Everyone has heard of spring cleaning. Why you would want to spend the day cleaning the house when the weather is finally starting to get nice again is always a wonder. Here are some tips to help you keep your house clean and uncluttered all year long, so you can enjoy the spring outside instead of inside.

One Room at a Time

Starting small can make your seasonal cleaning much easier. Start with one room at a time. Decide what you want to clean in each room and how to do it. If possible, make a list for each room. In the kid’s bedroom, you may want to reorganize the closets, donate clothes that no longer fit and make room for more. Organize the toy collection and give everything a place where it belongs.

Closets

Closets tend to be the dumping ground of lots of clutter. Make an effort to clean them out a few times a year. Take out clothes that no longer fit or are out of season. Store the out of season clothes in vacuum bags that will reduce the amount of space until needed again. Remove all unwanted clothing and put in a bag for donation. Check shoes for wear and throw away ones that need to be replaced.

Kitchen

Clean as you go in the kitchen. If you see a spill in the refrigerator, clean it up as soon as possible. Letting a spill sit in the fridge only leads to a sticky mess later. Wipe the countertops and drawers daily so the crumbs and messes don’t have time to set in. Purge the junk drawers regularly of items that you haven’t used or don’t intend to use in the near future. Clear the dirty dishes from the table and the sink immediately. Load dirty dishes directly into the dishwasher if you have one. If not, wash the dishes right after you are finished eating. This will prevent the dirty dish pile from growing in the sink.

Doing the chores in small increments makes them seem less overwhelming and tedious. Performing small cleaning tasks while going around your daily life will help keep the house clean and tidy in between the regular cleaning.