by Lynne Marie

Created on: January 05, 2011

I "spring clean" twice a year.  Once just before spring, and once in November - just before the holidays.  There are a few good reasons to give your home a deep de-cluttering more than once a year.\

Keeping an organized home helps your day to day life go a little smoother.  It's the general consensus among my circle of friends, that clutter adds chaos.  Before I started "spring cleaning" twice a year, I always felt overwhelmed when spring came along.  My carpets didn't look as fresh, the kids' play room and bedrooms were equal to that of a natural disaster, and and it took weeks to get everything "cleaned up". 

In early November I start packing away our summer clothes and 'toys', and start bringing out winter items.  I use plastic storage containers to organize and hold things such as swimsuits, beach toys, sandals, and spring jackets.  Before they are stored away, i wash everything thoroughly.  This is the perfect time to discard or fix any broken items.  All children clothing such as shorts and tanktops are put in a separate container.  Anything that they have outgrown, is donated to a local shelter.

At this time, I bring in all patio furniture that can not remain out doors through the winter months.  I clean out and cover the sandbox, and put away any items that would get damaged if they were left to the cold and elements of winter.   All dead landscaping plants and flowers get cut down, and I rake the debris away with any leaves that have fallen from the trees.  This material is recycled into mulch for my garden.

Inside my home I add plastic to my windows, to prevent drafts, and lower my energy bill.  Heavy bedding such as comforters, are taken out of storage and added to our beds.  I also retrieve all other winter items that I store away during my spring cleaning.  I give all walls a good wipe down with a disinfectant cleaner, and use a steam cleaner on all rugs and carpeting.  Now is the perfect time to replace your furnace filter.

At spring time, I take down all plastic covering from the windows.  All summer toys and clothing gets brought out of storage and swapped with winter items.  Snow boots, hats, mittens, scarves, heavy sweaters, and other winter wear are all washed and stored away.  All rugs, carpets, and walls get the same deep cleaning that they get in November.  Anything that has been outgrown (clothing, toys, etc) is donated, or sold at our spring yard sale.

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