February 24, 2015

Spring cleaning 2015 style


A few days ago, no doubt spurred on by the (possibly temporary - this being Canada after all!) of slightly above freezing temperatures - I began my spring cleaning for this year. I'd been fortunate, our big cross country move in early 2012, which involved some serious purging of household possessions, thorough organizing once we were in our our new digs, and a clean house to begin with, meant that for the most part, I was spared this hefty job for a while.

Three years to be exact - especially since our yard sale last year really helped with things on the organizing front for 2014. I, humbly, keep a very clean and tidy house no matter the time of the year (an unkempt house - or really any setting actually - genuinely fills me with anxiety and doesn't allow my mind the degree of peace and calm that a well ordered home would), so my spring cleaning is not usually a massive affair, but it is still work for sure.

I learned many years ago not to try and and do it all in one mad rush. That massacres my health and often leaves me unable to get out and enjoy the start of spring (which I definitely want to do). Instead I draw up a list of chores and projects and gradually work my way through them over the course of a few weeks (or however long it takes to get the job done).

While beginning this year's list last week, I was struck by how different some of the tasks on it were from those our foremothers knew. Of course there were the age old things like washing the windows, pruning the rose bushes for the new season, scrubbing the walls and the like, but - in part because I tend to use the term spring cleaning rather liberally to encompass all the organizing tasks I want to get done at home - it also had things like "Scan all store points/member ship cards to Stoard on my iPhone" (Tony introduced me to this app and I absolutely love it – my wallet is so streamlined now), "Create a list to save coupon codes from online sellers" (those save 10, 15, 20%, etc discounts that many sellers offer when you purchase online; this is something I've been meaning to do for years, but it kept slipping my mind until this month), "Upload latest photos from my phone to my computer" (I need to do more often; it has been several months since my last cell phone photo upload), and "Scan all 2014 business paperwork to send to my accountant in order to file taxes".



{Spring cleaning today is a fabulous mix of old and new - much, come to think of it, like vintage blogging itself. We carry forward some decades and even centuries old traditions and marry them with the world that we inhabit today. No matter how modern or old school your approach to cleaning is, there's no better time than spring to roll up your sleeves and restore order to your dwelling after a long winter of indoor hibernation. Image source.}


Times may change, the tasks we need to do may differ, and for more traditional cleaning and organizing, the tools and products (Green Works! Swiffer! Mr. Clean Magic Eraser!) may vary, but the fact remains that late winter/early spring is still a truly fantastic and practical time of the year to set your home, computer, cell phone, car, office, you name it, in order again.

On top of the usual elbow grease tasks and more digitally minded ones of the sort mentioned above, I'll also be tidying up my matchbox sized closest (which is nearly impossible to find anything in if it becomes cluttered), organizing some crafting supplies I've purchased in the last few months, culling old paperwork to shred and recycle those things that are truly no longer needed, rejigging my (very full) bookshelves once again to accommodate about 15 new books I picked up this winter, and checking to see which categories of greetings cards (birthday, anniversary, get well, holidays, etc) I'm currently low on (and then making + buying as needed).

I'm lucky in the sense that in so much as my health can handle it, I love organizing and honestly rarely mind most types of cleaning either. This helps make the task of spring cleaning far more enjoyable for sure, but even if it wasn't my favourite thing, I'm sure I'd still throw myself into with the same kind of gusto. The feeling you get when you know that every last hanger, towel, and photo album is in place and that there isn't a smudge or spec of dirt to be found on any mirror, window, or drinking glass is unparallel in my books.

So before the gloriously sunny weather finally returns and the last thing anyone wants to do is be inside more than they have to, why not join me in taking a 21st century spin on the classic tradition of spring cleaning your home, your phone, your computer - anything you fancy. You'll find the serenity and sense of order that it brings to your life is worth its weight in gold or Bitcoins, depending on how modern you want to get! :)

27 comments:

  1. I need to get on my list for spring cleaning! Mine's much like my grandmother's would have been, only I also do a digital cleaning as well. Getting all my photos organized and backed up.

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  2. My #1 thing is: throw out all those receipts for things that you find so impossible to ever throw away! Whenever I've done that, I always feel so much better about my life..! x

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  3. exactly today i wrote the first paragraph on my spring clean list: bedroom!
    like you i don´t do all in one - that would leave me exhausted and with pain in my back. so i will work slowly but effective like an ant on piece on another....
    wish you a fab early spring!
    xxxxxx

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  4. I'm actually looking forward to spring cleaning my house this year. Last year everything went on the back burner while planning a wedding. A lot of surface cleaning but not a roll up my sleeves and get dirty kind of clean. Now if this deep freeze would end I could open my windows and really begin to freshen things up.

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    1. That's wonderful! I was looking forward to it this year as well. The fact that I am nothing short of over-the-moon in love with organizing (always have been, always will - I'd happily be a pro organizer for a living!) does admittedly help make the task of spring cleaning a lot easier to bear.

      I hope that the deep freeze vanishes for you soon. We're still slogging through winter here as well, but did have a splash of sunshine on Sunday and Monday, and while not warm, it was a gorgeous reminder of the fact that winter only has a few more weeks left before it vanishes once again.

      Big hugs & happy Tuesday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  5. Hey, nominated you for the Profoundly Loved Blog party on my latest post! :)

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    1. What a delightful honour, thank you very much, my dear friend!

      Huge hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  6. What are bitcoins?! I started mine this weekend too :) think it was the weather for me too - plus I bought a dress that reminded me of something that my Nanna would have worn and it felt like I was channelling her. I have written a post all about it, but I won't be publishing it til the weekend!

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    1. Hi sweet gal, it sounds like were both rearing to get a go our spring cleaning this year. I hope that all goes well with yours. I love that your new dress reminds you of your Nanna. It's a true shame the the classic house dress, which our foremothers sported often for such activities, is a relic of the past now (save for those of us who wear vintage). They were so practical and comfy - I live in mine for all kinds of household chores.

      Bitcoins are a type of cryptocurrency (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrency). They were amongst the first types and they had a major heyday for a while, but the whole cryptocurrency world has been on a downward slide for a while now.

      Thank you very much for your lovely comment - have a wonderful Wednesday!
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. I love the old sink in that photo, Jessica. I just began my Spring cleaning today, I like to do it when the weather is colder, at least the inside stuff, anyway. I love to clean and organize so I am having much fun. :)

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    1. As do I, dear Linda. Porcelain and enamel coated sinks are a perpetual favourite for me. I'd love to have a home with a classic double sink style one with a running/drying board built in, as many those from the 40s in particular had.

      Happy spring cleaning, sweet lady!
      ♥ Jessica

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  8. The magic eraser sounds very interesting! :)

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    1. They're super handy! I've been using them since they came to Canada, easily a decade or more ago now. I love finding new, unexpected use for them, such as getting scuffs off of some types of shoes and handbags. If you can't find them or the equivalent in Australia, let me know. I'd be happy to ship some to you.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  9. Awww you read my mind! I will be doing just that! And finishing the painting of the house as well. We still have our daughter's room to do and the kitchen and some minor touch ups. I think it will feel good to have that done and the house cleaned and sorted while the weather changes to spring. I cannot wait. I am sooo beyond over this winter LOL xox

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    1. Oh wow, now that is a big spring cleaning undertaking for sure! I hope everything goes smoothly with your painting, dear gal. Nothing that major on the docket this year on our end, just lots of smaller tasks. I hear you and am pretty much over winter at this point, too. I want, nay need, to feel sunshine on my face again!

      Here's to the hope that spring arrives in a flash for both of us!

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  10. I'm also always in the mood for cleaning comes spring. I think it is the harsh light, suddenly you can literally see the dust and webs. Ough! ;) I love to open the doors and air out, wash my curtains and windows, vacuum clean the ceilings and corners for dust webs, etc. I am very tidy, I simply cannot relax and find peace in my mind too if everything is cluttered. And I live with two messyheads(?), sigh. I upload backups of my photos to Flickr while I iron, which I do quite often, I don't understand how some people say they never iron. This way I can see my computer screen and give it an enter now and then. I have set an alarm to my Outlook calendar that every third month I take a backup to an external harddisc, it works fine this way. My photos are the most precious files so these are also backed up to Flickr. I have a Windows cell phone, so everything is automatically backed up to my OneDrive all the time, but every now and then I also make a copy to my computer. If you find any other tips while spring cleaning, do share them with us, dear. Wishing you a lovely day. It is still snowing in Austria. :)

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    1. Very good point - though our home has such a massive lack of natural light that I'm not sure how much that would apply in my case (we have other houses close by on three sides and a tall hill on the fourth, plus we're at pretty much the lowest elevation in our town, which is in a valley, so combine that with small to average sized windows and natural light has to really fight to find its way in unfortunately). In general though I agree with you completely and think that it's a big factor in why we do major household cleaning in the springtime.

      Some people in my family are messy, some are tidy. I fall into the latter camp big time and am so glad! I couldn't imagine not having a clean, organized home and will always wonder how some folks can be messy - don't they feel like you and I? Completely out of sorts when mess and clutter is present? I guess not or they probably wouldn't have messy abodes.

      Will do, my sweet friend!

      Tons of hugs & happy cleaning wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. Oh to be properly and truly organised. I love order but am married to someone who is by nature and much to his chagrin, messy. We also are both sentimental souls and this leads to 'things' which in a home as small as ours with barely any storage, makes me twitchy.

    I need to organise, cull and Spring clean, but the task is so enormous to my eyes, even breaking it down to bitesized pieces is daunting right this moment. It really isn't as bad as I likely make it sound, we're not like those hoarders you seen on the telly, with pathways between walls of boxes! The problem we have is space to be able to store things briefly while I gather together other things of the same ilk so they can live together in one place and not be scattered hither and yonder.

    I think I shall spend a while making a list (I love lists) of all that needs doing and shall attempt to work through it at my leisure.

    Wednesday hugs to you dear Jessica xxx

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    1. I hear you there, my sweet friend. We have a small abode ourselves and are both fans of collecting (though I'm the first to admit, I own many more things than my dear husband, who though not always the least messy person on the planet, hates clutter and disorganization in theory and could happily live in a very minimalistic home). Add a cat and a big dog and plenty of books into the mix and we are rather short on space - and all the more so since I launched my Etsy shop last year, which requires space to store and photograph everything in. We don't objectively need much, which is good, as there isn't much spare space in our little house if we want to keep some rooms fairly uncluttered, as we do. It's not an easy spot for anyone to be in and I do fully understand where you're coming from.

      I sincerely wish you all the best with your list making, cleaning and organizing. If you need a breather at any point, I'm always here to chat with. :)

      Big hugs & many happy Wednesday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  12. I am also preparing myself for the big spring cleaning! Like you, I cannot stand an untidy house so neither do I have much work to do, but funnily enough I quite like cleaning so it doesn't really matter anyway. I find something quite relaxing in cleaning the house - and the result always makes me happy!

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    1. There really and truly is. I can live with a house that's quite full (of things) and/or small no problem usually, but it must be clean and well organized or else a part of me always feels out of whack.

      I hope that your spring cleaning goes splendidly, dear Lindsay. Thank you very much for your great comment.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  13. While living in Europe Spring Cleaning was so easy to deal with LOL
    Now living Down Under..... in super hot always sunny Queensland, Spring Cleaning is confusing!In March it's hot still summer, and well when it;s fall all over the world, we are in Spring!
    Great article dear Jessica!
    http://inkandlacedesigns.blogspot.com.au/

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  14. I am having a decluttering period at the moment too. I collect so many things that I am running out of space for the stuff I really love. That means everything else is being evaluated and if I don't love it or truely need it, it has to go. I can only do a bit at a time as I am sentimental about my possessions and it takes quite a lot of mental energy. Plus, last time I took two big bags of stuff to the charity shop
    I came back with 3 books and a handbag! Whoops!

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    1. *Nods vigorously* Goodness, do I hear you there! Tony and I both collect various things and have numerous bookshelves filled to the brim, which wouldn't be that bad if we didn't live in a fairly small condo, so we have to declutter periodically, too (most recently in the spring of 2014 when we sold some stuff at a yard sale we held and donated plenty to charity, too).

      That's an excellent, and often overlooked point. It really does take a lot of mental stamina to do a major sorting/organizing/decluttering, and for those like you and I who are nostalgic/sentimental, it becomes even trickier. I'm in the same boat when I declutter, too, and fully understand where you're coming from. I hope that in the end it will be worth it and that you feel a renewed sense of serenity - and space! :) - when this substantial task is completed.

      Tons of hugs & happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  15. I really can't wait to get started on my spring cleaning/room makeover with my own bedroom. I've let my room become neglected, because I want the rest of the house to look great.

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  16. I love seeing a clean home, however I admit I dread the actual cleaning -
    I get someone to help sometimes, just last Saturday I had the floors cleaned, I cannot tell you what a difference it is. I felt a little like a pig when I saw the before and after.

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    1. How wonderful that you're able to have someone come in and help you clean. I've never worked with a housekeeper/maid before. For the cleaning side of things (I love organizing too much to part with that task), I'd be more than happy to have help, if such were possible. Perhaps one day. Even just having someone come in once a season for certain tasks would be great.

      Happy soon-to-be spring/fall, my dear friend!

      ♥ Jessica

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