Swing into spring cleaning

If you valued anything in your room, it had better be stashed away. Otherwise, chances were it would be cleaned up – and out.

And at Grandma’s, a wood stove in the kitchen and a coal furnace in the basement ensured there was always a substantial layer of soot everywhere.

Get organized
If, like my grandma, you can’t resist the annual urge to purge, there’s much you can do to simplify your spring cleaning. Being organized is the number one priority, so start by making separate lists for indoors and out, and prioritize everything.

Ask yourself if each chore is a "must do or maybe?" This is especially important with large chores like decorating. How much of this can you do yourself, and how much can you afford to have someone else do for you?

You don’t need specialists to wash windows, clean out rain gutters or pick up the trash left once the snow has gone. Teenagers usually welcome the chance to earn extra money, or there may be a volunteer group nearby willing to take on the jobs to raise some cash. And don’t forget your family!

Make a Game Plan
Next step? Make up a realistic game plan, breaking chores into daily and weekly timeslots. Put a tick mark against each job as it’s done, no matter how small – these positive signs of progress are reassuring, and it’s surprising just how quickly they mount up.

And remember – spring lasts from March 21 to June 21, so don’t try cramming everything into just a few days.

Check out tools of the trade
There’s one more important list to make before knuckling down. Check under the sink, or wherever, and make sure you have all the necessary cleaning agents. And don’t neglect the tools of the trade. This might be a good time to throw away that old sponge mop and invest in something better suited to the task, such as the new wringer pail and mop by Rubbermaid.