The air is finally warming up, and the snow has melted. Spring has sprung, so it’s time to get your home for the warmer months ahead.

It may seem like a daunting task, but this blog post will give you some handy tips on how to get started. From decluttering to making sure your home systems are serviced and working — we cover four essential elements below:

1 – Decluttering

The pandemic has offered a new perspective to many — an unorganized home is a stressful one. 

With the newfound realization that we might not need 20 pairs of jeans in our closet or Christmas decorations from our childhood stored in the garage, many of us set out to do what we’ve been dreading all these years. But decluttering is one of the most common spring cleaning tasks and can be fun and therapeutic if done right. Since we’re all spending much more time at home, it’s probably a good idea to start decluttering spaces that you use the most, like your home office, kitchen, or living room. While we highly recommend watching some Marie Kondo videos to gain inspiration, you can also use the following tips to make the process less stressful for yourself:

• Start with a small space, and only when you have time (preferably on the weekend)
• Work your way from top to bottom. Yes, reach for those boxes tucked away on top of your closest or storage space and work your way down. 
• Make three piles: keep, donate, and throw away. You might be tempted to keep a lot of things, but ask yourself when was the last time you used something. If you haven’t used it for more than a year or two, chances are you don’t really need it. You can either donate it or throw it away.

2 – Cleaning indoor air

How do you clean something you can’t touch or feel? By replacing your HVAC filters. Spring cleaning is an excellent opportunity to replace your furnace and replace filters to ensure that you and your family get fresh and clean air to breathe.

Doing so will help keep you healthier as the season progresses because filters can catch smaller, irritating particles that are released into the air during springtime. Air conditioner ducts build up dust over the wintertime, which upgraded filters can filter out before it impacts allergies or asthma symptoms in our homes!

3 – Sanitize, update and clean your appliances 

You should technically clean your vacuum and everyday use appliances monthly. But let’s face it, no one has the time or energy for that. So it’s probably a good idea to tackle cleaning appliances and making sure they’re working properly when you’re spring cleaning your home. 

Start by inspecting things you use every day — your central vacuum, ceiling and exhaust fans, fridge, oven, and microwave.  While it may be easier to clean and sanitize smaller appliances, it’s probably best to hire professionals to come in and take a look at bigger appliances such as your air conditioning unit or water heaters. 

4 – Don’t forget your garage

Probably one of the most ignored areas of your home, cleaning out the garage is essential when it comes to spring. Because our garages can become a dumping ground for anything we don’t need, it’s only smart to do a deep clean at least once a year. If you organize and clean out your garage in spring, you’ll have enough space to store essentials for the warmer months and actually park your car indoors for a change. 

Start with the easiest things first, such as gathering recyclables or tagging items you can donate or bring to the dump. Next, you should clear out the entire garage and put back things in order or an organized form, section-by-section. It might take a day or two—or even a few weekends—so do your best to restore order at the end of each session.