Spring Cleaning Challenge- Are you up for it?

The weather is starting to get a little warmer and becoming a great time to start your Spring Cleaning you have been putting off for the last six months and beyond.  I challenge you to a Spring Clean challenge.  As Americans we accumulate a LOT of stuff over time.  Items sit in boxes untouched for months or even years. You probably have boxes in your basement or storage you don't even know what is in them.  Standard rule: If you haven't needed something in the box in the last year, you probably don't need the contents in the box unless they are mementos/photos/keep sakes.  Now is the time to de-clutter. 

STEP 1- Start Easy
You can start out small by going through your closet and donating clothing you do not wear or fit in an more. Remember there are others out there that are less fortunate and could use your clothes.

STEP 2- Down and Dirty
Its now time to enter the dreaded basement or closets filled to the max with boxes of unknowns.  You can still start out easy and make a goal to go through 2 boxes a days. You will want to start three different piles when going through the boxes, Keep, Throw away, or Donate/Garage Sale piles.  Just remember there is light at the end of the tunnel.  You will feel so much lighter once you have completely gone through all the boxes.  Keep with your goal of x number of boxes a day or spend an entire day and make sure it gets done.

STEP 3- Deep Cleaning
How often does your house get a good scrub down.... I don't mean vacuuming once a week or cleaning the kitchen.  How often do you dust everything?  From the baseboards to the ceiling fans.  Its not fun but will make a huge difference.  Its good to get all the build up over time out of your house.  Not only will it help with allergies but will make you feel a lot better. 

STEP 4- Back to the Basics
-Its time to replace all batteries in smoke detectors, carbon detectors, door bells
-Change out HVAC filters
-Clean out the gutters
-Water the foundation
-Add dirt around the home if needed
-Touch up paint throughout the inside of the home
-Clean up the lawn and get rid of dead plants

Its time to SPRING CLEAN!  The Challenge is on.... are you up to it?