With the snow melting away and the sun peeping around the clouds, we know spring is right around the corner. With spring comes many things, like longer days, clear roads, and greener grass. However, this also means the dreaded spring clean. Now some of you may feel a wave of delight at the task, while others may have a sense of impending doom. Whichever category you fall into, we are here with some helpful tips and tricks!

Start with just one room. If you set forth on your mission in a flurry of wipes and a hailstorm of sprays, you may quickly get overwhelmed. Take it one room at a time, working your way around the house.

Look at it as a marathon, not a sprint. Just like with taking it room by room, don’t apply too much pressure on yourself to “get it done now”. Remember, you have all spring! There is no need to add extra stress to your life.

When going through clothes or other items, ask yourself these two basic questions:

1. Does this item bring me JOY?
2. Have I used it or worn it in the last year? (Haven’t worn your jeans since the start of the pandemic? DO THEY BRING YOU JOY? (it’s okay to toss them))

Air it out! As it gets warmer during the day, crack open those windows, let the fresh breeze flow in. After months of running furnaces and keeping the house shut up tight to keep the cold winter air out, airing out the house can provide many benefits (and little effort 😉). By opening the windows, you can let out the stale air, eliminate some bad odors that have accumulated, and it increases the oxygen levels (reducing CO2 from breaking down and combusting!)

Donate. When the garbage bags are packed, and the house is de-cluttered, think about donating your used items. For lightly used or new items (I suggest throwing those used undies and socks in the trash), consider donating to your favorite charity, goodwill, or shelter 😊

-Riley Hicks