The third installment of our Spring Cleanse Series covers an area where most of us certainly need to do some clean up: Our homes! Whether it’s a 500-square-foot apartment or an eight-bedroom house, here are our universal recommendations for personal space cleansing. Read on!
SPRING CLEANSE: YOUR HOME
HAVE A PLAN
While it may sound obvious, getting organized doesn’t happen haphazardly. This is why it’s incredibly important to go into your home cleansing with a clear and delineated plan of attack. Create a game plan that specifically details out what you want to accomplish and attach a serious timeline for each item; for example, cleaning out your linen closet may only take 45 minutes, while reorganizing your basement may take a week or more. Establish a firm checklist and get going.
INVEST IN NON-TOXIC CLEANING PRODUCTS
Some of the most damning endocrine disruptors can be found in conventional household cleaning products. Use this new season to start fresh and really be clean, investing in non-toxic cleaning products. We personally love Common Good or Seventh Generation, but also are huge fans of DIY-ing our own cleaning products. Here’s one of our favorite easy DIYs, an all-purpose disinfectant spray:
- 1 cup distilled water
- ½ cup white vinegar (apple cider vinegar works, too, although it can have a more pungent aroma)
- ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide
- Up to 20 drops of your favorite essential oil – we like lemon, sweet orange, lemongrass or lavender
Mix all ingredients together in a spray bottle.
FINISH ONE THING BEFORE YOU START ANOTHER
Cleaning can be a tedious. (If you disagree, we applaud you.) It’s quite easy and understandable, then, to ditch a difficult or boring task midway in order to pick up a new, seemingly less monotonous chore. Don’t. Abandoning something midway can actually create more chaos and clutter than when you originally started. (Ever give up in the middle of a closet clear out? You know what we're talking about.) As hard as it may seem, it's important to stay the course.
DON’T FORGET THE KITCHEN
Many of us associate “spring cleaning” with clearing out stuff like closets and wardrobes, but the reality is our kitchen really, really needs a good cleanup this time of year. Start with your refrigerator and do a thorough excavation, taking care to toss out expired products, scrub down surfaces and totally reorganize. Move on to areas like your pantry, spice cabinets and silverware drawers, cleaning and tossing along the way. Going through this exercise before you embark on a food-oriented cleanse is a great idea, too, as you'll really be able to accurately shop for the products you need.
CULTIVATE GOOD ENERGY
BHH’s Amina is all about Feng Shui-ing her living environments, and we’re fully on board with the merits of cultivating good energy. (Who isn't?) Although we’re not necessarily proposing conducting a full overhaul of your bedroom or living room, try doing simple energy-enhancing things like keeping the area around your front door clutter-free, removing any storage from underneath your bed and purifying the air with uplifting essential oils or palo santo. After all, a happy house isn’t just clean and tidy – it’s filled with good vibes, too.