12 ways

1. Gather up throw rugs and take them outside for a good shake. Then air them on a clothesline or railing for several hours.

2. Buy a few potted plants (pansies and gerbera daisies will be flowering soon), and tuck them into nicer pots. It’s still too chilly for planting, but meantime you can enjoy their pretty petals.

3. Do a quick fridge and freezer clear-out to make room for springtime fare. For your next few meals, plan to eat up any frozen stews and soups.

4. Switch from tablecloths to place mats, and arrange a bowl of fruit or a vase of fresh flowers in the middle of the kitchen table. The mats are easier to keep clean — plus, if your table looks set, it’s a less likely landing pad for mail and other clutter.

5. Ditch grungy kitchen sponges in favor of cheery, colorful ones, like the new O-Cel-O Scrub Sponges ($3 for a two-pack). Heck, splurge on nice dish liquid, too — an 18-ounce bottle of the lavender-scented variety is $10 from Williams-Sonoma.

6. If you celebrate Passover —thought to be one origin of spring-cleaning, since it’s Jewish tradition to clean the home from top to bottom to get rid of any leavened bread forbidden on the holiday — you may have already done a number on your kitchen. But even if you won’t be at a seder, it’s a perfect time to sweep up or vacuum crumbs wherever they lurk.

7. Once Easter and Passover have, well, passed, most of your roasting days are over until autumn. So self-clean the oven some weekend — it’s still cool enough that you won’t swelter, and you’ll be ready (and feeling smug) come holiday season in the fall.

8. De-funk your fabrics. Wash the mattress pad, pillow coverings, and pillows from everyone’s bed (all pillow types except foam can go into the washer, but check the labels for specific laundering instructions). Then do a second load with your bath mat, shower curtain, and even the curtain liner on the gentle cycle with color-safe bleach.

9. Fresh lemons smell clean, so try this: Cut one in half, put the pieces in a microwave-safe bowl with water to cover, and cook on High for two to three minutes. The steam will soften hardened food inside the oven while you enjoy the citrus scent. Then grate the fruit in the garbage disposal to eliminate any musty odor and greasy gunk.

10. In the bathroom, see if your loofah or toothbrush needs replacing. You should get a new brush every three months and a new scrubber every 30 days, but toss immediately if the bristles are frayed or the loofah is mildewy. Also, check the cabinet for expired cold medicines and trash them.

11. Wipe down your computer screen with a lightly dampened microfiber cloth. Do the same with the mouse pad, then load a fun wallpaper on the screen (check out graffitiwallpaper.com).

12. Take plastic garbage cans outside for a quick hosing out, and leave them upside down to dry. Then sprinkle the bottoms with baking soda to keep cans odor-free.

Found this interesting article over the weekend and I just so inspired and just got into the spring cleaning fever. I got up and pick up a broom and start cleaning until my allergies kick in and I got so tired.

Hope this article can inspire you to get the spring cleaning fever.