Spring Cleaning Checklist | Video

Hello, spring! It’s time to clean stuff out, get rid of things, switch out the old winter gear for spring gear, and most importantly, spring cleaning. 

Cleaning the homestead is always a fun challenge at this time of year. I’ve become hugely inspired by Marie Kondo’s books “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and “Spark Joy” and y’all know what a visual learner I am so I’m sure it’s no surprise that I also love her show (which I found on Netflix). Have you tried the Marie Kondo method?

We’ve had stuff packed from our previous move, and it’s just been sitting in the basement for the past two years. That’s when I realized; we don’t need all of that stuff! We’ve lived without it for the past two years. Thus started the trips to the dump and thrift store. 

You can watch us doing our annual spring cleaning on the homestead in the video below! 

Having less stuff is honestly a relief, there’s less to clean which means more time to spend on adventures with my family. Because time is money and we can invest our money/time into stuff or the people we care for most. 

I’ve decided to write down everything I do for spring cleaning finally. 

• As a large family, our coat rack is always FULL to bursting with everyone’s winter coats and winter gear. It’s always a relief to pack it all up and store it for next winter. I always check coats for tears, working zippers and such before packing. 
• Unpack the mud boots and bring out the light jackets! Yay for the spring thaw. 
• Wash windows outside and inside, and while you’re at it pop the screens out and give them a rinse in warm, soapy water. 
• Dust all those hard to reach corners! If you have a wood burning stove like us, then you know the constant battle with dust. It just gathers on everything. 
• While you’re dusting everything, don’t forget to run that duster over the bookshelves and picture frames.
• Go through the house, take all the curtains down and run them through the washing machine. For extra freshness, let machine fill with water then add a 1/2 cup baking soda and wash as usual.
• Switch flannel bedding for lighter, cotton or linen sheets. I love my flannel sheets but come spring time I’m ready for something lighter! 
• Vacuuming your cloth couch is a great way to get the dust and dirt of everyday use out. If you have children or pets, there might be some strange odors coming from the couch… Sprinkle some baking soda on it, let it sit for a while and absorb the smells, then vacuum it up! 
• Strip all the bedding off, wash duvets/covers, and drape the big blankets outside on the clothesline or drying rack. There’s nothing like the smell of quilts that have been in the wind and sunshine for several hours! 
• And finally, I love switching out all the old soaps and candles for fresh, clean scents that inspire me to finish all this cleaning! 

When it comes to cleaning, I don’t go crazy, but I love my home feeling fresh and clean. My family is somewhat sensitive when it comes to artificial cleaners, but we all love Mrs. Meyer’s Cleaning Products. My favorite products are the Multi-Surface Cleaner, Liquid Dish Soap, and Baking Soda Cream Cleanser. What’re some of your favorite natural cleaners? 

Do you have love/hate relationship with spring cleaning? I know I do! But it’s always worth it, and the house feels fantastic afterward.

Happy spring cleaning!

-Abby Jo