Sarah Rogers

I know it sounds crazy but I love spring cleaning. Nothing makes me happier than throwing open all the windows and airing the whole condo out. Not to mention, I love the satisfaction of a job well done when I’m finished. I know it sounds a little crazy but for me clean + organized = stress free. Ahh. (My poor husband is right.)

And on that OCD note, here's some of my best spring cleaning advice so you can get your life in order, too. (You want to right?)

1. Once you’ve folded your sheets, store them inside one of the pillow cases to keep the set together and your closet organized.  
2. Clean out your kettle by boiling vinegar in it. Then pour baking soda down your drain followed by the boiled vinegar for a no-chemical cleaning.
3. Vacuum and flip your mattress. Consider replacing any pillows you’ve had for more than a year.
4. Clean out your medicine cabinet (check all expiry dates) and makeup bag (here are some expiration rules of thumb).
5. I was skeptical when my mom bought me one of those as-seen-on-TV steamers (H20 Mop, US$99) but now I’ll never go back. I love that it’s chemical-free and the cleaning pads are easy to wash and reuse.
6. Always work from the top down, and always dust first and vacuum second.
7. Get three boxes and label them store, donate and toss. Then hit your closets and drawers for some serious de-cluttering.     
8. Websites like Craiglist and Kijiji are your friend. Selling your trash as treasures is easier than you think. (Yard sales with friends are also fun, especially if you reward yourselves with a barbecue afterwards.)  
9. Empty the fridge and freezer so you can wipe up all those leaks and spills you’ve been ignoring. Defrosting is also a good idea if you have ice buildup since it hampers efficiency.
10. Don’t do everything at once (a mistake I make year after year), instead just tackle one room at a time.

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