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Your Calendar & Your Time

SPEED THROUGH
SPRING CLEANING!

by Marcia Ramsland, author of
Simplify Your Time:
Stop Running and Start Living!

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Are you busy yet wondering what strategic steps to take to feel you've "Spring Cleaned" your home? Spring Cleaning is the process of sweeping out the dinginess of winter to freshen your home with that clean springtime feeling. Welcome in the sunshine and spring breezes and slip on your gym shoes and get busy. One step a day and you'll be finished in no time flat!

SPEED CLEAN YOUR HOME: The short version
#1 Vacuum more thoroughly than usual. Spend a little extra time to bring down any cobwebs and vacuum under the furniture. Vacuuming main living areas makes the biggest cleaning difference and shows visual results right away. Family and friends will be impressed and think your whole house is clean!

#2 Clean Out Your Clothes Closet. Spend time one morning trying on spring clothes, rehang out of place items by category, and giveaway winter clothes you didn't wear. Clean closet floors, put away winter boots and bring your spring clothes and shoes to look great.

#3 Wash the windows inside and out. Capture the spring sunlight soon to be streaming into your home. Air out the house on a particularly warm day. Enjoy the breeze and dream of summer coming.

SPEED CLEAN YOUR HOME - The complete version
If you want to further "dig in" to Spring Cleaning, clean strategic spaces that make the biggest difference:

First Room: Bedrooms - Spring clean and reorganize one bedroom a day.

• Wash sheets, blankets, and bedspread. Vacuum the mattress and under the bed. The room is now half clean.

• Complete the other half by working in sections: one dresser and nightstand at a time from top to bottom. Empty, wipe out, and reorganize the contents in each drawer.

• Dust and rearrange the dresser top with visually pleasing items. Done!

Second Room: Family Room- Spring clean away clutter and dust in this busy room.

•  Begin clockwise by clearing off, dusting, and repositioning attractive items on flat surfaces such as countertops, coffee tables, and end tables. Keep your sights on getting all the way around the room. You’re one third finished.

• Put away piles of "stuff" stacked on the floor and then vacuum. Now you’re two-thirds of the way there.

• Focus on one shelf at a time. Again, clear everything off, dust, and lineup the videos, CD’s, and books. Give several away until they fit neatly. Whew – you’re finished!

Third Room: Garage - On a warm day it's refreshing to clean sweep the garage floor, reorganize winter shovels and spring gardening tools.

• Begin in the center and move items into sections along the wall such as household tools, sports equipment, and recycle bins. Then sweep or hose down the floor.

• Go back and fine-tune each section, donating and tossing as much as you can. Begin at the doorway and work clockwise around the outside walls.

• Place remaining storage items behind closed cabinets and labeled boxes. End with a trip to a charity drop spot with bags full of giveaway items.

BONUS POINTS - The final step to success for the High Achiever in you is to get rid of any accumulated paper "piles" on your desk and countertops! Complete each area you conquer by polishing the wood or table top underneath with a Lemon Scent for a spring scent!

Remember, anything you do will help your overall goal of a clean home. Every step counts so congratulate yourself when you finish.

Marcia Ramsland is well known as "The Organizing Pro" for her practical skills and tips to manage busy lives. She is a speaker, author, and media guest expert appearing on TV, radio, and in national magazines for her popular books Simplify Your Life, Simplify Your Time, and Simplify Your Holidays (Thomas Nelson). Visit her website, www.organizingpro.com for free tips.

FEATURE ARTICLES:
Marcia Ramsland, speaker and author, writes magazine articles for consumer and trade organizations. Request a special article by e-mailing or calling her through the contact information below.


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