Is it summer already? It feels like spring was a blur with the quarantine, but that doesn’t mean we can neglect spring cleaning! Spring (into summer) cleaning is a great way to refresh your space, whether at home, your workspace, or even your mental health! Who couldn’t use a little revitalization right about now?
This time of year, and as we start to crawl out of our quarantine holes, is a great time to take a step back and evaluate our living spaces and start fresh with some DIY projects and maintenance. Among many things, this season has been an eye opener for many people in terms of what we really value. Use that new perspective to eliminate clutter, get rid of things we don’t need or use anymore, and change up our spaces.
Here are some ideas to keep your home and mind healthy! If you’re not a homeowner yet, these tips can still apply to your space, but check out some of our financial tools like Rent vs Buy if you’re thinking of making the transition from renter to homeowner!
1. Deep Cleaning
We’re talking a thorough, top-to-bottom, move your furniture and get in the nooks and crannies deep clean. Just as we experience outdoor air pollution from our environments, allergens like dust, pollen, and other pollutants can linger indoors as well. Giving your floors, furniture, and interiors a deep clean isn’t just good for appearances, but helps maintain a healthy environment too.
Cleaning reduces stress
You know that pile you’ve been avoiding next to your nightstand? We all have a “pile” and they accumulate and stress us out. They’re constant reminders of things we need to do or put away, so put on some headphones and use that time as a break to clean. For more tips on creating a stress-free environment at home, check out how to create a focus-friendly workspace.
2. Check your detectors
Take this time to make sure that everything is in working order in your house, especially things like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
3. Inspect A/C
Summer could be your air conditioner’s and fans busiest season, so make sure you prep your units to ensure they’ll last through the heat. Make sure you clean your fan blades and air filters, and if you have a central system, get a professional to come out and look it over. Some of these steps may seem like a drag now, but just think what a downer it would be if your air conditioner broke down in the middle of a heat wave.
4. Scrub the grill
Summertime means more backyard grill outs! Get your outdoor cooker up and running by turning up the heat to high and letting the grill “cook” with the lid closed for about half an hour to burn off any residue. Let the grill cool off and use a brush to scrub it clean. Get your propane tanks ready and celebrate the start of summer with a BBQ!
5. Fine-tune your patio & deck
Do a once-over of your patio and deck and look for signs of rot or nails sticking out of the boards. Do a water test to see if you need to reseal - sprinkle some drops of water on your deck, if the water beads up immediately, you’re good to go. If it absorbs into the wood, it’s time to reseal!
6. Exterior window washing
This is something that’s good to do once a year. Really clean the glass on all of your exterior windows. If you can do it yourself, great. Or consider hiring a professional who can come out and knock it out in a day! It’s little things like these that make a lasting impact on keeping your home looking fresh and new, even years after you’ve purchased it.
7. Tend to the lawn & garden
Consider adding a layer of mulch to keep weeds down in your yard (it also helps the ground retain moisture when temperatures start to rise!) Prune and trim any seasonal plants and pull out any dead plants or bulbs to keep your garden looking tidy. This depends on the plants you have, but a general rule of thumb for outdoor gardens is to do a few deep soaks spaced out rather than more frequent but superficial waterings. This promotes strong, deep roots!
8. Wellness tips
Maintaining your home and space is already going to give your mental health a boost. But to keep your body happy and healthy, drink plenty of water (especially when it starts to get hot!), eat whole foods, and exercise. Mental and emotional health is just as important as physical health (the two are connected!) When we accumulate stress and anxiety, it builds up in our body chemically, affecting our overall health. Try some stress-relieving techniques like journaling and meditation to set intentions for your day (or season) and stay positive.
As we move into a new season, try and think about your own transformation, new beginnings, and how a deep cleaning inside and out can help us prepare for future growth ahead.