Tag: grime

Spring Cleaning Has Lasting Impacts

Posted on by Jordank

If you’ve ever participated in the ritual known as #spring #cleaning, you know the effect that a #cleaner, #tidier and more #organized space can have. But while the concept has long been tied to the warmer temperatures and sense of renewal that spring brings, it can have benefits that last throughout the year.

Psychologists explain the penchant for seasonal cleaning as a “fresh start” effect. Fresh starts are often related to a temporal landmark that motivates people to make a change, set a new goal or initiate a new project. The new year and birthdays are classic examples, and many people start their diets or on Mondays. The change of seasons is a similar marker.

“People are not automatically, by default, thinking of spring as a time to start new habits,” says Wharton Professor Katherine Milkman. “It’s going to depend on the person and what resonates with them, but spring is a more natural fresh start for people than winter — spring is the season of rebirth and Easter, and everything is green.”

Spring cleaning is literally a fresh start in terms of #dirt and #grime. These build up when a home is closed against winter’s inclement weather, and a good spring cleaning can get rid of the dust and dirt that household surfaces such as shelves, floors and linens have collected during the dark and dreary winter months.

But spring cleaning is also a fresh start for the psyche. Clean spaces reduce stress and anxiety, boost productivity, help prevent respiratory issues and improve sleep, according to St. Joseph Hospital. The act of #cleaning and #decluttering itself burns calories, making it a healthy part of your routine.

A #decluttered life is a calm and effective one. “We can calm the inside by bringing order to the outer,” Zen Organizer Regina Leeds told CNN. “The average person lives in an environment that sabotages his or her best efforts at every turn. You can accomplish more, quicker and with ease if your environment nurtures and supports you.”

Get a fresh start this season. Start with a single room, sorting everything you don’t #trash immediately into #keep and #donate piles. Clean the space, #organize and store the keepers, and contact ClothingDonations.org for a free #donation #pickup. We’ll get that extra stuff out of your way fast — and you’ll be on the way to living your best life.

Start Your Spring-Cleaning Engines!

Posted on by Jordank

Thursday, March 20, marks the beginning of #spring. The Organizing Blog’s favorite season, spring gives people everywhere a great incentive to #clean and #organize their homes.

#Spring #cleaning is a time-honored tradition. Over a long winter shut tight against the cold, homes tend to gather dirt and grime. It’s time to throw the windows open and sweep, mop and wipe away that buildup.

Four out of five American households engage in spring cleaning at least once a year, according to the American Cleaning Institute (ACI), and nearly as many — 78% — spend an average of six days spring-cleaning their homes.

ACI’s survey notes that Americans don’t like to clean hard-to-reach places that attract considerable dust and grime, such as vents. Most would rather clean their own homes than do their own taxes, however, and often concentrate on windows, floors and toilets. Still, it can be tough to get started.

The first step is to get rid of #clutter — clothing that doesn’t fit, old paperwork, broken knickknacks and other stuff that’s just taking up space. Put these items into the trash, storage or a #donation bag; cleaning will proceed more quickly with them out of the way. And as always, contact ClothingDonations.org for any lightly used castoffs you’d like to get rid of for good.

Next, make sure you have the equipment and supplies necessary to do a thorough cleaning, including gloves, cleansers, sponges, rags, and a good broom, vacuum cleaner and mop. A new broom sweeps clean!

Create a checklist of to-dos in order to make what might seem like a monumental task more approachable, The Spruce says. “Walk through your house and take note of the things that need to be done and tackle those first,” says Clean Mama Becky Rapinchuk.

Having an immediate impact on your home environment may make you want to tackle more tasks, so continue down that list. You might not get to everything in a week or month, but you’ll see progress toward a #cleaner, #healthier home — and that can get you energized to do more. Start your spring-cleaning engines!

#SpringCleaning

Get a Headstart on Spring Cleaning

Posted on by Jordank

Spring cleaning is a tradition that’s likely as old as civilization itself. Certain cultures even incorporate spring cleaning into their religious practices, but the imperative is more likely a byproduct of brighter days and warmer weather. People naturally want to shake off the cold, dark days of winter and make a fresh start.

You don’t have to wait unit March 20 to begin a thorough spring cleaning, however. In fact, with unusually warm months ahead predicted for much of the U.S., it may feel like spring in your area sooner — and that means you can take advantage of the weather to make everything spotless.

The Simply Organized Home suggests starting spring cleaning in February — that’s now — with a thorough #decluttering. “There is no reason to start deep-cleaning if you are surrounded by clutter,” it says. “There is no point in cleaning things that you don’t need, use or love.”

Go through the house room by room and get rid of the things that are just taking up space — clothing you don’t want or need, small appliances you don’t use, knickknacks that hold no real sentimental value. Box and bag your lightly used castoffs and visit ClothingDonations.org to schedule a free #donation #pickup.

With that #junk out of the way, you can start #deep-cleaning. Take a single room and dust, vacuum and clean everything in it, from the window treatments to the windows to the linens to the baseboards to the floors. Proceed to the next room (not necessarily on the same day) until everything is clean.

Alternatively, Apartment Therapy has a single-day spring cleaning plan that refreshes bedding and household fabrics while also sanitizing windows, woodwork and other seldom-scrubbed parts of the home that may have accumulated dirt and grime over the winter.

Spring cleaning is a once-a-year opportunity to freshen your space and make it more livable. But you don’t have to wait — start it now, and you’ll be in a great position to fling open your windows and enjoy the gentle breezes.