Oh, it’s that time of year again! The air is getting warmer, grass is starting to grow, trees and flowers are starting to bloom. That can mean only one thing: Spring... CLEANING!

Like filing taxes or reporting for jury duty, Spring cleaning is not exactly the most popular activity for a lot of people--but in the immortal words of Chuck Mosley, “ It’s a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.” It’s all for your benefit, you know. Not only will you freshen up your living quarters and be more organized, some even say that Spring cleaning also promotes positive effects to your health and well-being, as discussed in a recent article in Reader’s Digest. Clean house AND feel better whilst doing so? I’d say that’s enough incentive to muster the courage to slay the Spring cleaning beast.

But, before you embark on your quest for a tidier, neater habitat, do you have everything you need? Do you know where to start? It’s okay to say no. The toughest part of any task is often the starting point. Let us give you some advice and help get you started on tackling this annual Spring season project.

It’s a good idea to take a moment and make a checklist (either mental or written) as to what areas require the most attention. For example, if you’re meticulous about clean floors and eating surfaces but haven’t addressed the windows in quite a while, you might want to prioritize your window glass before spending more time on the floors and tables that already receive extra care. This article from housebeautiful.com outlines 20 good points of interest around your home that recurrently get neglected. Major appliances like refrigerators and ovens, cabinet doors and knobs, silverware/tableware, painted walls, the mattress, etc. These are all places that garner high traffic, but frequently get ignored. Make it a point to hit these areas hard so that they’ll be easier to clean on the next go-around (which, hopefully, will be sooner and more successive than waiting until next year’s Spring cleaning).

Vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners, and shampooers are your first line of defense against ground-in dirt, dust, and debris in your carpets and/or rugs. If your machine (or machines) isn’t up for the task or you need additional armaments in order to fight carpet crud, we sell portable handheld and stickvacs, professional quality canister vacuums, and uprights from some of the most well-known names in the commercial and hotel housekeeping industries such as Miele, Vapamore, and Fuller Brush. Plus, in our vacuum and accessories section, you can find essential attachments and brushes, replacement belts, filters, bags, and other important accoutrements. REMEMBER: Specific surfaces require specific care. A handheld vacuum can handle furniture upholstery and to dust off shelves, but you wouldn’t use it to vacuum every square foot of flooring in your home. Use the right tool for the job and work efficiently.

When was the last time you stocked up on house cleaning supplies? No, not the all-in-one cleaning solutions and liquids. Just because the bottle says “multi-surface”, you can’t use that stuff on everything. Either it won’t do a good-enough job, or the combination of detergents and soaps could have a disastrous effect on whatever you’re trying to clean. There many different and unique surfaces all throughout your home. Carpets and upholstery, floors, walls, tile and grout, metalwork, woodwork, glass. The wrong product on the wrong surface could stain, etch, or otherwise permanently ruin it. Then, you’ll have to go out and spend the money to have it replaced since, a lot of times, the damage will be irreparable. For carpets, we have Genuine Kirby Hypoallergenic Carpet Shampoo for Kirby brand vacuum cleaners (also available in a specially-formulated version for pet owners), Hoover carpet and upholstery detergent, and Filter Queen fragrance sprinkles that help freshen and deodorize rugs and carpets. For all the metal surfaces such as sinks, stovetops, and showerheads, Bar Keepers Friend has cleaners and polishes for metal as well as porcelain, glass, and tile. Condition and protect hardwood floors with Koblenz high-gloss topcoat finish, cleanse and restore granite countertops with Bayes non-abrasive cleaning spray, and stop wood cutting boards and kitchen tools from drying out with JK Adams beeswax wood conditioner. Don’t forget your major appliances! Miele, one of the top names in commercial-grade appliances, makes descalers and decalcifiers for coffee machines and dishwashers. And for those mystery odors that permeate and linger throughout the house, try the original Bad Air Sponge to neutralize foul mists and aromas from your living space. Browse our dedicated home cleaning section and peruse through our inventory; we have products for laundry, dishes, spot cleaning, plus accessories to help you successfully complete your mission.

Lastly (and this is a BIG one), the toughest and probably most time-consuming part of the operation is going through your belongings and reorganizing everything. Clutter is one of those easy-to-prevent messes that many of us ignore until it’s too late and grows into a massive pile of chaos. Whether it’s loose mail, miscellaneous knick-knacks around the home, or the bad habit of not putting things away in their designated places, clutter can consume your entire home if it’s not kept in check. Yes, it’s going to be a trying and arduous task, but fortunately, it’s not a difficult one. We can help you wrangle in the clutter creature with our assortment of organization items. We’ve got containers and racks for the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and for anywhere else in the home. Neatly arrange your personal effects and add a new aesthetic to your environment with stylish selections from Now Designs, Spectrum Diversified, Alessi, and more. You’ll not only free up some extra space, but you might find yourself become inspired to redecorate and redress both regularly-occupied and the rarely-visited parts of your home. In that case, you can view our special home decor collection. And if you’re feeling extra creative, check out last month’s blog article for some Spring seasonal home decoration ideas and trends for 2017.

Now, go forth on your expedition. Charge headfirst into battle and restore order to your domicile. For more domestic pointers and incredible deals on home goods, cleaning products, and everything else you need for a happy, healthy, and hygienic household, shop Our Pampered Home.