How to Spring Clean Without Going Completely Cray Cray

What happens when you mix possibly the worst winter in terms of sicknesses with cabin fever and thoughts of warm weather?

For me, I become antsy to start spring cleaning to get this nasty virus that’s been going around and making everyone miserable. Can anyone say, “OVER IT!?”

Others may start thinking about planning their gardens and some may dream of an abundance of fresh strawberries. Which is totally cool (because I’m thinking of them as well), but for me, my top priority is to clean and I want to clean NOW.

I want to throw open my doors and let the fresh air wisp through the house to help me get rid of any yucky stuff hanging around. I want to clean my windows that have been annoyingly staring at me since I met Scott (uhh.. almost 5 years ago). If you look real hard, you can see the grime on the windows.

And dare I say it? I want to scrub my bathrooms clean so I don’t have to do it for another year.

#Truth

But here’s the thing… If I go about just randomly cleaning here and there I’ll lose interest quickly and feel completely overwhelmed… and I’m only in a 1,200 square foot home. If you have a larger home, my heart goes out to you.

So when you get bit by the cleaning bug, the number one most important thing to do is MAKE A LIST. Seriously, making a list keeps you focused and on track. It’s also an important thing to remember to think from the top-down. Start at the ceiling and work your way down and think of the things you could (should, want, possibly) clean.

Here’s what my cleaning list looks like:

• Windows inside and outside (WHOLE house)
• Inside and outside of cabinets
• Dust entertainment system
• Dust ceiling fan (…yuck..)
• Wipe down couches
• Wipe down window sills
• Wipe down blinds
• Wipe down baseboards
• Mop the whole floor (not just spot areas like I normally do…)
• Clean out clothing, kitchen tools, toys, etc and donate
• Organize kitchen and pantry items
• Clean out shoe bin and repaint
• Wipe down doors
• Carpets cleaned
• Clean out chicken coop

Be sure to sign up for my newsletter where I’ll send an exclusive printable spring cleaning checklist (and coupon code for my favorite non-toxic cleaner) at the end of the week.

Although there aren’t any “rules” on how to spring clean, here are a few tips that help make the process go more smoothly and focused.

Once you’ve made your list, group the items together either by area or task. So, for example, my living room is one great area that includes the dinner table, living space, and kitchen. What I’ll probably do first is take care of the living room.

I’ll group together:

• Dust entertainment system (and anything else that needs dusted in the area)
• Dust ceiling fan
• Wipe down window sills (in the whole house)
• Wipe down blinds (I’ll probably just do the whole house)

Another day I’ll:

• Organize kitchen and donate things I really don’t need
• Wipe the inside and outside of cabinets

See the trend? You can also group by living room, kitchen, bathroom, etc so you basically knock one room out at a time instead of being scatterbrained and starting and stopping a million projects. Ahem, not like I know that from experience…

You can also be super duper specific so instead of “clean bathroom” you could list everything you need to do in order to get the bathroom where you want it to be.

It seems like a lot more, but for some, it is way easier to stay on track.

Simplifying = Not Going Cray Cray

One sure way to make you feel crazy is having to worry about all the different toxic cleaners you have to use. Save the guilt and throw out the frustration by simplifying with your cleaners with just ONE cleaner. Yes, you heard me — one.

Branch Basics is the ultimate safe soap with like, a million different ways to use it… and it works. You’ll feel confident about cleaning around your kiddos, your fur babies, your baby in the belly, or just yourself. Plus, you won’t have to juggle between a million different toxic cleaners; just 3 different mixes of Branch Basics and some essential oils. They already have the bottles labeled for you in their starter pack: streak-free, all-purpose, bathroom, and even a foamer bottle for makeup removal and washing hands!

You can learn more about how Branch Basics works here.

It’s also a good idea to get some lint-free or microfiber cloths and purified mineral-free water to use for cleaning.

Stay tuned this week for two great DIY cleaning solutions plus an informative post on which essential oils are the best for cleaning. (Hint, I use my favorite multi-purpose Branch Basics soap and Plant Therapy essential oils for that extra clean punch!)

And listen, if your “cleaning bug” suddenly drifts off the wind… give yourself a pat on the back for what you’ve done and move forward with your life. There is always next year. 🙂

This post is sponsored by Branch Basics. However, the opinions and photos are of my own. Authenticity is important so I would never promote any brand or product that I wholeheartedly don’t believe in. My readers are my number one priority and I always recommend companies and products that I believe will benefit my readers.