Spring Is In The Air!

SPRING IS IN THE AIR!

AND SO ARE ALL THE DUST PARTICLES AROUND YOUR HOUSE…

This means it is time to start thinking about freshening up of our living spaces and get our spring cleaning plan in order. Whether looking to list your property or to make your home sparkle for the summer months, spring cleaning is important for everyone. We at Century 21 Westman Realty Ltd. would like to help motivate you through your cleaning experience through practical tips from our combined years of cleaning. Our team knows that an extensive job like this can become overwhelming, but we don’t have to dread it.

Here are 8 tips to getting your property into tip-top shape while enjoying yourself. Regardless of whether the goal is summer enjoyment, or preparing your home for the spring real estate market, we want you to have a positive spring cleaning experience.

1. MAKE A PLAN & SCHEDULE IT OUT!

The first thing first, scope out your home and make a plan. What areas need the most work? What do you skip during normal cleaning? That is the area to start with. Gather all the information and schedule it over a set period. We recommend 2 weeks. This will help to make the job less daunting and help with your motivation to see smaller jobs get finished. Regardless of how you decide to clean, have a plan for what will be done and when. As well as what individual rooms will need done to be completed. If you are really into following your progress, try using a Gantt chart or network diagram to visualize the completion of the entire project broken down into each individual activity. Having a plan and schedule will help keep you focused on the task at hand.

Make it even easier for yourself by creating or using a pre-created checklist. Nothing is more fun or satisfying than checking off that job you struggled through as you watch your progress. Check out this great printable spring cleaning checklist that can really help.

To make it more entertaining, try and make it into a game! Set goals and time limits for yourself. Turn up the music and see if you can finish your jobs before your significant other or children. Once you have done this a couple of times you can try and beat your records! #guinnessbookofworldcleaningrecords

2. PLAN YOUR JOB FROM THE CEILING TO THE FLOOR!

A great strategy when planning your work is to move from the top to the bottom. Begin by cleaning from the ceiling down. This forces dirt and dust downward to where you will finish up by cleaning the floor. This will ensure that there is no need to re-dust or re-clean any of your pre-cleaned spaces. This simple idea will save you so much unnecessary cleaning time.

3. GIVE EXTRA ATTENTION TO IGNORED AREAS. “TO THE WINDOWS, TO THE WALLS!”

A continuation from our previous point. Don’t skip window and walls day! People almost always forget about their walls, which is unfortunate as a large percentage of dust and debris settles here. You can clean your walls, blinds, and window screens with specific tools or even just a damp towel. When cleaning your actual windows, try and use cleaners that are chemical-free. And don’t forget to clean both the inside as well as the outside. Your work will lead to a crystal-clear view of the beautiful spring bloom.

Washing windows and walls can be mundane, spice it up with a nice new audiobook or podcast!

4. GET RID OF THINGS YOU DON’T NEED & ORGANIZE WHAT YOU DO!

Do you need all of those trinkets in your bookshelf? Decluttering can instate a positive psychological effect on you that can cause you to be more efficient and more organized while minimizing stress. We don’t recommend going to the extreme and becoming a complete minimalist, but a thorough decluttering of our living spaces could work cognitive wonders. It may even surprise you how much a quick freshening up can lift your mood. Make sure you set some time aside to:

• Clean out your drawers (including the kitchen drawers)
  • Take apart the fridge • Dust and organize bookshelves
  • Get going on the office
  • Organize your closets
  • Look through toy boxes or any additional storage rooms
  • Take a walk around the garage Make it more rewarding by turning it into an exercise!A lot of these activities rely on some brute strength. Throw in a few squats or bicep curls and you got a bona fide workout routine.

5. BREATH CLEAN AIR!

One of the most overlooked aspects of spring cleaning is the air. Replacing your HVAC or furnace filter is one of the most important house maintenance activities. Optimally, it should be done every few months, but is even more vital in the spring season where it can help control smaller particles and allergens. Ideally, this should be done pre-cleaning as an irritation of all the allergens, chemicals, and dust particles will cause them to be circulating even more than normal. Another way you can void your space of unhealthy air is to implement an air purifier. This can be especially beneficial for allergy sufferers and can help them have restful nights.

6. GREAT VACUUM? OR TIME FOR AN UPGRADE!

Make sure your vacuum is in great working order. Your vacuum is going to be one of the most important tools to get your home rid of the gross winter build-up. If it is time for a vacuum upgrade, make sure that the new machine is a high-quality HEPA. They will be able to pick up particles that you cannot see like dander, allergens, and all household particles.

Having a great vacuum with all the attachments will make cleaning a breeze.

7. TIME TO SPRING CLEAN? MAKE IT GREEN!

Regardless of the time of year, it is always a good idea to limit your exposure to the heavy chemicals and toxins in many of today’s cleaning products. Look for green options at your local grocery store or create your own! You can use a combination of essential oils, vinegar, baking soda, and water. They are affordable, non-toxic and have been used for hundreds of years.

Want to play mad scientist? Pretend you’re a Chemist and experiment with new cleaning solutions. Get a few spray bottles, some essential oils and make a variety of cleaning solutions to see what you can come up with. But stay green and stick with all-natural ingredients. Things like vinegar, baking soda, vodka, etc. Most of these can be combined safely unlike other chemical options.

8. LET THE CLEANING PROCESS REJUVENATE YOUR MIND, BODY, AND SOUL!

Spring is the perfect time to add some positivity to your life. Let that positivity flow through you with some quick and easy household updates. With limited changes, you can help turn any problem space into a fresh, inviting area. Adding some new colour to the walls or updating your accents are both quick and easy ways to spruce up your home.

Right now, it is not the time to be timid, let your personality speak up!

If a spring listing is your goal, Century 21 Westman Realty Ltd. can help. Contact one of our professional agents today to get on your way to a home cleaned, staged, and ready to market!