Spring Cleaning Your Apartment

It’s officially spring! Sure, there is still snow on the ground in Minnesota, but soon everything is going to be in bloom and turning green. During the winter the space under your couch has collected a few dust bunnies. It is time to spring clean your apartment! Many people dread cleaning at any time, but keep in mind that you're lucky that you don't have to worry about the typical upkeep which homeowners need to do consistently.

The first step in spring cleaning your apartment is to go through everything. Decide what you are going to keep, what you could possibly sell, or what you can donate to charity. Start in your clothes closet. If you haven’t worn it in the last few years, then it is time to get rid of it. After you're done with the closet, next is the 'junk drawer'. Keep the same frame of mind--if you haven’t used it in a while you might want to put it in the “get rid of pile”.

Now that you have gone through your apartment and have cleared the clutter, it is time to start cleaning. The simplest way to keep organized is to make a list of every room in your home and then make a list of all the chores that need to be done in each room. Working from top to bottom in each room seems to work the best.

Here’s a list that might help you get started:

• Dust shelves, blinds, vents, light fixtures -- anything that collects dust and you usually ignore.
• Wash all windows.
• Flip your mattress, which is something you should do every few months. You'll get more use out of it and you'll sleep better.
• Donate unwanted clothes.
• Vacuum and shake rugs/cushions outside.
• Check your smoke detector batteries.
• Clean your computer and TV.
• Clean your patio/balcony and furniture.

Now that all the cleaning is done, and your life feels much more in order, you'll be ready to step outside and enjoy the warm weather when it arrives. Who knows, you might even meet a new neighbor or two!