MomTalk.com October 7, 2008: The women's magazine for moms about children, family, health, home, fashion, careers, marriage & more

Spring Cleaning Made Easy

By Kristin Bailey Murphy

It's officially spring -- let's ditch those winter coats and open the windows wide! It's time to enjoy the feel-good ritual known as spring cleaning. Here, Monica Nassif, author of Spring Cleaning: The Spirit of Keeping Home, shares her tried-and-true tips on cleaning your home from top to bottom.

The Basics

Before you dive in and get started, Nassif says it's helpful to keep the following in mind:
• Spring cleaning doesn't happen overnight. Give yourself a least a week to complete all your spring-cleaning tasks.
• Gravity is your friend. Dust falls downward so start at the top of each room and work your way down.
• Work clockwise in every room. When you repeat the same cleaning pattern from room to room, it helps you stay better organized.
• Dry before wet. Make sure you vacuum and sweep before you mop or wipe down a surface. This way you'll avoid a muddy mess while you work.
• Difficult before easy. Typically your eyes are bigger than your arms and legs are stronger. Start with the most challenging things first so that you have enough energy to last throughout the day.
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