by Harper Lile, 8th-Grade
Come springtime, the sun is shining, the air is pure and everyone is looking for a fresh start. Here’s your guide to that reset, all the tips and tricks for a successful spring cleaning. A spring reset will relax the mind and body, setting you up for an enjoyable and productive spring and summer. Tackle everything from spaces in your house, such as kitchen, pantry, closet and bathroom, to keeping your studies and personal calendar in order.
Making cleaning fun
- Play your favorite music
- Set timers and take short breaks
- Reward yourself
- Light a candle
- Open your windows for fresh air
- Make it a game against your family
Helpful cleaning supplies
- Magic eraser for scuffs
- Vinegar and baking soda for stains and deodorize
- Dish soap is good for removing grease
- Squeegee for windows and shower glass
Home Reset
Bathroom
Reset your skincare from winter and fall to spring and summer. As the weather changes, so does your skincare routine.
For example, consider switching out moisturizers. In winter, the moisturizer should be thick and rich to help your skin during the dry temperatures, while there is more moisture in the air in spring and summer so you can use a lighter moisturizer.
The sun also shines a lot brighter in spring and summer, so make sure you are stocked up on all the sunscreen. Sunscreen is a vital step in your skincare routine. I recommend brands such as Supergoop, Sun Bum, CeraVe and La Roche Posay.
Lastly, your spring and summer skincare routine should continue with more sweat and oil managing products as it’s hotter, more humid and people are more likely to participate in sports and outdoor activities during this time of the year. Consider purchasing cleansers, toners and serums to manage excess oil, as it can cause acne.
Cleaning out your bathroom is important to feeling refreshed to make room for new products and the bathroom is where we spend a lot of time, in the morning and at night. Easy ways to clean out your bathroom include throwing away any expired products and any products you haven’t used in over 2 months.
Once you have cleaned out, clean all the surfaces of the bathroom with disinfectants.
Organizing your bathroom is a great way to make everyday more functional. When you know where all your products are , it gives you peace of mind and makes getting ready easy peasy. I recommend using clear containers to organize products based on what you prefer. Clear containers allow you to see all products and are affordable at target. Clear lazy susans are also very functional and save lots of space.
You can organize your products based on brand, type or step by step.
Consider creating a backstock container and or a travel toiletries container. Backstock is when you have extra of a product that you will use once you run out. Backstock can be stored away from the main products, saving space. A travel toiletry section is helpful for when you are packing for a trip, you know exactly where all your products are and can pack them immediately.
Pantry and Fridge
The fridge is often overlooked, but a very important space in the house. If it’s clean and organized, you are more likely to have it stocked with healthy and nutritious foods. On average, the refrigerator is opened anywhere between 22 and 50 times a day. Increase the likelihood of a healthier diet by keeping it organized with healthy foods, so when you open that fridge 20 to 50 times a day, you are encouraged to eat healthy.
The easiest way to tackle the fridge, which can seem overwhelming, is to remove all items and place it on the nearest table or countertop. Once the fridge is completely empty, wipe down all surfaces and drawers, so you have a clean surface to work with.
Then tackle the food products. Throw away anything expired, moldy or anything that you know that can be cooked, used or eaten.
(Consider going to the grocery before you clean out your fridge, so that your fridge is stocked and you don’t have to re-organize after you purchase new food.)
Then begin placing everything in an organized manner back in the fridge. I suggest placing fruits and vegetables in a drawer and then deli meat and cheese in another drawer. Then designate a shelf for drinks, leftovers, and snacks. I also suggest organizing everything in your clear containers for a good visual effect. Lastly, if you have an overflow of sauces and condiments that don’t all fit in the side doors, utilize a lazy susan for a space saving hack.
My biggest tip is to jot down a rough sketch of your organized fridge and the categories so when you restock it, you can recreate it.
For the pantry, once again dispose of any expired foods or any foods that have not been used and won’t.
The best storage solutions for a pantry are lazy susans, clear tiered storage for cans, wooden baskets for boxed and bagged foods and clear containers for pasta, grains, crackers and other snacks.
Closet clean-out
Cleaning out your closet will make you feel like you have your life all together.
Begin by trying all your clothes and donating any clothes that don’t fit. Don’t forget to donate any clothes that you haven’t worn in the last year or aren’t planning on wearing in the near future.
Move all your winter clothes and gear to concealed storage away from the clothes you wear all the time. Move your summer and spring closets to the most reachable parts of the closet.
For an aesthetic look, organize your hanging clothes by color, but personally I think it’s more practical to arrange hanging clothing by category. I go from athletic shirts, to casual tees and tops, to long sleeve tops, to nice long sleeve shirts and sweaters.
For dressers, consider organizing socks and underwear in clear containers to keep it neat and not overwhelming.
For drawers, roll your t-shirts to save space.
A helpful hack for a minimalistic closet is the hanger trick. At the beginning of the season, turn your hangers backwards and when you wear the item, turn the hanger forward. By the end of the year, if you still have any hangers turned backwards, you know you haven’t worn that clothing item in a year and should most likely get rid of it.
Entry Way and Mudroom
If you have an entry way or a mudroom, it can become very dirty and cluttered since it’s a drop zone for all our clothes, shoes and bags. Begin by storing all winter boots, hats, gloves and clothes away to save space for spring.
For shoes, use a dirt proof mat, to catch all mud we might track in or store your shoes in baskets.
Utilize hooks for bags and purses to keep things away from the main walkway.
Lastly, scrub all surfaces as it can be one of the dirtiest spaces in the house, especially if you have a household of athletes with dirty and sweaty clothes, shoes and equipment.
Chores Reset
If you don’t want to break it down space by space, here’s an easy checklist of chores you can do to make your home feel refreshed.
Change sheets
Make bed
Mop floors
Wipe down baseboards
Vacuum rugs and sofas
Wipe down all countertops
Clean inside and outsides of windows
Wash couch cushions and pillow covers
Clean showers, baths, sinks and toilets
Disinfect household appliances
Do yard work: such as raking, weeding, mulching and replating
Hose down any outdoor furniture and wash outdoor rugs
Test smoke and carbon dioxide detectors and replace batteries
Life Reset
Spring and summer are the perfect time to improve yourself and organize your daily life.
Spring and summer are the perfect times to try a new hobby, because you typically have more free time. Some new trending hobbies are pilates, climbing, bedazzling, paint by number and crochet.
Spring and summer are the best times to cook, bake and try new recipes because it’s the time with the freshest ingredients. Tropical fruits and berry desserts are delectable during the summer and citrus and greens are delicious during the spring.
Take the time to spend more time outside. It helps to add allotted time during your day or week for outside time. The benefits of spending time outside are immense. Spending time outside helps boost mood and mental health, increased absorption of vitamin D, better physical health and improved immune system.
During spring cleaning, don’t forget to organize your bags. It’s important to keep your daily school, sports and walking around bags clean with only bare necessities. For your school bag, clean out any old unnecessary papers and broken or used supplies. Stock it with school emergency supplies.
For sports bags, clean out any dirty clothes or towels and wash. Stock the bag with spring essentials such as snacks, hydrating powder packs, sunscreen, hair ties, portable charger, and any extra clothes. Utilize packing cubes or mesh bags to organize different items and keep a wet bag for dirty and sweaty clothes.
