cleaning

Spring Cleaning 101: It’s About More Than Your House

Angela Manning DIY , ,
Spring Cleaning 101: It’s About More Than Your House

We’re more than a month in to spring, and if you haven’t thought about clearing out the detritus you’ve accumulated in the past year, you’re risking more than just the satisfaction that comes from having a clean home. You’re missing the opportunity to start fresh in a lot of other ways, as well. So, if you haven’t yet rolled up your sleeves, now’s the time. Reduce unnecessary clutter from your house as a start and then consider these five other areas of your life that can benefit from a good purge and a quick scrub:

Devices

Nowadays, everyone has at least one electronic device. Take a moment to clean up the virtual space that accompanies it. Examine all the smartphones, computers, tablets and mp3 players in your life, and delete the applications, documents, photos/videos, emails, movies and music you don’t use or want. Removing these unwanted files will free up space and memory for the things you really need.

Wardrobe

With fashion trends waxing and waning, not to mention similarly changing waistlines and personal tastes, it makes sense to routinely appraise what you have in your closet and drawers. Discard worn and outdated styles. Donate the items you’re tired of or have outgrown. A good purge can help you and others. Just because you may not need, want or fit in it anymore doesn’t mean someone else couldn’t put it to good use!

Finances

It’s easy to become complacent in your habits and routine. A yearly review of what has become rote, however, can often uncover shortcomings depriving you of time and money. And really: time IS money. Review your budget. Consider negotiating new television and phone contracts for lower prices. Determine if you can cut back on extraneous expenses like coffee runs and weekday lunches out with coworkers. Maybe it’s time to start saving for that European vacation or new car. You won’t know until you take a good hard look at what can go and what should stay the same.

Relationships

While a yearly purge of people might seem a little coldhearted, it’s actually a way for you to better yourself. Being a good friend takes time and effort. And you don’t have the time or the effort to be a good friend if you’re focusing on relationships that don’t enrich your life or the lives of the people around you. Evaluate your priorities and pick your friends to match them. It’s inevitable that as you change and grow your friendships should, too.

Career

Likewise, it’s important for you to check in on your career goals. Much like your friends, your job can and will change over the years. Maybe your interests are shifting. Maybe you are more experienced and more ambitious. Take the time to think about what you really want and how to make that happen. If you want to change directions, start searching job postings. If you know you need to get an advanced degree to move ahead in your job, enroll in a program. If you’re an immigrant investor wanting to make your stay permanent, consult an EB-5 lawyer. You can’t move without that first step. 

Final Thoughts

Spring cleaning can clear out the physical excess that clutters our lives. But it can also clear our minds, making space for better mental and emotional health. So don’t just organize what you have. Get rid of the things that you don’t need for a happier, less stressful year

Small Changes that Will Make Cleaning a Breeze

Angela Manning DIY , , ,
Small Changes that Will Make Cleaning a Breeze

Cleaning is a chore that no one really likes, but we need to do it to keep our homes clean and habitable. You don’t exactly have to lose an entire day tidying up your house; by making some small changes here and there, you can easily turn cleaning from a dreary, painstaking process to a faster and easier one. To help you, here are a few tips that will make cleaning a breeze.

  • Upgrade your cleaning tools.Software and gadgets are far from the only things that have undergone a lot of technological changes in the past few years; even cleaning tools these days are more advanced and efficient. While there’s nothing wrong with cleaning your home using the same kind of tools that your parents or even grandparents have used, you should still check out improved tools and formulas that make cleaning a faster and easier affair. Trade in your old cleaning rag for a high-quality microfiber cloth, or swap out the bulky vacuum cleaner for a later and more powerful model, one that’s probably going to be easier to lug around the house. By using new tools, you’ll find that your cleaning tasks will be much more streamlined and take less time.
  • Make it a family habit. The responsibility of cleaning and tidying up a house with multiple occupants shouldn’t rest on one person alone. If you live with other people, you should work together and divide chores that will help keep your house a more habitable space. If you have kids, teach them how to do simple chores and have them help you out. You can even make it more fun by turning it into a game where the best or fastest cleaner gets an award, or by rewarding the entire family with a special snack or meal once the task has been completed. Getting your entire family involved not only allows you to clean your house faster, but it also teaches your kids important habits and life skills.
  • Stick to a schedule. One of the best things to do with cleaning tasks that take up a lot of time and effort – such as washing the car or doing the laundry – is to schedule them properly and stick to that schedule. This way, these chores will become a habit and you’ll have an easier time avoiding procrastination. Scheduling cleaning chores also helps you find more free time to spend with your family and loved ones.
  • Clean as you go.Letting the dirty stuff— be it dishes, laundry, or dust— pile up is a common mistake that makes cleaning more difficult than it should be. Resist every temptation to let the dirty dishes stay untouched in the sink for too long, and if you see something out of place, put it back where it belongs, especially if doing so won’t take you more than 2 minutes. By taking care of the small stuff right away, you’re giving yourself more time to focus on the bigger, more complicated tasks during your weekly cleaning.
  • Start from top to bottom. No matter what room you’re cleaning, it’s always a good idea to start at the top before working your way down. This is because the dust and detritus that will come flying down from your top shelves will eventually settle on lower surfaces, such as your tables and floor. By cleaning your home from top to bottom, you ensure that the flying dust and debris will be taken care of in one go.

Through these small changes, you’re making it easier to clean your home and bond with your family in one go. Just don’t forget to reward yourselves after a job well done!