Get the proper supplies, delegate duties to start

Spring cleaning can be overwhelming.

Sometimes the hardest part is getting started. It’s hard to determine which room, and which task,to start with. Here are some tips for getting started from Vanessa Hearnsberger of Uneedamaid in Little Rock.

Pick up the right supplies.

One of the keys to a successful spring cleaning is using the right tools.

Hearnsberger recommends electrostatic extension dusters to attract dust and clean ceilings and the corners of rooms; general disinfectant for countertops and windowsills; toilet bowl cleaner; tub and tile cleaner; a neutral pH cleaner for hardwood floors and granite countertops; microfiber rags for dusting by hand; and microfiber mop heads that can be thrown away after use.

Get the whole family involved. “Make a list of everything that needs to be done and assign different tasks to each family member,” she says. This makes the cleaning go faster and provides a more systematic approach.

Declutter your house first. “Get stuff out of the closet you’re not using anymore and donate it or have a garage sale,” Hearnsberger says. Apply this decluttering method to the rest of the house as well. Store or give away things that are seldom used. Get clutter out of the way before the cleaning begins.

Do one room at a time. Start with a room that’s difficult to clean or one that’s super easy. It doesn’t matter, as long as you’re not taking on the overwhelming task of trying to clean the whole house at once. “That way you’re making progress and you can see the progress,” Hearnsberger says.

Start high and work your way to the ground. This knocks down the dust from up high and allows it to settle before you clean furniture and carpets, which should be cleaned last, according to Hearnsberger.

Keep cleaning after the spring clean.

“Once you get your home totally clean and it’s in tiptop shape, you want to do normal cleanings every week and then pick one room to do another deep clean on a couple of weeks after spring cleaning,” Hearnsberger says. Rotate through the house, deep cleaning one room periodically to keep the whole house in shape. “That will save you a lot of time when it comes to spring cleaning next year.”