting going “green”. I use no products with chemicals now, and this is one step closer to helping the environment. Love the idea of making my own cleaning products!
Thanks for being so conscientious.
Vinegar and baking soda and lemons are my cleaners now in different mixtures
A little each day 🙂
Don’t forget the screens when cleaning your windows. There’s a lot of trapped pollen in them. Remove and hose down.
I’m going to have to agree with the other ladies who said “get someone else to do it.”
Vinegar is magic!
Begin with the most visible area first, then go room to room. Keeping things organized is key
Spring cleaning in my house means purging closets, shelves, etc.. If you don’t wear it anymore, get rid of it. If your kids don’t play with it, get rid of it. If you know you’re not going to read it again, get rid of it. My local thrift shop gets a bonanza from us every spring.
Clean one room entirely before moving to another room.
Looks fab. I’ll defo be making the mop covers, never thought of doing that before 🙂
My closets!!!!
Get the kids involved!
Go outside, work on the flower beds and ignore spring cleaning!!
Always start at the top & work your way down!
I use dryer sheets for quick dusting of ceiling fans and surfaces (sometimes on electronics but not any screens, obviously). It gathers up the dust and leaves a nice scent behind 🙂
Start with the windows. Hate this task and feel very accomplished when this is done.
Don;t try to tackle too much at once. Taking on too much will make it less enjoyable. Reward yourself for a job well done. 🙂
One room at a time! And make sure you have a project to relax with each afternoon or evening!
My spring cleaning tip would be start with the closest.
Start by decluttering, it doesn’t have to be perfect just aim for “better.”
Work a room top to bottom, left to right…..nothing will get missed if you work this method…..
Pick a day when you can open the windows wide, crank some fun tunes (Bon Jovi keeps me moving!) and start with the living room, making sure to put away things that no longer do it for you. Decluttering opens the mind and make a room look bigger.
Always do the floors last!
Use lemon oil to polish stainless steel appliances. Just put on a paper towel or microfiber cloth to shine and protect!
My spring cleaning tip is white vinegar it has so many uses and is a very cost efficient cleaning tool.
The number one and two tips my mother taught me (a VERY long time ago!) was to dust from the top to the bottom of each piece of furniture – for example, dust the top shelf of the bookcase and work your way down – and ALWAYS dust BEFORE vacuuming. This way you aren’t cleaning TWICE. It’s a “gravity” thing, dust falls down, so if you’re dusting UP you end up having to dust twice.
One of my favorite tools for cleaning is a shower/bath puff (cheap nylon net kind). It loosens built up dirt on tubs, windows, etc. It is even safe to use on your car to get the bugs off. I’d prefer a cleaning fairy to do my cleaning every night while I sleep but so far that’s not happened.
Make sure you have plenty of ventilation or wear a mask when you are spring cleaning, as there will be tons of dust and dust mites; and make sure to air your mattresses/bedding while cleaning.
Start by what you hate to do after that it will be easier.
My favorite tip has got to be get the doors and windows open on warm sunny days. Not only does the sunshine and fresh air feel good, it’s a natural disinfectant too!
I love the smell of laundry thats been dried outside. My spring cleaning tip is to pull all those blankets, afghans, and comforters that have kept you snuggly all winter, wash them, and hang them outside to dry. Smells sooo good! Thanks for this great contest!
Hire Merry Maids!
Start with the closets
Baking soda and/or vinegar can clean almost anything! 😀
Use a broom to get the ceiking corner cob webs
My favorite spring cleaning tip is to start from the top to the bottom so the dirt falls lower and to do the windows last.
Start top to bottom. Put a dust cloth over the end of your broom to dust the ceiling, and don’t forget those corners.
Open the windows, light a favorite scented candle and put on the music that makes you the happiest – the chores will seem a lot less like work and much more enjoyable. I’m always surprised how much more I get done and less tired I feel when it is accomplished! 😀
Start in a corner and work your way around the room. I am chronically ill so speaking for this group of people, don’t sweat it if you only get a little done at a time. Even 15 minutes will help pick up clutter or clean a sink or toilet. Do what you can!
My favorite part of spring cleaning is being able to have the windows and doors open to be able to get some fresh air in the house while dusting and vacuuming. And always dust before u vacuum. Otherwise u end up vacuuming twice
Start on the left side of a room and work your way around until to get back to the starting point. Then you know the whole room has been cleaned!
Opening up your windows on nice spring days just brittens your days
I start with the windows, clean them and open them up to let in the fresh air….then then the walls, floor and then pack away the winter clothes….
Using a steamer on your windows work great
then sit down to do my spring knitting/crocheting
My spring cleaning tip would be:
As you clean and de-clutter make 3 piles for items
1. Donations
2. Keep and Store
3. Broken and not re-usuable
Steamers work great on any surfaces
Hire someone to do it!
Put on spring/summer clothes, open the windows, air out house while you make a new spring wreath for your door. That bright welcoming wreath will make want you to clean the house…
Cleaning for me is pretty much year round, not concentrated in Spring. I do like to clean the window ledge on the outdoor side when I open the windows for the first time after winter. As well, the first time I hook up the outdoor water hose I spray the window screens that remain in the windows year round. If the screens are visibly dirty, they get a good clean with soapy water (usually dish soap) and a soft brush. It’s also time to check the screens for holes or separation from the frame. Where I live (Ohio) there are lots of flying things I don’t want in the house (wasps, bees, mosquitos, moths-giant and small, beetles, etc.) so screen maintenance is important.
One room at a time. I always go from room to room to make sure each room is complete.
My spring cleaning tip…nah, I’d rather crochet! 🙂
Cheryl Gilliland
I rather knit or crochet the clean, make crochet, knitting and other things.
My top us to not overdo it and get overwhelmed. Plan what you are going to do and break it down into individual talks and simply do one at a time. It will get done and won’t be so exhausting but I’m disabled so I always do things differently!
I knit and quilt….so every year I pull out all my crafting tools….hooks…needles…safety pins…rulers….stitch holders….and such…….I go through each one and any bent …broken…or may cause injury needlessly item gets tossed and replaced with a new one for the year……..I consider this the most important spring cleaning thing for me to do…so that I can enjoy my crafting all year in a relaxed mode…..broken stitch holders aren’t needed…..and peace of mind is……
First of all, thank you for these patterns! I have been searching for some time for something like this. In the interest of reducing waste, we use as many non disposable products as possible. My tip is to start with a simple written plan. Start small. Break your cleaning up by floor of your house each week. Spend time doing everything that needs to be done just in one room and then move on to the next room. By the end of the month, your whole house is clean! Then just repeat.
Favorite tip: start at the top and work your way down.
Get the kids to help!
Refresh your curtains throw them in the dryer on air dry to get rid of the dust.
I like to start with the garage so I’ll have somewhere to put the stuff I remove from the house
Clean your drains too. Put a 1/4 cup of baking soda and a 1/2 of vinegar. When it stops foaming pour in hot water.
Choose a room and start cleaning, all the house has to be cleaned, so go to it girl.
I like to do all my spring cleaning right before monthly bulk trash pick up. If I don’t, everything I finally throw away sits around until that week which defeats the purpose altogether.
I did not grow up with the concept of spring cleaning. But one room at time works best for me.
my husband told me this one and even though I was skeptical about it , it really does work!! Used your daily newspaper and your glass cleaner to make your windows sparkle with NO smungges or streaks and costs next to nothing!!
I detest cleaning but LOVE a clean house, so each day I do one room and by the time I get back to it, it is time to start again. This way all the rooms of the house are cleaned out at least once a week and I just to touch ups whenever I am expecting company. If not, I am knitting or crocheting.
Stand in the corner and cry first 🙂 then start from the top down, with the windows! And don’t try to do it all at once. Dirt, like work, will always be there when you come back tomorrow!
make sure you’re home alone
It is always best to start at the highest point and work your way down so you aren’t leaving a mess where you may have just cleaned..I like to start with ceiling, walls and windows.
Clean one room thoroughly every day until the whole place is done
Leave the windows til the end. If you clean them first you will see all the dust bunnies hiding under the furniture.
My favorite spring cleaning tip is to do a little each month so it isn’t such an insurmountable project come spring-
Oh, I love the idea of using those chevron mitts to clean my paned windows — which are an absolute pain in my butt!
Feel good about whatever you get done. If something doesn’t get done, so what? No one is sick, no one is dying…there will be another day to do it! Keep it in perspective and enjoy the benefits of the done without stressing the undone.
Start with the storage areas. Make sure everything is nearly stacked and labeled. Do a clear out of excess stuff. Now you have room to store the winter things.
My most favorite spring cleaning starts with opening up the windows and enjoy letting the fresh air in to help remove the old stale air, clean one room at a time so your not over whelmed. When your done in the room reward your self with a knitting or crocheting project.
Set the timer and clean for an allotted amount of time.
I go with the one room at a time method. Cleaning out the closet first. Also, in the kitchen I use vinegar on a washcloth, laid around the gunk around the handles, leave all night. In the morning, it wipes up easily.
Use vinegar and water to clean windows.
My favorite tip would be to use white vinegar and water especially for the windows and mirrors. Don’t rush, take your time and you’ll do a better job.
Be sure to reward yourself for all that work!
Use a kitchen timer and break the cleaning up into more manageable chunks.
Use vinegar and newspapers to clean windows.
I like to clean with Simple Green. It smells so fresh and nice!
My favorite tip is to use dryer sheets..used ones are ok to clean your ceiling fans, blinds and fake plants. Great smelling, reusable after drying laundry and money saving.
Open the windows and let the fresh air in! Freshens everything up after a long winter!
I like to add vinegar to my dishwasher for a boost to cleaning and rinse. Prefer using natural cleaners, vinegar, baking soda, over toxic purchased cleaners.
I start in one corner and work myself across the room, laundry started first, and go from there.
I like to open the window, crank up the tunes and start off in the high traffic areas. That way if I loose a little motivation I won’t feel discouraged that nothing seems to be getting done. After that, it is easier to move on to the areas with less traffic that seem to accumulate the most stuff.
I use spring cleaning to flip the mattresses. Taking them outside into the sunshine…spray them down with essential oils and baking soda and the sunshine dries them. Then you have fresh mattresses for the coming year
Find some really good tunes! It doesn’t seem like work so much if you can have some fun doing it.
I have a couple of concert dvds that I like to play when I need to get things done.
Don’t tackle it all at once; if it’s too daunting, you won’t bother finishing.
I try to do a room a day! Start in the bedroom and move on from there. Sometimes I keep going but I have to do one room completely a day.
Start in an area that will actually show that you have cleaned something. Hate cleaning closets and drawers for 2 days and no one can tell how hard you’ve been working because the obvious areas still need to be cleaned.
With every change in seasons, I try on everything that I haven’t been wearing because it’s been to cold/hot and get rid of anything that no longer fits or just doesn’t appeal to me. One of these days, I’ll be motivated afterwards to do something similar in other areas.
I do one room a week and knit in between, that way I get a break and it still gets done. Do one room completely including closets and clothing.
My tip is to hire a cleaning service!
make a list and set some realistic timeframes, check off as completed. great feeling of accomplishment maybe I should try it sometime, lol!
Spring cleaning is the perfect time to reorganize- cupboards, closets, etc. Get rid of the clutter and make your space more efficient!
My spring cleaning is being turned upside down due to remodeling issues, but my favorite is sending the family away for a week. Then I either start in the bathrooms and work out, or hire someone else to do it. This year, I’m thinking hiring someone else to do it might be the right idea!
water vingear with couple drop dish soap to nasty windows.
I’ve crocheted everything else, why not cleaning utensils.
Clean out the clutter two or three times a year and keep up the normal cleaning routine all year long. lol Then in the spring, nothing is too dirty when you get to it and there’s not too much stuff gathered around.
Pick one area to start and go from there. If I look at the big picture it gets,too overwhelming. Easier to start small and go from there.
Hire the cleaning service. I’m so done with the cleaning thing.
Start with a single room, any room. I usually start with the least messy so by the time I’m done with that one, my momentum is going and I want to clean more.
Do one room at a time, from top to bottom.
Window cleaner works wonderfully on counters and grease.
One room at at time and if I haven’t used it in a year or more I get rid of it. Mind you it sometimes takes more than 1 year due to the attachment I have for said item.
Open all the Windows, anything that needs clearing or tidying away gets done, do the dusting, spiders get sucked up the vacuum cleaner, and vacuum everything, including the sofa and armchairs!!!
Look like some great ideas to create and try around the house.
Do a little at a time and take advantage of rainy days to get your inside cleaning done!
I start with the bedroom first then move down the hallway.
Well, the top favorite would be to get someone else to do it 😉 LOL But, second would be to do it as you go . . . now, if only I did that instead of play with yarn 😉 LOL
I start in the kitchen, which I think is the hardest, then move from room to room. I finish each one before moving on saving all the windows for last.
Find a really good album to play as you clean, dance and sing along 🙂
Makes it more fun and the rest of the family may even join in 😉
my favorite tip is to take my time and if all else fails CROCHET.
get it done before hubby get home..,..
& when he retires you find out you have been doing it wrong all these years!!! …
Turn on some motivational music. That always helps get going!
Put on some 80’s music, grab the hubby for help & dive in. Really helps to do it on a sunny day with the windows open. It’s extra motivation to get it done!
Never leave it all for one day, take it a little ar a tjme
I have fibromyalgia so I can’t tackle the house as I used to. I divide each room into blocks. Clean a block, rest, clean a block, rest. It gets done without my forgetting to rest and not being able to get out of bed for a couple of days.
Out with the old, in with the new. Best time to go through closets and purge what you don’t use.
Fleece wrapped and glued on a broom stick for dusting ceilings of cobwebs.
Pay my son to do the really dusty jobs and windows.
Don’t worry about it being perfect, and don’t think it all has to be done at once.
Parchment paper on top of the kitchen cupboards so grease and dust don’t accumulate on the top of them, saves me a ton of time spring cleaning.
Do a little at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed. Along those lines be sure to make a list to prioritize what is done and In what order.
I try and start dejunking the house though the winter and all year..this is not the most fun part of cleaning…but a Decluttered house is less stress..even if it takes you a long time…pick one small area (like a junk drawer and spend 10 to 15 minutes cleaning it out) just take your time..15 minutes a day on one small area a day..you will be amazed at what you can do with very little stress…try it…even if you don’t do it every day, and only do it 3 times a week, or a month…you will still be amazed at what you can do 🙂 I know I have been doing it for 2 years..baby steps..but what I have done is wonderful!!
I start my spring cleaning by taking down the curtains, stripping the beds and it’s all downhill from there. Hey I might even sleep in the guest room until my room is done. Then the bathroom is next, then the kitchen. A 3 day weekend is usuallg enough to get it done 🙂
Have a trash bag and two boxes with you. One box for things that belong somewhere else, one for things to give away and the bag for things to throw away-make sure give away and trash are the fullest bags. All that stuff is just more work to put away and clean up. That doesn’t add to your quality of life.
Put some music on and get in the mood, then delegate.
Clean out the storage areas first. Then you have places to put all the odd clutter that’s accumilated over the winter.
My spring tip is to always dust before you vacuum your floors. Dust tends to fly around and land. Make sure you have a clean empty bag in your vacuum. Don’t want to spread more dirt around. I dab a little fragrance on my lightbulbs to give the room a fresh clean smell.Turn on your favorite songs and you will be done before you know it!
Everyone starts in one area. That way not ten things get started and things get missed.
I am trying to be more organised, and have a cleaning plan which helps me to tackle an area each month and if I stick to it, a specific spring clean should be a thing of the past…much easier to pick it up and put it away, and to keep on top of things all the time, than to let things get out of control.
Spend 30 minutes working then take a 15 minute knitting/crochet beak. Somehow it seems easier to plan on cleaning for 30 minutes than it does to look at it as cleaning a whole room.
Do the floors last
Open up the windows and let some fresh air in while you clean.
Purge what you don’t use! Also, just clearing off the surface areas of a home makes it look so much better.
Hang your curtains to dry outside, they will be fresh smelling for weeks
My best cleaning tip eh, I would have to say it would be …. The way you can use distilled white vinegar to clean and sanitize your surfaces. I know what you are thinking, the smell goes away when it dries and if you have issues with ants it will deter them.
I put drops of oils like lavender and patchouli around my house and a little in my vacuum to help it smell pretty
Wash your windows first. The extra light will help you feel better and help you see what you’re cleaning inside so you don’t have to do it twice. 🙂
Have garage sale stickers handy. As you are going through things to deep clean price the items you no longer want. After your cleaning is done you are ready for a garage sale!!
I begin spring cleaning by rotating my closet. I put away all but one winter outfit and pull out all my summer clothing. Granted, I get bit in the backside every year, but that’s just how I roll 🙂
I would say put on some good music. Dance while cleaning. Make it fun.
For me I use the sliders a lot. It takes a little effort to move your furniture and a bonus of redecorating with ease.
Set out boxes or bins and label them, throw out, donate, yard sale, ect. That wya when cleaning you can keep track of what you want to do with the stuff you no longer need
Give yourself realistic tasks and be good to yourself as you go. Throw out or give away anything you haven’t used in a year or more.
Start at the top and work your way down. Ceiling fans and pot shelves first, baseboards and floors last.
My favorite cleaning tip is using Pinterest to find lots of tips and tricks. Happy Spring Cleaning!!
Do 1 room or area at a time.
Rid yourself of clutter and knick knacks that seem to clutter……once that starts then you want to make your home simple and keep it clean……also if you shine your sink it makes you feel accomplished and you want to finish more projects around the home
I begin with clearing out my closets and donating any clothes that haven’t been worn in a while to charity. Once the closets are reorganized, I begin the actual cleaning of the living areas, the kitchen, the bathrooms, and then the bedrooms.
Spring means tornado’s-I start at one end of the house and go through to the other end, getting rid of clutter and dust bunnies. I use window cleaner to add shine to sink fixtures. Love It! Also, if you have canned goods you won’t use but is still good-donate to your local food bank.
My fave Spring cleaning tip is to skip the cleaning! Go out & enjoy Spring!
Life is too short to waste your time worrying about getting dust out of a baseboard crevice!
Remember Erma Bombeck? 🙂
If you don’t want to live in something worthy of the latest episode of “Hoarders” though ;-]
Enlist your family’s help. Give yourselves an hour, actually set a timer. Turn on great music. Throw open a window. Make it fun!
Tackle the projects that will get noticed & appreciated right away, not the ones you have to point out proudly with a magnifying glass.
When the timer goes off, take a nice long bubble bath & call ‘er quits for the day.
If you can’t let the rest go, treat yourself to Merry Maids for Mother’s Day! 😉 Happy Spring!
Just start somewhere — anywhere!!
Get rid of 40 things in 40 days.
I love to clean and organize the closets. Even though many don’t see the change, I feel a sense of accomplishment with each closet I finish.
Spring is when I bring the horse’s harnesses out and get them cleaned up for the summer work. An old farmer once told me the best thing to use on the brass embellishments was regular ketchup and elbow grease, it works wonderful and gets the brass show ready.
My children are grown and my husband has passed so I live in a small RV. I take ten minutes each day to clean but when spring arrives I like to open everything up and deep clean my cupboards, closet and carpet. It only takes about an hour and then I can get back to what I love. A little music and a lot of yarn.
I don’t like to Spring clean & try to get it done as soon as possible!
Plain brewed tea makes a great cleaner for hardwood floors!
My cleaning tip is to always start early so that you can have a few minutes in the evening for yourself to relax and smell lemony fresh scent around your space.
Start with your closets and get rid of everything that doesn’t fit or you haven’t worn in at least a year.
To clean our silk plants, we dip them in our swimming pool.
Save time and money by using the dryer dry cleaning cloths for your window treatments.
If you have not used or wore it in 2 years, now is the best time to donate to charity.
My best tip would be to not jump from room to room. One room or two small rooms per day. This way your not overwhelming yourself trying to get it all done at once and you’ll have more time in your day to crochet! Happy Spring everyone!
The best cleaning advice I got from my mom was the use of coffee filters is the best way to get streak free windows..
Use vinegar for almost all cleaning projects, windows, floors, woodwork, etc. It is safe and non-toxic and ants don’t like it!
One step at a time. In with the new and out with the cold! (Yes, that’s on purpose.) May you each have a wonderful Spring!
While switching winter clothes for spring/summer clothes I keep a box ready and weed out any clothes that I did not wear that winter. I also throw out any clothes that are no longer wearable. Then I call a local charity to pick up the box of usable clothes.
“Spring” cleaning always means lambing season at my house. So our cleaning starts from the barn floor up then gets to the house! Go through the things you haven’t touched in months! See if you need them or could put up in the hay loft/storage. Once the clutter is tackled then get to the fun part, CLEAN! Repeat at the house, as much as desired 😉 Then the “Yarn Room” needs attention. Categorize projects that weren’t finished or yarn you forgot you bought or spun months ago into donate-sell-USE areas. Flocking O’Dell Fiber
Don’t get overwhelmed. Just do some every day over x amount of time and don’t feel guilty when you take a little time out for yourself.
I start with the biggest room first, by the time I am done with the whole house, I am glad to have that big room done.
Break it up over several weeks so it’s not so daunting.
I sprinkle baking soda on all my carpets, then go clean the hard floors (tile, wood, ect…) by the time I’m done the baking soda has deodorized my carpets from “pet smell” (if you have pets you know what I mean).
Also baking soda and salt sprinkled on carpets will kill any pest that might be after my pets.
I use vinegar instead of bleach in my kitchen, since it is just as good as killing bacteria as bleach.
Mixing baking soda and vinegar into a paste also is great for cleaning grout, do this before mopping though, so you get up all the extra with the mop.
Also heat the water for mopping on the stove first helps, warm water will cut through winter grime better then water straight from the tap.
Use old socks to clean fans.
Have three or four boxes or bins ready when you start sorting things, one for keep, one for recycle (yes old damaged clothes can be recycled too, into cleaning rags), one for donate, and if sorting decorations or clothes one for out of season.
Start with the worst job first.
Remember to toss out old sponges as they collect bacteria.
When washing bedding put pillow cases aside, wash the pillow cases in the next load and put sweaters, lace table cloths, and other delicates in side the pillow cases to protect them in the wash.
Not a cleaning tip, but still nice to know: instead of using expensive scented candles to make your home smell nice, mix water (1-2 cups), ground cinnamon (a teaspoon or two should do it), vanilla extract (again only a teaspoon or two), and if you want (completely optional) lemon extract (half the amount of vanilla), in a sauce pan heat on low while you clean. Makes your house smell like you’ve spent hours baking. Just keep checking water level every hour or so, if it’s low just add more water (yes just water).
Best spring cleaning tip: Move it THEN clean it.
Put your nasty stove grates in a ziplock bag with about 1/4 cup ammonia. Zip it closed and set overnight. The next morning, every bit of the baked on grease wipes right off! No elbow grease required!
My two teenaged daughters help me with our spring cleaning in our home because I have COPD. We start with our clothes and wash and dry ever ty thing We don’t wear and donate it to our church’s clothing closet. Our church has yard sales periodically to raise money for youth trips. 🙂
baking soda and vinegar! I use it on almost everything
Make your kids clean the house (I have 4). Just kidding. Send them outside and clean as much as you can. Rotate the kids clothes according to hand-me-down status, make a donation box, make an “old toy” box where you can keep questionable toys for a few weeks to see if they’re missed, then donate them. Have a big box of rags and cloth diapers for cleaning (instead of paper towels). I love cleaning with a mix of water/vinegar/essential oils. Baking soda and vinegar also can unclog your drains!
I like to start at the bottom and work my way up, from the basement to the attic and everything in between, down sizing as I go. This does not include my stash though!!
I use bleach or vinegar in my dish water. Makes the dishes squeaky clean and the glasses sparkle!
My favorite spring cleaning tip is to get out the vacuum (so it looks like you got interrupted), call a friend, and hire someone to “finish” cleaning while you go out to lunch and shopping. Especially if you have environmental allergies.
Spring Cleaning Tip: Turn up the music, gather cleaning supplies and tools in a bucket, turn on the electric warmer with a nice fragrance. I use multi purpose products that can be used on all surfaces – vinegar, lemons, baking soda are included plus reasonably priced cleaning product that is also safe on different surfaces. Tackle one room at a time. I definitely include singing and dancing during the entire cleaning process. Everything goes better with music and fun attitude. During the Winter months in PA, I tackle a drawer, a cubboard, a closet – one at a time to keep things organized.
My spring cleaning tip is to enter a room and work from left to right washing walls, chair boards, floor boards, moving and cleaning behind furniture, windows and floors Then I wash all the curtains sounds like
but, a least its squeaky clean then I light my diy candles and spray lemon juice in the corners before opening the windows.
I forgot to add I do one rm a day.
Put your dirty stove grates and oven shelves in a zip lock bag with about 1/4 cup ammonia. Zip it closed and set overnight. The next morning, every bit of the baked on grease wipes right off! No elbow grease required!
I have used this for a long time. Told to me by my sister-in-law.
i use vinegar, borax, baking soda and water to clean almost everything in the house
White vinegar! It cleans clothes, lifts stains, clears drains. It’s a great alternative to stinky chemicals, especially if you’re sensitive to smells.
Best cleaning tip-find some old cloth diapers and use them to clean windows. They do not leave streaks.
I like to pick 1 room each weekend & clean it top to bottom…then before I know it my whole house is sparkling clean.
Although I appreciate the wonders o white vinegar…. The easiest way I’ve found to clean windows is…. Dawn dish soap, garden hose and a squeegee on the outside and Dawn dish soap, a rough scrap o towel and newspaper on the inside. I use that unused arm work for important stuff. Lol!
I would like to be able to afford to have someone carry out my spring cleaning for me!
Put on a fast pace music channel and dance around while your cleaning. It not only gets the cleaning done but also burns up calories and you have a good time doing it.
Call a maid service and go shopping for yarn!
Work on one room at a time and get it finished before going on to another. It’s very easy to get distracted.
Open all windows to air out the house. Clean windows and screens.
Clean with the windows open so you can here all the birds and “whistle while yo work”!!
Organization, watch an average homeowner clean the bathroom. Ooops, forgot the cleanser, so down the stairs you go. The toilet brush? It’s in the main bathroom down the hall. Run to kitchen for rags. Where’s the vacuum? Oh, the mop is in the laundry room. Professional cleaners tote their tools with them–all their tools. Look in the cleaner’s tote tray: all tools, cleaners, brushes and rags needed to finish the job are right there. Vacuum, mop wait in the doorway. A plastic bag for trash and swifter are in my back pocket. That’s why the pro has finished the entire bathroom before the homeowner makes it back up the stairs with the cleanser
Wash your mini blinds in the tub and leave them there to dry overnight.
I START WITH KITCHEN & BATH ROOM,,IF THOSE ARE CLEAN IT SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE HOUSE IS CLEAN
I use a dryer sheet on my sheers, it cleans of the dust and leaves them smelling fresh and static free, so they hang smoothly.
Have a huge house, so I start with the least used part first, one room at a time, the whole room before moving on to the next one. My favorite cleaning product is VINEGAR…
I love “:sprucing” up my sheets, towels and summer clothes by washing them in a load using only vinegar and baking soda. Freshens up and removes any “closet” smell from the long winter months. Works great!!!
My favourite tip is for big jobs like cleaning out the basement – decide to work on it for half an hour per day – it’s an easy start and once you’re started, you usually go for much longer!
I start in the kitchen – cleaning the shelves, doors – Refridge & stove
My favorite Spring cleaning tip is to vacuum your kitchen drawers and cabinets.
I work 20 minutes at a time, and take breaks. Some days, I can only do 20 minutes. I start out small, and work up to bigger projects. Turn on the music, and get lost in what I’m doing. If I don’t like something anymore or I don’t use it, then I recycle or throw it out.
I’d say tackle the messiest room first and to clean room by room; that way you don’t start cleaning a room and not finish it. You feel a sense of accomplishment once you have gotten the hardest room done.
Do one room at a time, top to bottom. Do one room a day everyday and you never have too much to do!!
First I purge go through, declutter, every room in the house, have a garage sale, then celebrate by using the money on cleaning and organizing supplys , or even to revamp a room. Then clean and organize with all your new stuff, it’s a fun motivater
I take one room at a time and start at the top (ceiling fans, lights, corners) and work my way down. That way I don’t have to worry about getting the floor dirty, because I save it for last. 🙂
craftyccain@gmail.com
My favorite way to start spring cleaning is to clean out the garage/shed and make sure it’s organized for the yard work. It’s still a little chilly out, but you’ll be ready to do the yard work a couple weeks ahead of time. No wasting time in the garage finding stuff making you too tired to do the lawn!
Blue Dawn dish soap is a wonderful cleaner, way more than doing dishes….it’s uses are amazing and oh so clean! Also I tend to be a multicleaner, starting on something and then go into another room and start cleaning something else…. I find it takes longer and I get more accomplished if I work on one thing thoroughly at a time and then move on… and of course put on some fun music on to get you motivated, do a lil boogy while you clean…. Bring on Spring!
I open the windows and start nearest to the front door. That’s where all the boots and heavy coats land and it’s always the dirtiest. Once that’s done, I work around the room starting at the busiest point and moving on to the least cluttered. I love spring cleaning. I’m going to be starting mine soon. I just need a few good sunny days in a row!! 🙂
Move through each room with a laundry basket, picking up what doesn’t belong and returning it where it does.
Mom’s solution to every tough chore is vinegar. Love the clean it leaves behind.
Time to clean out my wool box…..gather up odds n ends of left over wool…..and bring them to an older lady I know who makes awesome multi-coloured hand made crafts!!!!
Then I usually buy stuff from her for gifts….win win situation!!!!!
I start my spring cleaning by cleaning out the flower beds. The flowers coming up and blooming lets me know Spring is here and gives me the push to tackle walls, floors, windows, ceiling fans, base boards, etc.
Use fabric softener sheets to clean the bathroom mirrors without streaking – very shiny, too!
I would love the chance at this. Thanks for having a giveaway!!!
My favorite spring cleaning tip-vinegar is really good for cleaning windows-spray it onto the window and wipe the window dry with newspaper! No streaks and shiny windows! Fingers crossed I win!
First clean out from under the bed, toss it out, stash everything else under the bed till next year. Sit down with some chocolate and dream, maybe it will all do itself!!!
I keep a small foam paint brush in the laundry room to clean the lint screen/trap of the dryer.
Spring Cleaning is my dirt busting time! I Always do one room at a time with deep cleaning. I use boxes labeled toss, keep, and repair in each room. You don’t want to keep going back and forth with items for different rooms. It is a waste of your time.
My best spring cleaning tip, get a basket and fill it up with stuff that’s laying around. Put what you have in the basket in it’s proper place, Then go back for another load.
That and open the windows as soon as it’s warm enough. That helps to get me energised to clean up the rest of my house.
I usually start in one room and try to completely clear that room before moving on to the next. I had a bad habit of starting to clean in on room then take something to another room do a little there, then come back to the first room and ending up getting tired before completing either room. So now I have to make sure that I have everything done before moving on. Oh and bleach is my best choice for cleaning.
Spring Cleaning: Throw anything away that was not used during the wintertime. Scrub kitchen with baking soda to get rid of the grease built up. Spot clean if no time the rest of the house.
Don’t try to tackle everything in one day, slow down, and enjoy the process!
Use dryer sheets to clean your mirrors
Put everything in the middle of the room and then clean the outer edges you just emptied, then after you get that area clean replace the stuff the middle of the room where it belongs if you even want to keep it.
My favorite spring cleaning tip is to make a plan before you begin. I like to deep clean in the spring and I use a checklist I printed off on the internet. I go room by room and decide what I will keep, donate or throw. Clean all the areas I don’t normally do unless I see them dirty like along the top of baseboards and in the window sills. I like to leave the windows open during the nice days and bring in some fresh air and sunlight. I put the rugs out on the clothesline in the back yard for a good beating and airing. Nothing seems nicer after a long day than going to sleep on fresh clean and line dried white cotton sheets with a nice spring breeze blowing through the window. Thank you for the opportunity to win. I would like to try to make my own cleaning supplies.
clean under/behind furniture once a month.
Mix 1/2 distilled vinegar and 1/2 water to clean windows!
I usually start my spring cleaning in the closets. I go thru winter clothes that are not going to be wore the next year and give away and then box the rest. Then we unbox the spring and summer clothes. After the clothes we change the lien on the beds and replace the heavy quilts and blankets with light throws. Then let the scrubbing begin. Walls and base boards and then comes the cleaning of the refrigerator and freezer.
My best spring cleaning tip is to wash wall, spray with an all purpose cleaner, then use your swiffer sweeper to wipe them. No streaks, and no need for a chair or step ladder.
Get your husband to take the kids out for the day so you can actually get the cleaning done!!
I start by getting rid of anything that has not been used or worn in the last year.
Involve the whole family. Use non-toxic cleaners like those from Melaleuca.com to avoid even more indoor air pollution and get sparkling clean!
If you haven’t touched it in a couple of months or thought of it in a couple months get rid of it.
Call Mom to come visit!!!
Vvacuum your wood or laminate floor before you wet mop them. The vacuum gets more dust bunnies and plain dust up than a dry mop.
Work room by room with the intention of getting rid of stuff that you no longer can use and reorganize what you have.
I love to start with dusting first then move on to the other tasks at hand…make it fun with music and laughter otherwise it will never get done!
Start in any room of your choice, clean and straighten that room and then move on to the next room if time allows.
I like to start by throwing away everything that has been gathering dust for the last year. It makes everything look so much better and leaves more space for my new craft buys and projects!
My favorite tip would be to pick one area to start, say a closet, and work from the furthest corner outward. Use three piles to sort; I love it, I hate it, and it’s okay. Get rid of everything you don’t LOVE, and clean from the top to the bottom (except for the walls).
If you’re anything like me, you have about a dozen extra pillow cases laying around in a spare closet. Wait, is that just me? Use one to slide onto the blades of your ceiling fans, and then wipe the blades off inside the case. No more dust in your face! So quick and easy, too.
gather all supplies in a bucket. pick one room at a time. start at one end and move around the room, cleaning as you go. save the vaccuming for later.
my best tip is to dust and wash everything you have on display, I have lots, and it looks so nice when all your knick knacks look clean and polished
Take an easy to carry basket and start in one end of the house and pick up all items that don’t belong in that room and as you go from room to room put away things from the basket that belong in that room and pick up the things that don’t belong and put them in the basket. That way you are not making dozens of trips putting things away. I do this every week before I clean house and that way things stay pretty organized.
Don’t try to do it all at one time.
I would start with my ceiling fans. They always get so dirty during the winter. Then clean the windows so they can be opened up, turn on the fans and enjoy that beautiful spring air.
Keep a magic eraser handy. They clean the most stubborn dirt and grime off of anything.
Get the whole family involved! We all make the house dirty!
I read somewhere that you should start cleaning at the top of the room, and work your way down.
I find that when ever I ignore this advice, I usually regret it.
Just yesterday, I decided to clean ceiling fans AFTER vacuuming and I ended up having to re-vacuum afterward
My best cleaning tip is always start with a fresh cleaning tool, whether it be a clean rag or emptying out the vacuum cleaner. This way you aren’t swishing dirt around when you are wiping off the walls or Windows and to keep dust down from the vacuum.
I start spring cleaning in my kitchen. I pull everything out of the cabinets and the items I don’t use very often gets a good wash. I wash out the cabinet, reline and put items back. I then proceed to cleaning the outside of the cabinets. As I work my way around my kitchen it is done and ready to enjoy.
Get rid of the clutter! Give it away, throw it away, sell it at a garage sale.
start with one room at a time – I like to do a bathroom first. Small room and noticeable improvement.
use a mixture of vinegar and water for a good clean. also, for a good scented cleaner, mix avon bubble bath with water in a spray bottle. makes the house smell wonderful 🙂
My best spring cleaning tip is to start early so it is done in time for me to enjoy the spring weather.
I Spring Clean one day at a time. Too old to care any further than that, but do love to clean:)!
Start when the weather is bad.
Spring cleaning? What’s that? Lol to me it’s just the same thing as normal cleaning just with getting rid of more stuff I haven’t used in a while.
For the first thing, I will clean the walls and light fixtures.
One room at a time. Go through everything and separate into three piles: keepers, give away, and throw away. That way I can clear the room, clean, and put away keepers. The rest go to the thrift store or the dump.
Throw open the windows let the spring breeze in, put on your favorite music that gets you in the mood
Hire a maid!
Can’t wait to shampoo carpets.
I try to get my dad and my husband out of the house. That way, I can accomplish something other than running THEIR errands for them. Then, start with your list that you already have prioritized. Keep to your list. If you find there is something you need to add to the list, put it at the bottom and just keep plugging along.
MOVE! When my husband was in the Air Force, I never had to spring clean because we moved every year!
Thank you so much for the giveaway and thank you for the patterns. Those are really going to come in handy.
I always clean carpets first. YUCK! Great giveaway. Thanks for sharing. Fingers crossed!
~Crystal
A Day In My Life, Crochet & Reviews
http://krystlewv.blogspot.com
To start cleaning first on has to declutter, then dust and then mow the grass.
if its still in the box from your last move chances are you won’t miss it.
Best thing is that you find stuff you thought lost or gone for good. Critter ‘gifts’ that are found are not so good but you know where they are ‘hiding’ stuff now. The pile of un-matched socks grows and you get back plates and cups from kids rooms.
I would love to win this.
Save up your money all winter. All it takes is about $30/month. Come spring hire someone to come in and do your spring cleaning for you. Don’t forget to pick up a nice bottle of wine for yourself!
I go through all the winter clothes and get rid of anything that won’t fit next year or didn’t get worn and then pack up everything left.
Do one room at a time! I totally am queen of ADD cleaning. I have to focus on finishing one room before moving on to the next task
I start my spring cleaning with junk drawers and catch-alls. It gives me motivation to keep going!
I love getting my kid to help clean up! She dusts, helps with dishes, and can put away her on clothes in her drawers. We labeled her drawers so she knows what goes where.
I put on some up beat music open up the house and conquer one room at at time. Move all clean all 😉
Involve the kids. More hands make the load light. Even a small child can grab you a paper towel or rag when you need one. And my kids always were eager to help.
Start with the areas neglected the longest, ones I get through those, every thing else seems to go quickly!
I start with the pictures. Take them down and clean them, then wipe down the wall before re-hanging the picture.
cleaning the windows, blinds and screens first make it easier to “see” all the “not so clean” areas
Get motivated by thinking of having a yard/garage sale and using the money for something fun.
My tip, do one room a day, make sure to do the windows, use vinegar and lavender oil, both are great for cleaning and the lavender is anti-bacterial without harmful chemicals. If you can, get the kids to do it. Good practice for when they eventually move out.
Take all your hangers in your closet and turn them around backwards. Anytime you wear something turn the hanger the right direction. At the end of 6 months clean out all clothing you have not worn.
I purge both spring and fall which means going through closets, cupboards, any place I store stuff to see what can move out of the house. Once the stuff is on the way to Goodwill or ebay or the consignment shop, then there is less to clean and I have more open space.
One day at a time, one thing at a time!
I like to start outside and sweep the deck, then make sure the front door looks inviting.
One day at a time, one thing at a time is my spring cleaning tip!
Start with the closets and make several trips to goodwill.
I like to air things out and let the sunlight freshen things naturally!
Start with one room at a time – place aside any items you haven’t used in the last year and either plan a garage sale or donate any useful (to others) items.
It’s often times overwhelming to even start, but if you pick one thing each day, it gets easier and easier and it’s such a great feeling seeing that list dwindle. Of course, by the time you get done with the list, you pretty much have to start all over again 🙂
I like to take it one job at a time and try not to do it all in one day!
One room at a time, starting with windows!
when the kids go to school and hubbys off to work I love to start in the bathroom as to me I hate to do that room I turn my music to my station as loud as I want and sing along with the tunes and I’m off and do what rooms I can that day as it takes a while I”m handicap so it takes me 2-3 days but its worth it when its done. Than I turn on some relaxing sounds and sit with a candle and relax
Spring clean this year will be al out and end with a large sale.
Try not to do everything in 1 day/week. Spread it out, do 1 room at a time.
My favorite spring cleaning tip is do it methodically – that way you can see how much you’ve accomplished as you go along!
vinegar
Work your way around each room going from top to floor. Take a break if you are getting overwhelmed.
Hire someone so I can spend more time doing crochet
I like to get some fresh air into the house after having the windows closed all winter. Then we do not use harsh chemicals to clean. Mainly “green” soap and white vinegar with clove oil in water to disinfect.
First, I make a big pot of coffee! I will need all the energy that I could get to finish the Spring cleaning! Then, I put my favorite music to start me going! You need a good rhythm to keep those feet and hands working!!! After that I start from the obvious mess and go towards the hidden! AKA closets and drawers, boxes! 🙂
15 minutes on a timer has been a life saver for spring and fall cleaning. You would be amazed at what you can accomplish in that time! Making it fun and making it timed keeps me and the kids on track and happy. Those old socks that didn’t get eaten by the dryer monster? Put them on your babies feet and turn then loose on your floors with some soapy water. After the skating party, they can use old towels to polish. Bath night can follow! Oh, and my new favorite way of getting a few moments of quirt from my energetic bunch? Why yarn and a crochet hook of course! We have chains of every color on our Christmas tree! Have fun!
Clean kool aid stains on carpet with vinegar/water mixture and heat from an iron.
My mother always runs a few blades of grass or a lemon wedge through the garbage disposal every day for a fresh scent.
Do a room a day! In no time, housework will be done and time to play! (or crochet!)
I always start at the top and work my way down, then circle in from the outer edges when dusting. While containing the clutter, I pickup all items that are out of place/ replace in their “homes” (using a laundry basket) to minimize trips.
Go through everything and toss or donate what you can. Then start the cleaning, scrub the ceiling and work your way to the floors. Get the shelves, furniture, closets and every little nook and cranny!! Happy spring cleaning!
Remember, any gently used coats, hats, mittens, or blankets can go to your local warming tree or other foundation to give to low income families in the winter.
I like the pillow-over-the-fan-blade tip! Having ceiling fan dust rain down or gum up on me is no fun!
Stay in one room and clean it thoroughly before moving on. Don’t get sidetracked.
First of all I’m disabled so my hubby does most of the cleaning. For someone like me though I make a list of what needs to be done and work on one area at a time. Once I finish one area I move on to the next. My best tip is to stay focused on what you are working on. Take breaks and declutter all frequently visited areas of the house.
my spring cleaning is moving all furnature around. open up all the windows and vaccum everything in the windows and all the hanging dust strings n bunnies!! then Clorox wipe everthing!! put away all winter stuff and enjoy the fresh spring house.
I like to start with closets and bureaus. This way I can start while the weather is still miserable. Then, once the weather clears I can do windows. Once I start other chores, then I can do it with windows open.
My favorite tip is to get the whole family involved. It took me a while to get my head around that one (what? Trust the husband with Spring Cleaning?!?!?! I usually don’t trust him to load the dishwasher!). But then I realized a few things. I am not Wonder Woman. I cannot work a full time job, raise 2 beautiful boys, contemplate having a third baby, clean up after my humans & our pets (3 cats, 2 dogs, & 1 very large Green Iguana) AND take on Spring cleaning without some assistance. So I break it down, everyone gets areas they’re more comfortable with, and we take it a day at a time. 🙂
Just do a room at a time.
Start high (ceiling fans) and work your way down.
I make a list for each room we need to do. I then get us all together and we go to town on it. They can work where ever there hearts want to and it works fabulous because they enjoy marking off what they did.
Let my retired husband do it – he has much more time and is far better at cleaning than I am!
With spring and summer comes ants,so use peppermint oil inside windows and around doors….ants spiders and mice dont like it!
During the winter months in cold climates, we keep our homes very closed up because of the cost of heating the outdoors. The best part of “spring cleaning” is getting FRESH AIR inside the house.
Opening all the windows and doors and just feeling the clean air is so invigorating!
Once I have brought in the clean fresh air, the rest is easy to complete!
Of course, I love to sit and crochet while the fresh air is cleaning out all the winter blahs!
I use baking soda for many types of cleaning. I also add my lemon essential oils to give cleaning a pick me up smell!
One room per day, top to bottom.
Only one room.
Take the rest of the day to relax and start with the next room in the morning.
Not the quickest method, but it cuts the burnout and pain-after-physical-exertion to a minimum.
I like to “reward” myself after completion of each task with a little Crochet time Thanks for the Give Away !
I love to make my own natural cleanser! I boil one cup of fresh chopped rosemary with one sliced lemon (or two tablespoons of dried rosemary) for about half an hour, strain and put in a spray bottle. All natural, totally organic and it smells fantastic! A wonderful welcome for Spring house cleaning!
My favorite spring cleaning tip is “Out with the old and in with the new” Unless of course it has anything to do with yarn!
Cleaning is blah to most as it is myself, so I just have to make myself get up and do as much as I can, because I’m not able to stand up for long…crank up the music make people get outta my way or help and just go to town. Once one thing is done and you can pat yourself on the back it’s easier from there, and yes start with the more obivous and worst projects you’re wanting done because then everything else don’t seem such a problem
Don’t clean up too much at a time just work on one project at a time.
Have kids help by picking up what they take out so that a mess does not pile up.
Do one room at a time………..and leave a little time each day to knit or crochet!
Open your windows, let the fresh air in, spring air always smells so good! Then start cleaning out old clothing, papers!
I agree – upbeat music!
Start with the toughest areas that you are not really wanting to do Reward yourself after each major job
My spring cleaning tip is pull every last thing out of every room with the promise of filling two jumbo trash bags. You’ll work better with peppy music and hide the radio so you can’t change the station and get distracted.
Vinegar is a great natural cleaner
cleaning the windows and screens
When I do spring cleaning I start with 1 room make a list of everything that needs to be done in that room and hand it to the person I called to come help. I make up the work that needs to be done, check to make sure the work was done and the work was completed in a satisfactory way then once that room is done I move on to the next. We clean from the ceiling to the floor. I love the smell of a home that has been cleaned for spring.
buy extra cleaner so you don’t run out, do one room at a time, and turn on some old fashioned ROCK AND ROLL. LOUD!!!!!
I always start by de-stashing everything!!!!!…… If I haven’t worn it, read it, used it etc since fall clean up, out it goes to the donation bin. Then I change all batteries and start with ceiling fans and ceiling and work my way down!
I like to make a list for every room and then do it one room at a time
I don’t do spring cleaning. Winter cleaning makes more sense. Who wants to spend nice spring days cleaning?
My best tip is to start at the top and work down. Ceilings to the floor.
Time yourself. I say to myself, “I’ll do all I can in this room in 30 minutes.”
I use the shop vac to suck up spider webs and dust from around the crown molding.
I TAKE ONE ROOM AT A TIME AND CLEAN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THEN GO ONTO THE NEXT ONE UNTIL THE WHOLE HOUSE IS DONE.
First, open the windows. And then hire someone to do the cleaning. Just can’t do it myself any more!
Use 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar to 1/2 cup olive oil – shake well together – pour a little on a dust cloth to clean your wood cupboards – make them shiny and clean – helps treat scratches and dry wood..
If an area is particularly cluttered, take everything out of that room/area clean the area thoroughly and only put back what you actually use/need, cleaning each item as you go. Then throw out or find a new home for the rest.
break it down into manageable portions so it doesn’t seem overwhelming.
Create a schedule – I like to do one room a day, cleaning all areas. Save the closet cleaning for another time.
I start at the top of the walls/ceilings and dust. Then the windows. Then dust everything else. Then do extreme vaccuming and wash
floors.
If your looking to get that kool-aide off your counter try hand-sanitizer. Let it set for a few minutes and than rub it in with a finger or rag and than wash off. I have used this many times with jell-o and many other items that leave a stain on the counter tops and it has always gotten the stain off.
Plug into to some upbeat music to add some excitement to your tasks!
I like to start cleaning in the kitchen and go from top to bottom including drawers and cupboards. Then on to the next room.
Spring cleaning time is time to open all the windows and let in the fresh air and fresh smells 🙂
Clean all the family common rooms first. (The living room, den, kitchen and bathrooms) This way the family can be together in the cleaning and the relaxing together. The kids rooms can be addressed when there is a place for all to relax.
Start from top to bottom. Each spring we work through one room at a time. Which includes, ceiling, walls, windows, closets, cupboards, furniture, carpet. Anything we find in cupboards or closets that has not been used for a year gets given to the local charity. We also do that in the fall. The rest of the year we pick up, stack up and wash up as little messes occur.
Clean out your wardrobe by hanging all your clothes with the hangers backwards – when you switch back to your winter clothes, anything that is still backwards means you haven’t worn it all season and it’s time to donate it!
My favorite Spring cleaning tip is to open the windows before and during dusting and run an air filter on high in the room. It helps keep your lungs and nose from getting irritated from the dust mites.
I clean windows to let the sun go through. Everything seems better and more colorful then and I have encouragement to go with the rest of the cleaning ( because you can see dust too).. And of course putting away winter clothes and shoes, Then I feel like spring is really here even in rainy day.
I deep clean one room a week. Then I don’t feel so overwhelmed. I also have a box that I put jobs that need done, but I hate to do. When I see something that I need to do but think it can wait that chore goes into the box. Then during my weekly cleaning I pull one of the chores out of the box. I can’t look I just have to take it out and do it. It might be cleaning out the junk drawer, or rearranging the pantry
I start upstairs and work my way down. That seems to work best for me.
I have a checklist that are all the horrible chores i don’t do on a weekly basis with the rest of the house. Starting with the worst makes the rest look easy and attainable so i don’t lose motivation!
Delegate responsibility so it’s not all on one person to do everything.
Hire someone else to do it!
I always start in the bathroom.. If it is clean, the rest seems easier!
My best Spring Cleaning tip is to stay around long enough to have your children & grandchildren come Spring Clean your home.
Start clearing out stacked boxes … if they haven’t been opened in over a year, they’re not going to be used!
My spring cleaning tip would be to start with the countertops where the clutter is!! Make piles and go from there. And always have some great music playing
Turn on the music, have the house to myself, burn some scented oil, dust first and vacuum last.
Go through your every closet and drawer. If you haven’t used it, worn it or don’t know what it is – get rid of it. Make sure the clothes and blankets are clean before packing away. Take on one room at a time – doesn’t mean pushing the clutter from one room to the next!
I always start with the thing I hate to do the most so it is over and done with and work from there. That way I don’t have to sit and dread that during the rest of my cleaning.
Room by room top to bottom, that is the way I like to do my spring cleaning. Don’t forget the closets as well. 🙂
Clean all the dirt off the window frames….the stuff that flew in through the screen. YUCK.
Don’t let things stack up and have a plan before you start so you don’t go off on a tangent
Almost all cleaning products can be replaced with cheaper (and not as dangerous) ingredients. Fill a spray bottle with 4oz vinegar, squirt dish soap, and water and you have window cleaner/all purpose surface cleaner. Clogged drain? Pour some vinegar then baking soda and it works great! Carpet stain? Drench with vinegar, sprinkle baking soda, work in with brush or rag. Stinky carpets? Baking soda. Laundry? Vinegar. Life changing if you have pets or children or sensitivities.
For spring cleaning, I start at one end of the house and work my way to the other end. The rest of the year, I pick up and put things away on a daily basis and clean at least one area daily — that way there is not too much to do at one time. I grew up on the axioms “Everything has its place” and “Even a pig sty can be kept clean”.
I try to only tackle one project or room a day, it doesn’t seem so overwhelming that way!
plan on doing one room a day, the whole thing. If you feel like it, do another, but that way, you can take a week to do it all, and then reward yourself for a job well done. Ice cream works for me!
I gst my husband to help. We are both retired. Many hands make light work.
Julie
I like to start with cleaning windows and putting up springsummer window treatments
Fresh air and vinegar for cleaning…….
Do a little each day
My spring cleaning…pick up the clutter, dust, wash windows & anything else that can show streaks with vinegar. Use a little baking soda in kitchen cleaning on anything that needs some elbow grease.
Gather all cleaning supplies in one container so you can move it from room to room. Do one room at a time completely.
I try to make it as enjoyable as possible. Turn the music, open the windows and dance like no one is a around.
lol Don’t do it!
My favourite spring cleaning tip it to get a cleaner in to do it for you, and you sit back and have a nice cup of tea whilst working on your latest crochet project.
I put my favorite music on my iPad. It puts me in a cheerful “cleaning” mood. I sing-a-long as I clean.
Move all the furniture to the middle of the room to get all baseboards done in one trip around the room. Dust walls with a floor duster & only wash where necessary. Then move everything back & work the bottoms of the furniture.
Take all your scrap yarn and make cloths and scrubbers. If you don’t want these scraps give to to a school or preschool. They will use for small crafts. As for the rest of your cleaning, if you aren’t going to use it, give it away.
Play some good “moving” music. It’s hard to clean with soft music playing.
I start with the Kitchen, removing everything from the shelves and checking expiration dates, reorganizing where I store items. (Try out new ways to put things) Next, the bathrooms. Then the next largest room, the family room. First dust and then vacuum, then steam clean the carpet with a baking soda and water solution to freshen and get rid of old musty odors caught in the carpet. Wash the curtains in baking or washing soda and borax with a vinegar rinse to make them sparkle. Wash the windows while the curtains are in the washer with vinegar water and a squeegee. The bedrooms I leave to the kids.
Wear gloves to protect your skin and a mask to protect your lungs. Put lotion on hands before the gloves to soften them, and then cotton gloves before the vinyl gloves. Pamper yourself while you work.
I love dusting! But I always make my brother do the vacuuming….
I start in the back of my closets. I tend to just shove anything I don’t want to deal with in the closet so if I start in the back, then theoretically I’m dealing with the oldest, dustiest, moldiest stuff and I don’t have to breath the filth as long…
My favorite spring cleaning tip is open the windows! I live in Minnesota so after a winter of windows closed it really refreshes the house opening them and letting the fresh air in!
Using a steamer on your baseboards
Hydrogen peroxide is great for cleaning spots out of the carpet!
Since I am an elderly woman, I only have energy enough to clean my bathroom every day.
So I hire a cleaning lady to clean my studio apt. once a week. Works great and I have the rest of the day to crochet for charity as I watch TV or post messages to my Forum Friends on-line.
The ONLY way to go at my age. ♥
Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by the “task at hand”. Take one project each day; take your breaks;
before you know it, you are finished.
I like eliminating soap scum with a mixture of boiling vinegar and blue Dawn dish detergent: makes that nasty job easier.
I go through the girls toys first, as they are in the living room, then I go through my clothes as well as theirs, then re-organize all my craft stuff….fabric, yarn, all the little tid bits that I have.
Always Drink two glasses of wine before you start put on some rocking tunes and it makes spring cleaning fun and makes the time fly by.. 🙂
Gather basic cleaning supplies in a bucket (ie towels, sponges, or all-purpose cleaner) to carry with you from room to room while you clean.
I turn the music up loud and just get to work! Music, makes the time go by faster.
Break the job into smaller tasks and reward yourself after you complete each one.
Spring cleaning this year not only involves cleaning but decluttering and organizing. Will start with one room at time and do in small increments.
Vinegar, dish soap & hot water works on everything 🙂
Open the windows on a warm spring day freshen up the air in the house after a long cold winter!! Gives the house a well deserved changed of air quality… Thank you Spring!!!
Make a plan stick to it.
I like to start with the kitchen, it’s usually the dirtiest, and most difficult, especially when it comes to the top of the cupboards. I work from the top down in all rooms, moving from the door around, and back to the door, cleaning the fan first. My husband and I do the windows together. Usually him on the outside and me inside. That way we can let each other know if a spot is missed or a streak shows up. My floors are done on a weekly basis so they’re not really part of my spring cleaning. I use a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water and where there is a hard spot to get clean I use baking soda with a little water. It’s also great for countertops and sinks, before using the vinegar mixture.
I like to do the windows first, it seems if you can see out the windows, everything else looks so much better
The best and least expensive products that I have begun using are baking soda and vinegar. The bathrooms smell fresh and my floors sparkle. More importantly it’s safe for my asthmatic child.
Micro-fiber cleaning clothes and plain water, cleans almost anything without harming the planet.
Who cleans bring on the yarn I will knit or crochet
Do one room at a time.
As weather warms I stop doing “winter laundry” I send the jackets and sweatshirts, etc. to the laundry and sort but not wash. Then I go through the closets and drawers. Any winter clothes left are usually candidates for donation. I clean the shelves, drawers and closet floor then pull out the spring/summer clothes. I then clean the storage area, do the winter laundry and store winter bedding and clothes. In the Fall I do the same with the Summer clothes.
Start with what you least like to do
Get out the big hooks and needles to use and put that yarn in its place!
I start in the living room. Where guests will see the mess. Then I move to the kids bedrooms starting with their closets and finishing under the beds…where they hide stuff they dont want to get rid of.
To encourage spring cleaning, I turn on some great tunes and open windows. Clean, fresh air scented with blooming flowers and a good beat spurs me on to get ready for the summer months of fun.
Clean the ceiling first.
Turn up the music and sing!!! My kids always know its time to clean when Bob Seager is on!!!!
Open the windows and turn up the music! I use vinegar & water for a lot of cleaning, it’s almost free.
I start my spring cleaning one room at a time until all the rooms have been completed.
I get my husband involved. We start with the kitchen and go room by room. He dusts the ceiling fans while I do the low areas, then we move on to the Windows and moving the furniture. I find that if we do a little bit each week, by the time spring is here, I don’t have much cleaning left.
Oh, and I use mostly natural cleaning products because of allergies.
Take it one room at a time.
Always work from the top down, upstairs ceiling fans first! And also, taking dryer sheets to the baseboards keeps them from gathering as much dust. SO much easier to clean!
Smile while you spring clean . . . Sing, dance, whistle and hum your way through the chores! If you can make the most mundane of tasks an enjoyable undertaking – then you will be able to take the most sour lemons that life throws at you and turn the in to the sweetest lemonade!
The best “Spring cleaning tip is don’t keep more than you have room for. When your closet or shelves are cluttered and spilling onto the floor, like my bookshelves are, grab a big box and donate anything you don’t desperately need or dearly love. Once I’ve read a book, I pass it onto a friend who then passes it on to someone else. When it come to the dust and dirt, apply the same rule. The more often you clean it, the less work you will have to do in the end. And don’t forget the ‘hidden’ spots like under the coffee table or behind the toilet. You might not see it but you can be sure that others will. 😀
My husband loves to do Spring House cleaning, “He’s my honey do”……………While I’m doing my crocheting for winter projects,Like Christmas gifts for my Grandchildrens class rooms.I ” LOVE” Crocheting Scrafs,Caps for class room children..
Vinegar and baking soda are your best friend for a good cleaning. Just did some spring cleaning in my house but still have more to do lol.
I am new to this website and as very surprised and happy at the contests offered. I do what I have to all year long.
To open all windows possible, and clean from ceiling to floors… In the direction of gravity! 😉
I really hope to win… My daughter is doing to learn to knit and/or crochet!
Turn up the music dance around and clean from top to bottom one room at a time and don’t stress if something doesn’t get done
I clean fans at end of hot season and cover with king size pillowcases to keep clean for next season. I start cleaning winter heaters etc. in spring and do the same. I clean up any clutter first including trying on summer clothes and getting rid of what doesn’t fit. Then it’s cleaning from top to bottom except I vacuum before I dust as the vacuum always creates dust. Then I do the windows so I can see my nice clean rooms!
Mom always said a job begun is half done! I like the tips above. I use my single socks for cleaning also, I got that idea from my mother-in-law. Dusting from the top down, Grandma taught me that one!!!
Don’t do all of your Spring Cleaning in one day. Spread it out over a week or so preferably before trash day. Also arrange for pick up of any item to be given away. When your cleaning is done the trash will be gone and charity item will have been picked up. Everything will look nice smell nice and there will be no clutter left behind.
I actually like to clean my flower beds first. Getting all the trash and dead leaves out of the bed so my plants can begin to bloom. Then I can move inside and start by dusting all the furnace dust away so I can open up the house and let Spring in.
I love cleaning for Spring and Fall. I use natural cleaning stuff Pick me I love to try new Crochet/Knitting patterns. But good luck to all
Do a total cleaning: vacuum, dust, wash windows, reorganize, get rid of things don’t need anymore, put away winter clothing and plant new flowers in garden.
I like to first open up the windows & let the fresh spring air in.Also light good smelling candles. Clean from top to bottom.
Mix up some coffeecake & put it in the oven to bake as you clean, so while you are cleaning the house will have a nice smell of cinnamon. And you’ll have something to look forward to ( when it’s done baking you can take a break & enjoy a piece of coffeecake with a cup of coffee or cold milk).
But why bother to clean when you can crochet? 🙂
I start with weeding out with what I do not use or need
I like to mix vinegar and baking soda in a spray bottle, then use that for messes in the kitchen and dining room. It is great for greasy messes.
My spring cleaning tip is to CRANK that music and get to work! I also find that baking soda works wonders on getting baked on gunk from the flat top stove!
Start with your baseboards – a lot of dust and dirt have gathered there all winter long. It will make you feel so much better once those are clean!
I clean with vinegar – safe for my dogs & the environment!
The best thing for me to do is focus on one room at a time. I tend to get distracted by remembering that other things need to be cleaned in other rooms.
I like to start with my windows.That beautiful spring sunshine coming through a sparkling clean window just cheers up the whole house and inspires further cleaning 🙂
Get rid of stale Winter air. – On a warm Spring day, open windows on the sunny side of the house & let in some fresh air. Close the windows when the sun has passed so the inside of the house doesn’t get cold.
clean one room at a time
I agree with everyone. Decluttering and putting things away is very important. But I aways start pickup at floor level first. Get rid of items not used every 3 months, worn out items etc. Then the scrubbing floor up.
I start with the woodstove room and get rid of the look of winter.
Purge, purge, purge! Get rid of anything not used in 6 months. You don’t need it, and let’s face it, you need the room for yarn! 🙂
My tip is grab a friend to help you tackle the biggest job.
We try to purge as much unused stuff as we can- freckle, craigslist, goodwill, a tagsale- just getting it out of the house, reduces clutter making everything feel clean. I offer the kids either the money they made selling their unwanted toys/gear or a trade in value against future purchases. We are also lucky to have a local free clothing/goods swap.
Thoroughly clean one room a day. Don’t try to do the whole house in one day. Move everything that can be moved out of the room then it will be easier to move the bigger pieces around to clean under.
use a 1\2 cup of baking soda in your last load of laundry will leave your washing machine clean and smelling fresh. I have a lot of physical problems. so i start by mixing 1\4 tbs of clorax 3 tbs of baking soda and 1/2 cup cleaner .my cleaner of choice these days fabulouso. mix these in a spay bottle at least 16 oz. then fill rest of spray bottle with water. can be used for one heck of a lot of duties so you do not need to switch cleaners, use one cleaner from floor to ceiling.
p.s swifter sweeper works great on walls and ceilings.
I start with putting clean sheets on all the beds, even ones not in use, then work my way from dusting to floors. After doing all this for a week, I move on to the garage and clean it out
I start in my laundry room that always make me happy happy happy. I like walking into and clean laundry room where I can find what I need.
Thanks
Have the kids help.
I love to clean the windows – then I can clearly see the beautiful sunshine and it makes me want to keep on cleaning!!
I make a list and just work on checking them off. I also have a very good cleaner living with me- my husband!!!
The common areas seen by everyone are always clean & sparkling as they are done weekly.. It’s the hidden areas that need tackling come spring – closets,cupboards & drawers.Good music motivates and coffee or tea breaks are a must to rekindle your enthusiasm.. I already use crocheted items in the kitchen & bathroom but love the idea of using them all around the home.
Make it a family thing, put each chore on a piece of paper and draw and do! Don’t forget the music!
Always work one room at a time. If something belongs in another room, move it to that room then go back to the room you are working on.
My Spring cleaning tip is to get yourself some great yarn and a nice pattern, write a nice honey-do list, sit down and crochet, and let the hubby do the cleaning!!!
My fav tip is to use vinegar on the floors. Makes them really shiny.
do a little cleaning every day,
I usually start with the kitchen and do windows and curtains first then rest of kitchen, go to living room
do windows ,walls when done, move on to bedrooms ( windows, closets and finally the bathrooms.I usually take a day for each room when done, a sparkling clean house. Now can enjoy the summer weather without feeling guilty about house work.
They are all fantastic I can’t wait to get started!!
Grandma use to say u can be Poor but if your home is clean you are rich, and the bathroom and kitchen should always be clean!!!! One room at a time!!
Start at the top & work your way down.
I like getting bags and totes to sort thru closets — throw away, keep or donate bins!
Hire a cleaning service and go out and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL weather …..Thank You for sponsoring a wonderful giveaway….
I have medical problems so can only do a little bit at a time. Make a list of projects for each room. Finish one room before moving on to the next if possible. I can only work about 15-20 minutes at a time then I need to sit down. It takes time to get anything done, but it eventually does get done. When I sit down for the 15-20 minute breaks, I can do some crocheting, so all is not bad. De-cluttering is the worst part of all.
Avon Bubble Bath….use it for everything!! I especially like it to wash the windows. Makes the task soooo easy!!
Take your venetian blinds down and wash them in the bathtub with soapy water. Much faster than trying to wash each slat while they’re hanging!
First I crocheted a few loop stitch cleaning cloths and use them with a vinegar and water mixture to clean the window blinds. Works great, no streaks!
I always start in the kitchen. Clean out the fridge and pantry.
Dust and vacuum once a week!
I like to start with one end of the house and do one room at a time. Move everything, clean from ceiling to floor. I take my time to make sure I don’t miss anything.
Clean one room at a time.
Start with the smallest or less cluttered area so that when that is done you fill like you accomplished something and can move on to the next.
I start at the front door, and work my way through the house (saving bedrooms for last). This way if unexpected company comes, the area’s they see are done already.
Can’t wait to win this, Thank you for the chance.
The patterns in this book would be great to make as a house warming gift.
It’s all about that bass! Find some uplifting, upbeat music to keep you moving, keep you singing, and make all of the work go easy!
Set an alarm or timer for 30minutes, turn on some rocking music (loud as possible) and clean in one room or area while dancing & enjoying the music until the time is up!
My tip is if you have not used it in 3 years you don’t need to keep it. Give it to charity or have a yard sale to reduce the clutter.
Start with the windows.
To keep your refrigerator clean concentrate on one shelf per week. Remove all items off the shelf and disinfect it and the walls. Next week move to another shelf and repeat. Spills should be cleaned up immediately. The shelves in the door can be added in the rotation. Result: you’ll always have a clean fridge.
Switched to Enjo, it saves time, money and the environment!!
I always vacuum before dusting and deep cleaning everything in my home. That way any particles don’t fly back up on what I have just spent time polishing.
I hate spring cleaning. It is a lot easier when the whole family is involved. That way the family is more involved in keeping it clean afterwards, when they see how much work it is to clean it up.
Go green. Use what you have in your cupboards like vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and even salt. They are natural cleaners and won’t harm you or the environment.
My spring cleaning starts with organizing my current mess. It is easier to clean when the supplies are organized into containers and drawers.
My best tip–“It’s Spring–go smell the flowers–take a walk–do anything but stay in the house and clean.”
For cleaning windows, use 1/4 C rubbing alcohol to 1 gallon water. Best rags – cloth diapers. Wash window with wet rag, polish with clean, dry rag.
Use Newspaper instead of paper towels when cleaning your windows. Better shine and no lint left on windows. Try it you’ll like it!
I like cleaning one room at a time.
Hire MerryMaids.
I love to open the windows and put on some upbeat music while I spring clean!!
My tip is to start with the worst part first. That way, it only gets easier as you go on 🙂 my house needs some serious spring cleaning.
I think this giveaway is awesome! This is a great tool for life! Knitting and doing crochet are what is life! Without this you have no life! Cleaning is very important. If you don’t have a clean house then it is hard to find things you need! This website is also very good! It offers giveaways and patterns for crochet and knitting and other stuff! I hope I win this giveaway! Bye, and have a great day!
I hate spring cleaning inside. I like to start outside if I can
I like to clean one room at a time, to keep me focused, from top to bottom! This goes for everything except dusting surfaces. I save those for very last after vacuuming because it always seems like the vacuum just kicks up dust again.
Spring — start with the windows, especially the lower ones. Dog and kitty noses sure make a mess of them. That’s where the scrubbies come in. Then onto all the nooks and cracks for those furry reminders – that’s where the my crocheted dust busters come in. Now, it’s time for the bigger stuff – as soon as a rest a little.
Thanks for the DYI ideas!
As soon as temps hit 50 the windows are opened. Also thanks to my job, I am a stickler for using Lysol the first day that the windows are opened. Hard surfaces get a spray, the nice warm breeze dries it off, and everything smells fresh while I get started going through closets and rearranging furniture. It seems that spring is when I get the urge to change things around the most, so that’s what I’m currently doing!
When spring cleaning, if I haven’t used it in a year it goes out. This is a great way to declutter!
Clean one room at a time..thoroughly, before moving onto the the next one. The feeling of accomplishment is gratifying.
Work on a rainy day. Can’t do anything outside so the sparkling clean inside brightens things. Put on some pick me up music and clean away !
I prefer to start with a glass of wine and contemplate the possibilities….
Start with the windows and Let The Sun Shine In!
Well, I’ve been crocheting since I was 11, I’m 34 now, but have only really gotten into crocheting hard-core these past couple years. The way I cleaned out my stash closet, is I did the Yarnspiration Crochet-Along this year, and did it as a stash buster. The remaining yarn I will use in a poncho. I’m also teaching my friends’ 6 year old great-nephew to crochet, at his request, and I can teach him using the scrap yarn. Suffice to say, I have plenty to use up my stash. 😉
Pretend you are moving to a new house and ask yourself, do I want to pack this? If not – get rid of it
Don’t try to do everything at once. Start with a closet, a drawer, etc. And work your way onward.
absolutely great ideas remember when cleaning R R R
Just getting it done!
I use dryer sheets on the pillows and mattress before I cover them with the bed linens.
Try and keep things tidy and put away, so cleaning chores do not build up.
Plant flowers!
Spring time is my favorite time to clean! We open up doors and windows, turn up the music and gets to cleaning! With that music playing its like the work just flies by and we have family fun time while we clean. 😀
Perfect time to not only clean out the refrigerator, but to disinfect it as well. I like to clean it with warm soapy water and baking soda. when you are done put a box of baking soda in the fridge to absorb odors. Baking soda has many great uses, put a cup in the wash and help boost your laundry detergent, you can sprinkle it on your carpets to help with pet odors, sprinkle it in your dogs bed, let it sit a few minutes and then vaccum it up. Put a little on a toothbrush to keep your teeth white, It’s a great stain remover, make a paste with a little water and it will help remove just about anything.
Set a Big box in the middle or the house, mark it “to a new home” and make a goal to fill it full, donate to the needy or your local good will or even a shelter.
I used to clean new constructed apartments and houses . My #1 tip would be if its really dusty then use a small paint brush about 1 inch or less for window sills and cuboard and such as when you use water or cleaning solution it makes a bigger mess in the corners and hard to get out.Then use whatever!For all #1 tip to dusting start from the very top and work your way down! Ceiling ,ceiling fans,walls,blinds cabinets counter tops, baseboards then floors .You get what i mean! thanks for the giveaway and goodluck with the spring cleaning!
Start slow! Don’t think you can do it all (whatever) in ONE DAY!!
Do it in the spring!
There is a time when all good things must go to a new home or into the universe for safe keeping. If it hasn’t been seen for years or used in two, it’s time to give it away to someone who needs it! Thrift stores, missions, and the Salvation Army are great places to donate to…
First get on the computer. Sign on to Groupon, or Living Social, or Amazon Local. Find a half price maid service. Get a groupon and call them to come and do your Spring Cleaning. They will do it for far less than your time and effort is worth for how tired doing it yourself will make you. Besides these are PROFESSIONAL cleaners! Pick the three rooms you want done most (that’s usually the “deal”) and when they are finished you will be very inspired to pick up where they left off and finish the rest of the house!
I would turn my place into a grid and clean one square at a time.
I get a big bag and bring it into my closet. Any clothes I haven’t worn at all in the last year immediate goes into the bag. Then I go over all the other clothes and toss anything in the bag, then the bag goes right into the car and to a donation center. This way I don’t have it sitting around and me looking at all the stuff I cleaned out and going “oh well maybe I should keep this, just in case”
I know this is pretty obvious, but start from the top and work your way down! You do not want to say sweep your floors and wash counters, apliances, furniture, etc, then clean the fans and whatnot hand have all the dust fall onto your clean stuff.
Also, if you have a lot of laundry (even a little), start with a load first. Then you can go clean other stuff while you are waiting. Gather some more dirty clothes, throw those in the the washer while the first load is drying. 🙂
Stop procrastinating and start in advance with de cluttering and organizing.
Start from the left when you walk in a room and go clockwise picking up until the room is clean.also, using baking soda and vinegar to clean everything is easy, inexpensive, and earth friendly!
Favorite Spring Cleaning Tip – Schedule a block of time (15 minutes, 30 minutes or 1 hour or whatever works for you) each day to work on one pile or one section of a room. Baby steps makes it seem less overwhelming. Progress will make you want to invest enough time to get it done.
I like to do everything that needs to be done in a single room before quitting for the day or moving on to another room. That way I get to enjoy a finished room. I usually end up “spring cleaning” one room a month all year.
I start in the bed room. Take everything off the walls pull all the furniture away from the walls. Wipe the walls down get all the dust then wash them. Then I take the curtains down and wash windows. Wash curtains put them back up put everything back dusted washed and cleaned. Then the floor I move everything to one side vacuum then wash let it dry put everything back. I take room by room and do this with all of them. When I’m finished it usually takes a couple of days the windows are open to let fresh air in.
Baking soda on a damp cloth is a great cleanser for sinks and other surfaces. Totally harmless to people and pets! I like to light a scented candle–citrus is energizing–while I’m cleaning.
make sure the pets are outside. not inside, getting underfoot or tracking mud. that way the door can be open and the mut won’t engage the mailman.
If I am spring cleaning the first thing I do is take down the curtains, then I dust the window frames and finally clean the windows. Once the curtains are finished washing, I hang them up so that any wrinkles fall out. It makes the room smell so much more clean and not as musty!
I keep a box in which to place all unwanted items that are in good shape so they can go to our local second hand shop. They use the money they make from all sales to help the needy in our community.
I bought a handy cart from a local hardware store. It has 3 shelves and wheels easily. I keep it in my spare room loaded with every cleaning solution and equipment I might need. I can then pull out the cart whenever the mood comes to me and I don’t have to prepare anything first!
In the UP of Michigan as soon as the weather is nice enough we open all the windows to freshen the stale air. Then we work top to bottom in each room. One room a day then it doesn’t seem so over whelming.
Windows first! Closets next! Donate!
trying to stay on track and get one thing done at a time without moving on to other projects till one is completed.
Do the cleaning you dislike most first so that it is done! Then everything will look brighter for the rest of the cleaning.
Cleaning is tough – knitting is fun. Clean a little; knit a little. Some cleaning gets done; the stash dwindles.
Work for perks. Who can fault that?
Using baking soda, lemon juice and water in a spray bottle to clean surfaces. It does a great job!
Oops, forgot to add vinegar to that list!
When you buy something new, get rid of something you don’t use.
start early, use as few chemicals as possible, keep it simple (natural products are the best) and it will be done in no time. keep all your cleaning supplies together so they are easily accessible.
Spring Cleaning means getting those kitchen cabinets cleaned out! Clean the shelves, rotate your stock and tighten the door pulls (or replace with pretty new ones for a fast, cheap face-lift in your kitchen).
I always make a list ( around the end of February) of what needs to get done and what I want to get done. As I do something, it gets marked off my list. If it was a dreaded job, I reward myself with a half hour to craft ! That way if I want to make new earrings, I have to clean the windows first.
Vinegar/water works wonderfully!
Use a cup of baking soda to clean the garbage disposal. Mine always smells horribly. I cup of baking soda & 1 cup of water, let sit for a while and then rinse with water.
Clean one room at a time.
Why spring clean, especially if you like the clean windows open as much as you can in the summer? I clean in the fall, then everything is clean for all the parties with the holidays. I save drawers and closets for when the snow flies during the winter. I would rather be outside in the spring and summer.
Do it when the kids are asleep, otherwise, you won’t get anything done!
Start one room at a time and clean thoroughly
I start in the bathrooms. To remove hard water buildup from the bottom of your toilet bowl, plunge out most of the water, then add 3-4 cups of vinegar. Allow this to work overnight and then scrub in the morning. This causes the hard water buildup to breakup and be washed away; all without harsh chemicals.
Open all windows to air out the house. Was all bedding and hang outside. Love the fresh smell of spring on the sheets
Use peppermint oil inside windows and around doors….ants, spiders and mice don’t like the smell.
The first thing we do is get the front porch furniture out and set up! Start the morning with a cup of coffee on the front porch, then you are ready for the day! Come in, open the windows, and get to work!
Outdoors, my flower beds. Indoors, clean the windows on the patio so I can see the beautiful outdoors.
Hey, worth a shot. 🙂 I tend to binge-clean when the house needs it, I’m bad at the maintenance thing still..
Whatever I start cleaning with, the very first step on that first warm enough day is to open the windows up WIDE and let that fresh spring air in! 🙂
Never walk up or down the stairs empty-handed. There is always something downstairs that needs to be carried up and something upstairs that needs to be carried down.
Turn all the hangers in your closet backwards. Whenever you wear an item turn hanger around. Next year everything that still has a backwards hanger can be donated.
let the kids draw in the dust, just don’t let them date it !!
Its always spring cleaning in hawaii.
Do the worst jobs first. For me, everything looks easier once the oven and toilets are clean.
Never handle something twice. If you pick it up, put it away!
I use a can of Coca Cola in the wash for my husband’s especially greasy work clothes. It also works really well on cleaning the toilet bowl! We rarely drink coke but always keep a six-pack on hand for cleaning purposes.
Thank you for the generous raffle!
Patricia
Start early
Trash barrel from room to room. Easier to toss something out with it.
Turn up the music and dance while you work. It makes it more fun and you can get some extra exercise while you’re cleaning. Doesn’t work with everything but there’s always some move you can do.
This is the year I donate the 4 totes of small clothes that I know will never fit into no matter how much weight I lose.
Finish one room completely before moving on to the next one. I find that walking through a clean room not only keeps me motivated to keep on going but also gives me a great feeling of accomplishment.
I pick one project at a time and when it is cleaned up, I reward myself by finding a quiet corner to sit and knit. I just learned this winter and love love love knitting!
I use vinegar for everything! It cuts grease amazingly well, no soap of water needed. The best part is you don’t have to waste hot water. All that saved water can be used for a hot bath after your strenuous spring cleaning!
My Spring cleaning tip; Make a pot of coffee, put on some good dancing music and get busy cleaning. LOL Thanks for the free patterns!
I prefer to start in the most difficult or I should say cluttered and dirty first so that I feel I have accomplished more and the easiness is last.
Be sure to pick a cloudy day to wash windows. If it’s too sunny, the cleaning solution will dry too fast and you’ll have streaks, It’s also a good time to go through medicines in the cabinet to throw out the outdated stuff.
I always use vinegar, baking soda, and peroxide for my cleaning inexpensive, and works wonders.
I attack one pile at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed by the scope of the work that needs to get done.
‘Keep nothing in your home unless you know it to be useful or believe it to be beautiful.’ – William Morris
I use Baking soda in the drains, then vinegar, a real glug and let it sit for 3 minutes and follow with boiling water from the kettle and the drains are clean! The baking soda and water or vinegar is also good to clean the sink and bath tub.
Believe it or not, lists. Keeping a list of what needs to be done, crossing off as I go. I divide the list by room, including hallways, big closets, garage and even yards. Lists, and being organised, instead of bouncing around. Also, break it down into small, workable jobs, instrad of bigger, overwhelming jobs.
For dusting figurines with lots of texture as well as rock & shell collections, it’s far easier to just rinse them off in the sink and leave them to dry.
Move house!!! Everything gets cleaned when it’s unpacked and you get a chance to throw out all of the useless stuff you’ve collected.
My favorite is to kick my boys out for the, crank up the music and clean away!
Vinegar is your best friend. Toss out the harsh chemicals you use and fill a container with vinegar. Add an orange sliced in half and about 1/4 water to the mix and you have a great, natural cleaner. We use this for the entire house because we have birds that are highly sensitive to scent/chemicals.
My favorite spring cleaning tip, is to clean the ceiling fans, use dryer sheets that have used. The dust clings to the sheets and nothing is on the floor!
A good cleaning tip I can think of is:
I use microfiber cloths to clean instead of paper towels. It’s environmentally friendly, saves money & they’re usable for every room in the house. They’re reusable, washable & cost about $5 for a pack or 2.
open the windows for fresh air
I have a new granddaughter so I can use these items to make some things for her… the baby laundry detergent will be a good thing to have also…thank you
I like to start in one room by sorting out things i haven’t used in a while for donation and then deep cleaning i.e., washing walls, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning out drawers/cupboard and washing windows/curtains/blinds,etc.
Well, either get rid of the kids and cats and hubby… Or call a cleaning service for the deep clean! 😉
Start at the top of a room and work down – dust cobwebs around ceiling edges and off ceiling fans, wipe walls, dust shelves, clean countertops, etc. and keep working down until all that’s left is cleaning all the mess up off the floor.
I start with the windows and let the sun and fresh air in, this makes an unpleasant task easier. I then alternate between a task I don’t like with one I do like
I buy a LARGE tote for everyone in the family and they have to fill it with donations. It is a family trip to the donation center and then we take the kids for the first ice cream cone of the season.
Get the whole family involved, set a goal and if it’s met without too much whining or resistance, go out for ice cream!
I always start with the easiest rooms..it makes me feel like I have accomplished my end result very quickly and in doing that…the rest of the rooms flow. I love to spring clean my craft room…which by the way is the biggest room in my home…because with the sun shining I get so many wonderful ideas for crafts!!
Start by opening the windows and letting in some fresh air.
I make a list of the rooms in the house and set the date to complete. There’s something so wonderful about checking things off as completed. And feels less overwhelming than trying to do the whole house in one weekend!
I always start with washing the windows and changing the curtains that let more sunlight in. Then that helps you get the incentive to continue cleaning the room and get rid of the clutter that accumulated throughout the winter months.
Gallons and gallons of vinegar! It cleans everything!
Cleaning always goes faster when you have help, so my husband and I clean together. I usually tackle the bathroom and bedroom, and he does the kitchen and living room (those are the only rooms we have). I can’t wait for the window washers to clean the exterior of our windows, though — the pollen build-up right now is incredible.
My best spring cleaning tip is to hire someone else that’s qualified to do the cleaning and I would supervise.
Start clearing closets and taking no longer used clothes away. Then organize the closet for room when you start doing other cleaning.
I go thru closets and give or throw away things that I have not worn in the last year. if I have not worn it last year its possible I wont wear it now.
Take some of these beautiful days while the humidity is down and you can still leave your windows open and clean your carpets. Make sure when you are mixing up the soap to add a little bit of vinegar to the mix, it helps the soap to work better. Also if the shampooer starts to get too much foam and you don’t want to have to run back to the store to buy the defoaming solution, throw some cheap hair conditioner in the tank, not into the soap mixture, into the reservoir and it will do the same job at more than half of the cost.
Plan inside cleaning around beautiful days. Use beautiful days to garden. Clean on bad weather days.
clean all the windows
Spring cleaning helps allergies and illness away. Spring cleaning helps find lost items and may discover treasure you never knew you had. Spring cleaning is important to do to keep the environment clean. It’s totally recommend to do no matter where you live.
Organize………….living in a small home, keeping everything neat and tidy. Last year I made new shelves for the entry closet. This year I am organizing all the collectables we have accumulated, with new shelving in the computer room.
I always start with what I like to do the least, and do the rest in backwards order of preference. By time you get all the worst done & start on the not so bad, it, almost doesn’t seem like chores.
Whenever faced with a task I really don’t want to do I commit to working on it for just 1 hour each day until it is done. Once started on it I usually work more than just 1 hour but I only HAVE to work 1 hour on it each day.
Loud classic rock on the radio helps a lot!
I usually start at the top of my house & work my way down. First thing I do in each room is organize & get rid of things I don’t need or want, that also includes going through clothes I haven’t worn or clothes that are too big/too small. All winter clothes go away, then I commence the dusting, polishing & afterwards I clean the floors. I do this in each room & donate what I can. Music & fresh air goes a long way!
Open up the windows and clean room by room!
Always complete the hardest cleaning first, the kitchen is my hardest. Clean fridge and stove in one day. The cabinets next. Now only the easy things are left. The remainder of Spring Cleaning seems like a breeze.
Spring cleaning helpers. What a delightful idea!!
You have to make a mess to clean a mess. Start with the obvious and work your way to the least obvious messes.
Break the project down into small steps. If it gets too overwhelming just breathe and step away for a little while.
Definitely making a list of what needs to be done and tackling them in an efficient way.
If you use something, put it back; always clean up after yourself, that way you don’t spend all weekend in the house cleaning!
Clean the windows till sparkling to let in the sunshine.