Spring Cleaning Guide

The clear skies and warm weather means spring has finally arrived in Boulder. It’s time to dust off the winter gloom and revitalize your lifestyle. Some good old-fashioned spring cleaning is still the best way to get re-energized. The start of this brighter season brings the opportunity to take a good look at your home and see what needs cleaning up and clearing out.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or if you need some organizing tips, here’s an easy spring cleaning guide to get you started:

Start Outside

It’s hard to resist the spring weather, especially here in beautiful Boulder. If you’re feeling antsy indoors, then start your spring cleaning outside and work your way in. Residents of The Habitat enjoy year-round landscaping and are free from doing any yard work. But apartments have private outdoor spaces that need to be maintained, too; spring is a great time to clean and refurbish them.

Sweep and hose or mop down your outdoor space to get rid of any built up grime; clean the outside of your windows or glass door; wipe off and, if necessary, polish your patio furniture. Since the snow is gone, you can finally redecorate your outside space by replacing your old furniture or getting a new potted plant. Now that you’ll be spending more time lounging outside, it’s important to spruce it up.

Deep Cleaning Indoors

Once you’ve refreshed your outdoor space and been re-energized by the sunshine, it’s time get inside and do some heavy duty home cleaning. While dusting and sweeping are good ways to maintain your home’s cleanliness, every 3-6 months you should do some deep cleaning.

First, get all the right cleaning tools and supplies: gloves, a mop or rag, a brush or sponge, antibacterial or disinfecting products, and a vacuum for carpets or rugs. Our North Boulder/Gunbarrel rental community is conveniently located on the same street as a King Soopers, but you can also drive down to the Target on 28^th and Pearl to buy your supplies.

The next step is to make a list of all the rooms and spaces in your home that need to be scrubbed down like your bedroom(s), bathroom(s), living room, and kitchen. Remember to clean all those easy-to-neglect spots: under furniture, behind the stove, and inside the refrigerator. Replace your shower curtains or give your shower door and tub a good rub down. As you’re going from room to room, check for items that need to be washed, like comforters, throw blankets, and floor mats.

Wherever you start, always begin from top to bottom:  wipe off countertops and furniture before moving down to your floors. Many of our apartment rentals have wood-style flooring that are easy to mop and don’t require a special polish. Vacuuming carpet, rugs, or clothed furniture should be your last cleaning step so that you can remove any leftover dust or dirt.

Organizing and Decluttering

It’s likely that while you’re cleaning up, you’ll come across things that need to be organized, replaced, or thrown out. Decluttering your home is probably the most rewarding part of spring cleaning. Spring is a time for regeneration, so getting rid of excess belongings and reorganizing your home will definitely help you feel renewed.

Since it’s a new season, make sure to pack away your winter belongings. Heavy blankets, big puffy coats, snow boots, and anything else you won’t need while the weather’s warm should be put away. While you’re putting away your winter clothes, go through the rest of your closet and see if there are old or unwanted clothes you can donate. There are many donation centers in Boulder near our apartment complex that will gladly take your gently used clothing, including Goodwill and ARES Thrift Store. These stores also accept unwanted shoes, books, furniture, kitchen appliances, and other household items. If you have find belongings that you want to get rid of but can’t easily recycle or throw out—like old electronics—you can take them over to Boulder’s “Recycle Row” or CHaRM, an eco-friendly recycle center.

Once you’ve tidied up and gotten rid of excess belongings, you’ll find it easier to organize your things and even rearrange or restyle your furniture to your liking. While spring cleaning is hard work, the satisfying end result is worth the effort. A clean and well-organized home will leave you re-energized and ready for a fun, sunny season.