Spring Cleaning

Although some areas are still feeling the cold winter temps and others are over flowing from all the rain...one thing remains a constant....SPRING IS ON THE WAY! So with that in mind, it's time to start thinking about Spring Cleaning. Yes, it's not the most favorite task, but it is one that needs it's fair attention. I will admit though, that I don't always do a big spring clean...I do mine in the Fall when the temperatures are usually cooler. But this year I am gearing towards a spring fling of clean.

Here's a few things you can do to get yourself ready for cleaning time.

1. Make a list of things you want to accomplish in each room.

2. Decide how much time you want to devote to each room (i.e a few hours or a day or two)

3. Go through your cleaning supply inventory and write down what you have and what you need to get. It's never fun to start a project only to find out midstream that you don't have your supplies like you thought you did. (trust me...been there, done that!)

4. Make a plan for what you are going to do with the "extra" stuff you find around the house that you can live without. Will you donate them to charity, take them to a resell shop or have a yard sale. Don't forget...if you choose to donate your items, depending on what it is, see if you can get a tax deductible receipt for your donation. Any little bit helps when it comes to your taxes.

5. While you at it, why not spring clean your vehicle!?! When was the last time you gave your car/truck a good once over? Unless you absolutely want to and can afford it, don't take your vehicle to a detail shop, wash, wax and vacuum it yourself. The money you save by doing it yourself is just as rewarding as the sight of your clean vehicle each time you take it for a ride.

6. One place that we don't think about spring cleaning is our spiritual life. While we are focusing on getting rid of the dirt and dust that have laid claim in our home, we need to take a good look and clean out the dirt and dust in our spiritual walk. Have you been stumbling over that matted cobweb of a bad temper, or the dust bunnies of pride? Isn't it time to make a fresh start and clean off the cupboards of our heart, mind and soul?

Like I said, this is just a small snippet of the many things we can do to get ready ready for spring cleaning in our homes and in our lives. There are lots of other tips and tricks one can do, so if you have any spring cleaning hints you'd like to share, please feel free to do so.