Spring Cleaning Tips + Tricks [Guest Post]

Hello to my new Cheers Y'all friends!! 

My name is Jenni and I blog over Frankly My Dear...! I am so excited for my first ever guest post to be with all of you! If you haven't ever dropped by my blog, I'd love for you to stop by & say hello!

I hope y'all had a great Easter & enjoyed some beautiful spring weather. If you've been anywhere like me, it's such a relief to finally have some sweet sunshine! I absolutely love Spring...it's a transition from dark, dreary winter into new life! It's such a beautiful picture of God's promises.

Along with lovely flowers, sweet scents, & beautiful sunshine comes the Spring Cleaning List! IF you're anything like me, it's so bittersweet! You dread the daunting tasks but you can't wait till your house smells of fresh, clean Springtime! Am I right?

Today I want to bring you some helpful tips & tricks I've found along the way!

It's no secret that I am a lover of lists. When I found this one from Blissfully Ever After, I knew it was the perfect place to start! Getting organized can be the most important obstacle to begin your spring cleaning. Getting everything out there in the open can really simplify tasks, create a rhythm, & make sure you don't forget anything. It may also be a bit overwhelming, but don't stress...you'll thank yourself later!

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Another important part of organizing is getting all your supplies together. I love these cleaning bucket  inspirations I found on Pinterest!

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Leave it to our friend Martha Stewart to put together a great cleaning bucket essential list that you can find here! 

While organizing your tasks & supplies, don't forget to set some time aside to actually get everything done. Plan out a day or couple hours each day to accomplish certain tasks. You may also consider calling in the recruits! Kids, husbands, friends...no one is out of the question for Spring Cleaning! :)

Clutter can accumulate so quickly! Especially if you keep everything, thinking "oh I'll use this later!".   I am the world's worst at this & we need to stop that! The best tip I've learned is that before you get started, get three large trash bags or cardboard boxes & label them "Trash", "Donate", "Sell." It'll be easier to let go of things knowing you have an organized plan of getting rid of them. It also helps if you already know where you want to donate items and if you'll post things like old prom dresses or valuable clothes on facebook or even have a Yard Sale. If you haven't heard of Poshmark, I encourage you to check it out! It's an online tool to help you sell items in your closet AND shop other people's clothes as well!

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Finally, just GET STARTED! This one is definitely the hardest of all the tasks but obviously the most important. Too often we get "busy" or will "do it later." Don't get caught it that trap. Spring cleaning is so rejuvenating for your home and, in my opinion, for yourself as well. The idea of starting small helps me tackle the larger projects (like the closet). It's easy to clean the bathroom and then the guest bathroom, before I know it I am onto the kitchen, refrigerator, microwave, and there I go...no turning back then. Just wiping down that first mirror or throwing out that old sweater will do you good, just get to it friend!

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When you approach those items you aren't sure wether to keep or pitch, ask yourself these two  questions:

1. Do I really love it? 

And by love I mean, that can't-eat, can't-sleep, reach-for-the-stars, over-the-fence, World Series kind of stuff. (name that movie!)

2. Do you need it right now? 

Chances are you've held onto something thinking you would use it in the future, but you probably didn't (and won't)! As much as it pains me, you don't need it!

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Also, don't forget to check dates on food in your refrigerator/freezer, medicine in the cabinet, or makeup and toiletries in the bathroom. Things like that can clutter up space & may just need to be tossed anyway.

There are so many tools online to help you get started. From checklists to alternative cleaning products, research what you need for your home this spring. Most people approach spring cleaning as just the usual clean-up, but a good thorough cleaning needs preparation & will leave you and your home feeling much better...just like the changing of the seasons!

I hope you've enjoyed our time together & I am so thankful for Elise sharing her lovely space with me! Thank YOU for joining me & don't forget to click over & say hello!

Frankly my dear...Happy Cleaning!