10 Steps for Spring Cleaning Like a Champion

Spring cleaning is the perfect way to prepare for warmer weather. When everything is refreshed, decluttered, and in its place, you can face the changing of the seasons with confidence and excitement!

Follow these steps for a successful spring cleaning:

• Make a plan: Keeping a to-do list to keep track of the areas you want to clean and the tasks ahead of you helps to keep you organized. Check things off as you go!
• Declutter: Before putting in the elbow grease needed for a really deep clean, decluttering is a must. Approach one room at a time, and pull everything out of closets and storage areas. Sort items into keep, donate, and trash piles, then find your nearest Cincinnati area Goodwill Donation Center and load up your car! Donating to Goodwill is quick and easy, and you’ll get a tax receipt.
• Dust: Next up is dusting all surfaces, even those you typically skip over such as full bookcases.
• Wipe down baseboards & walls: You might not notice it, but your walls and baseboards collect dust and grime over time. Use a mild cleanser and a cloth to wipe down your walls and baseboards and you’ll immediately see a difference.
• Vacuum or Mop: Sweep carpets and rugs, and mop or steam clean your hardwood and tile floors. Now is the time to be thorough, so consider moving furniture if needed. Use the upholstery attachment to your vacuum to clean under and between cushions too!
• Kitchen Deep Clean: Clean your kitchen counters, sinks, and appliances, and wipe out cabinets. Toss old food from the refrigerator and pantry too. Drawer liners and silverware trays can help you maintain clean and organized kitchen storage areas.
• Bathroom Deep Clean: Scrub bathroom sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets. And don’t forget to wash shower curtains and bath mats!
• Wash Bedding: Strip the linens off all beds for a good wash, including bed skirts.
• Clean Windows: You’ll want to see the incoming sunshine, so cleaning windows is a must. Wipe down all windows inside and out, and wash or dry clean curtains.
• Garage and Outdoor Areas: Don’t forget your outdoor areas! Before you bring out your outdoor furniture for the summer, sweep or blow off patios and porches. Clean out your gutters, and declutter your garage and shed. Don’t forget that you can donate cars and other vehicles to Ohio Valley Goodwill. We’ll even tow it away for free!

This might seem like a daunting list, but remember, spring cleaning doesn’t have to be done in one day. To make it more manageable, break up tasks over the course of a few days or a week and assign 2 or 3 tasks to each day.

Simplify Spring Cleaning with Goodwill!

Hitting the reset button on your home each spring and fall helps to keep you from drowning in clutter and dirt that’s accumulated over time. Stay on top of the clutter in your home by creating a space in a storage area of your home that’s designated for Goodwill donations.

Using a laundry basket or storage tote, you can collect donations all year round and make quick trips to Goodwill whenever it’s full. This method will cut down on the heavy lifting when spring cleaning season rolls around again!

Happy spring cleaning!