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Spring has arrived and nothing welcomes the season like a clean house. According to a recent survey conducted by The Soap and Detergent Association, 60 percent of Americans agree that springtime is the best time to eliminate clutter and dirt from their homes. Prepare in advance with these timesaving spruce-up strategies.

Start by identifying your clutter source.  Determining the source helps to eliminate future clutter and keeps your home organized in a more efficient manner. The following suggestions help combat clutter stemmed from common sources: paper, kids and limited space.

Entryway

• Keep a small paper bag at the front door to hold junk mail and catalogues. At the end of the week, toss the whole bag in the recycling bin and replace the bag.  
  
  
• Designate one container for each family member to place incoming clutter such as shoes, toys, or sports equipment. 

Home office

• File all mail, permission slips, invitations, coupons, etc. in specific folders.  At the end of the week, sort through the papers, discard outdated materials, send replies or pay bills. 

Garage

• Utilize hooks to hang garden, sports and automobile equipment and keep the floor space clear. Tip: Keep all car-wash products in a bucket and hang the bucket on one of the hooks for easy access.

Bedrooms

• Spend a day conducting a thorough organization of the house, especially bedrooms. 
  Tip:  Enlist the help of family members to sort through clothes and toys.  Sell the discarded belongings at a garage sale and use the money to reward your family for helping.

Kitchen

• Encourage your family to use fewer glasses and dishes to practice daily water conservation.
  Tip:  Give each family member a water bottle and/or cup to reuse for water throughout the day.

Think before you throw away

Give clothing you no longer need to a local charity Donate books you no longer want to a local library Give magazines to a nearby hospital or nursing home

Must-Have Helpers

Microfiber cloths to dust Vacuum cleaner dusting attachment for high ceilings, walls, corners Dusting spray Trash cans for every room or area in the house Trash can liners -- these can be reused grocery bags Baking soda Recycling bins -- labeled for easy sorting Central heating and cooling filter -- changing this twice a year significantly reduces allergens and dust

Ed Wright is the owner and founder of Spouses Cleaning Houses in Annapolis, Md. After 10 years in the U.S. Army, Wright retired as an Army Corporal to fulfill his lifelong desire of becoming an entrepreneur.  The result, Spouses Cleaning Houses, was founded in January 1995. info@spousescleaninghouses.com

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