Seasonal cleaning is daunting, but everything is easier when broken down into steps.  Check out this list to know where to start:

1. Before deep cleaning, start with organizing.  This will involve an overhaul of all your cluttered cabinets and closets, as well as an investment in organizational supplies.  Start in the kitchen, throwing away anything expired.  Sort your spices and dry goods, then move on to your perishables.  Refrigerator organization is the most important!  You don't want to run into two month old leftovers.

2. Gather supplies.   Make sure your vacuum has all its attachments, your duster is operational, you have plenty of clean rags and brushes, and all the right cleaners.  Household items like borax, baking soda and vinegar are affordable cleaning chemicals, and you can make your own all purpose cleaners.

3. Start high to low, focusing on the more public rooms first as they will need the most attention.  High dust, vacuum drapes and curtains, clean window sills and wells, clean baseboards.  Pick up clutter, spot clean spills, clean electronic screens.  Then make sure you get into the deep cleaning, leaving no cushion unturned.  Don't forget to clean smoke alarms and replace their batteries.  

4. Using the high to low method, move to the less public areas like the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms.  Go through your closets and dressers and donate unwanted items.  launder any linens that don't get much attention.  Rotate your mattress and put new sheets on the bed.  In the bathroom, clean the toilet basin, sinks, and bath tubs.  Polish mirrors and chrome fixtures.  Put some elbow grease into grout removal and mop floors.  In the kitchen, wash and put away dishes.  Vacuum the coils behind your refrigerator, change stove drip pans, clean the oven, sanitize surfaces and clean your dishwasher.  

5. Clean the outside: remove debris from the lawn, clean gutters, trim tree branches, prune shrubs and bushes, power wash decks, patios, siding, etc.  Dry out hoses, fountains, birdbaths and irrigation systems and store in a dry place.  Aerate the soil, feed the lawn, and protect any cold sensitive plants.

Elizabeth Carter--Office Manager, Country Club Janitorial.  

There are two types of people: tidy people and procrastinators.  Some of us find it easier to clean while they go, while others (like me) prefer to put cleaning on the backburner until it becomes, shall we say, “noticeable.”  But there is a reason seasonal cleaning is a tradition: clutter is bad for the psyche.  

Most of us know the feeling: that anxiety you get when you’re looking at a pile of laundry.  Stressful, right? That’s because clutter manifests itself both physically and emotionally.  Decluttering your home or work space has proven effects on reducing anxiety.  Feeling like things are in order reflects a feeling of wholeness and self-efficacy.  In addition to these benefits, it can also reduce the stress of family tension.

Proper energy flow of one’s personal space is rooted deeply in Chinese spirituality, but Psychologists have also studied these principles and their effect on psychological well-being.  This philosophy, Feng Shui, is more complicated than just the absence of clutter, although this is the most fundamental step to effective energy flow.  https://fengshuinexus.com/feng-shui-tips/feng-shui-treating-mental-illness/).  Feng Shui’s central philosophy emphasizes the balance of the five ancient Chinese elements: fire, water, earth, wood and metal.  When these five elements are in proper balance and objects are placed efficiently, Ch’i (also known as Qi), the flow of positive energy, is promoted.  Although there is no scientific backing to the flow of Ch’i facilitating well-being, individual principles of Feng Shui have been tested.  Color, sound, presence of natural light and absence of clutter all have profound effects on mood.

Through certain elements of Feng Shui, we can improve both our mental well-being and self perception.  Principles like decluttering, furniture arrangement and the selection of color and shapes in your decor can boost energy by engaging your brain in problem-solving skills.  This practice can also take your mind off of stressful thoughts and allow insights into external situations.  You are also improving your health by removing pollutants in the Feng Shui decluttering process.   You are cleaning things that could grow mold or bacteria (such as dirty dishes or trash) and removing dust particles and toxins from the air through the movement of objects.  Modern Feng Shui also focuses on the minimization of “environmental pollutants,” such as irritating sounds and noises that aren’t salient to your consciousness, but still have an impact on your mood.  

​Most notably, there’s that feeling of accomplishment you get when you spend your day cleaning.  You can physically see all the work you’ve done, which is a huge mood elevator.  Feng Shui may not have official scientific backing, but decluttering your home feels like wiping the slate clean of physical and psychological burden.