Spring cleaning is a longstanding tradition that allows people to freshen up their homes and get a head start on the upcoming spring and summer months. With the flowers blooming and the birds chirping, there is no reason for your house to be stuck with winter blues. 

Some tips to help get spring cleaning started include: cleaning room by room; organizing and clearing clutter; tackling the seasonal chores; establishing new cleaning habits. 

  Cleaning an entire house may seem like a large task, but breaking it down by room, makes it much more manageable. Creating cleaning checklists for each room will ensure no steps are skipped during the process. It is also important to focus on those areas that are often skipped over rather than those that have been cleaned recently. 

Organizing and clearing clutter is one of the biggest parts of spring cleaning. Sorting your belongings into four different piles can be an effective way to help you decide what to keep, throw away, store, or give away. Taking the clutter to a donation box or charity is another effective way to make sure it does not linger. Not only will organizing and clearing clutter get rid of unwanted items in the house, but it has proven mental health benefits and reduces the stress hormone cortisol. 

In preparation for warmer weather, it is important to get outside and complete outdoor tasks such as cleaning the grill, patio, outside of windows and gardening. The first warm days of spring are a perfect opportunity to get these outdoor tasks done, get some sunshine and a dose of Vitamin D. 

Spring cleaning is about more than just the home, it is also about selfcare and wellness. It is a good time to look at mental health and find good habits to form that will carry into the upcoming months. For example, meditation and yoga have been proven to increase body awareness, relieve chronic stress patterns, relax the mind and sharpen concentration.