Spring (into Summer!) Cleaning Time!

*Click on "archives" in the right sidebar if you're looking for more!*

Aaaaahhhh . . . the first true week of summer.  And it's even June 1st, which just has a lovely sound to it!  I'm celebrating by beginning my spring cleaning!  Several months ago, when I was thinking I should be starting on some project because it actually was finally spring, I was reading a set of posts about the topic of spring cleaning and someone said "wait 'til summer!"  I decided right then, that *that* was the best tip of all for homeschooling moms regarding spring cleaning . . . Wait 'til Summer! 

I'm starting in my master bed/closet/bathroom, since it usually ends up last on the list all year.  It was actually so exciting to me to think about getting it all organized (plus, it was such a mess!) that I plunged in over the weekend.  I have found over the past several years that it was helpful to me to have a list of steps to follow, and this year I made my own.  Here it is, just in case it might be of help to you . . .

Strip bed, vacuum mattress, wash EVERYTHING (sheets, pillowcases, comforter, duvet cover, dust ruffle, etc.)  Replace.

Empty underneath bed and find homes for whatever's been living there.  Vacuum. 

Empty every drawer in each dresser/nightstand.  Throw away everything I don't love/wear/fit into/need.  Use furniture oil on each piece.  Clean mirror.

Take curtains down, wash/replace.  Wash windows top to bottom, including windowsills.  Take down blinds and clean/replace.

Take everything off walls to be dusted/washed/thrown out if I don't love it. Pull nails out.  Dry sponge/wash walls (there are great tips about this in Don Aslett's book, Clutter Be Gone!)  Fill holes w/spackle and sand down. 

Vacuum entire room including baseboards.

Paint!  Not every summer, of course, but for us, it's time for a new color.

Paint doors, windowsills and baseboards.

Closet . . .

Empty out entirely.  Go through clothes and shoes ruthlessly--throw away as much as possible! 

Dry sponge/wash walls.  We're converting our walk-in closet to be the baby's "room," so I'm also washing and then re-painting these walls, then moving the changing table into that room (had to move a bookshelf *out* first!)  We'll add one of those little mini-cribs to the room later for naps, but since baby will sleep with us for the first year, we don't need too much room, anyway!  We hung rods on the back wall a few years ago, so we still have some clothing space which is covered up neatly by a tension rod hung with fabric I bought on sale and hemmed for curtains--those I'll need to replace since it won't match our color scheme. 

Bathroom . . .

Put toilet cleaner in bowl, and spray down shower and tub, letting solutions sit. 

Empty out under sinks.  Sort, tossing as much as possible.  Add wire shelving, plastic organizers, or whatever will help corral the "stuff" that procreates under there!

Spray down and clean countertops, mirror and sinks. 

Re-caulk tub, because caulk is looking chippy.

Sweep ceiling for cobwebs.  Dust baseboards.  Wash walls. 

Paint door and baseboards. 

Mop.  Clean grout with Magic Eraser.

Whew!  That should be it!  I'm excited about getting it done; I'm already finding myself sneaking into my room to just sit and appreciate the hyper-cleanliness of it all, LOL.  My plan is to tackle one room/area at a time each week, so I should be pretty much done by the 2nd week in July, when we'll be about ready to start school again! 

9:40 AM - Jun. 1, 2009 - post comment

Untitled Comment

Misty, I'm doing the same thing (well, basically...I'm not converting my closet to a baby room...). Thanks for inspiring me!

Sheila - 8:40 PM - Jun. 3, 2009

---