Spring Cleaning? Who's got time for that? YOU DO! If you follow these tips & tricks YOU could get your spring cleaning done fast and efficiently!

After the long Canadian winter, there’s something about this time of year that inspires us to throw open our windows and let the fresh breeze in. That’s right it’s time for some SPRING CLEANING!

Spring is an ideal time to de-clutter and infuse renewed energy into our living space. A complete spring clean can take a long time, UNLESS you plan correctly! Here are some tips and easy solutions to make your home spotless, in no time at all:

1. Before you begin, make a check list of the jobs required. That way you plan out the most efficient route.

Tip: All though it may seem easier to separate the list by specific chores (like vacuuming all of the floors at once). consider completing one room at a time. This will give you the satisfaction to continue.

2. Begin with dusting and vacuuming surfaces—from ceiling to baseboards—as well as chandeliers, light bulbs and light fixtures. Then scrub the floors with a scrubbing brush and cleaning solution, and if you don’t already own one, rent a steam cleaner for carpets. You might as well do it all at once right?

3. Take down window treatments and wash or dry clean. If you have wooden blinds, wipe with a gentle wood cleaner, if aluminum, wash them outdoors where they can dry. This is a great time to clean the inside of your windows too!

4. In the kitchen, thoroughly clean the tops of cabinets, fridges and the stove vent. Be ruthless with the contents of your fridge and throw out anything old, or furry. Defrost your freezer, empty the contents and wipe the inside with a mix of a litre of hot water with 2 tablespoons of baking soda.

5.  In the bedroom, flip your mattress and edit your wardrobe. Store away winter garments until the next season and get rid of clothes you haven’t worn for more than a year; don’t save them for “someday”.

6.Last but not least, organize your bookshelves and storage cabinets. Spring cleaning is a good time to donate unused or unwanted items. One place you can donate is to a ReStore of homebuilding organization, Habitat for Humanity. It accepts everything from furniture, household products, to even the kitchen sink. PLUS ReStores provide a tax receipt for the value of your donation. Find one in your community at www.habitat.ca/restore.

There you’re done! Now wasn’t that easy? Now to open the windows and let that spring air in!

PS. Spring cleaning is also a great time to replace the batteries in your smoke detector!