Spring Cleaning for the Long Run Saves Time and Money

Spring has sprung and here at Money Saving Parent headquarters we are looking at our spring cleaning projects. Many of you are most likely doing the same thing, from looking at landscaping and to clearing out the clutter.  Many spring cleaning activities include 

• Emptying out the kitchen cupboards. 
• Getting rid of anything out of date or that you don’t use, including those “I’ll fix it some day projects. 
• Cleaning out the grill.
• Getting the carpets cleaned.
• Washing the walls down and cleaning along the cove base.
• Dusting all the pictures, window sills – especially so you can open them and bring in some fresh air.

It feels so good to get the house cleaned doesn’t it? Clearly not at the time, because oh boy wouldn’t we rather be outside in the nicer weather! But, once the job is done, there’s plenty of time for play, and the house just feels that bit nicer to be in because it is fresher. 

So, what if you could spring clean your home to feel fresher for longer? What if that hard work you put in could also save you money and time moving forward? Wouldn’t that be amazing? Here are some top tips for spring cleaning for the long run, to save you money and time:

Avoid Waste with Good Food Storage

When spring cleaning, you will probably clean out your veggie drawers and your fridge, but what if you can rearrange the way you store your food so that you don’t end up wasting as much? I know I HATE throwing away food as I feel like I’m not only being wasteful but I’m throwing away the money I spent on the food.  According to recent studies, the United States alone wastes 133 billion pounds of food every year! But it is possible to store your food more efficiently using this tips which means less waste and mess. 

• Freeze! You can freeze so many different types of food rather than throw it away. All you need are containers, freezer bags and labels. Check out tips on what you can and can’t freeze on the BBC website.
• Display your fruit in a way that reminds you to pick up a piece when you walk past, perhaps in a nice fruit bowl on the living room table. You can also tape up the stem of a banana to stop it going ripe as fast, and if your bananas are ripe, freeze them for smoothies and banana ice cream.
• Another good way to avoid wasting fruit that is getting a bit old, is to juice it or turn it into a smoothie, so you can quickly get the nutrients without having to consume the whole foods.
• Store items in your pantry so that you can not only see them but much like they do in a grocery store with like foods on the same shelves. You can also use inexpensive containers to store cereal or soup cans keeping the pantry nice and neat as well as using items before they expiration date. 
• Invest in cheap jars and containers for food that spills. Things like rice bags, flour bags and spice packets are what dirties the cupboards in the first place when they split. Instead, get cheap jars and containers and fill them with the products, then label the jar. You’re investing in a more organised, cleaner pantry this way.

Get Rid of High Maintenance Plants

Certain plants, like ivy for example, are the kind of plant that seemed like a good idea at the time, then years down the line when it’s covered your house, causing brickwork damage, and you’re paying a specialist to come and remove it all, you have a really strong moment of regret. 

Often, we spend not only spring, but a lot of summer attacking plants that go wild with the rain and the heat, which is great if we love the plant and enjoy how it looks or what it produces, but what about plants that are all take and never really give back? This spring clean, gets rid of the plant for good. Don’t just cut it back, get rid of it. You might need to pay someone to professionally remove it, but how many pairs of secateurs have you had to buy just because of that one plant? Or how many hours have you paid the local gardener to keep it in check? This spring, free yourself from the shackles of the plant that never gives back.

Invest In Something New

This may seem counterproductive, seeing as we’re trying to save money here, but this is all about the long run remember. Also you may find that these seasonal items are a lot less expensive now and easier to find.

The first reason you might want to invest in something new, be that a landscaped garden, a new drive, a new carpet, or a new sofa, is because it makes sense to update things that need updating in a staggered way, so you don’t end up having to fork out for loads to be done at once. It also makes sense to invest in an update this spring, is because:-

• You will have better weather to do it if it is an outside project
• You won’t have to keep spending the time and effort to get it professionally cleaned, or buy a new throw to mask the stains and rips underneath, as with a carpet or a sofa
• If you are spending money on decorating a room and there’s a piece of furniture that simply brings everything else down with it, like a tatty old sofa, it makes sense to update to mid century modern furniture so your interior design updates actually make an impact
• Hygiene isn’t that easy to maintain when you have a floor with broken tiles, or mold ridden wallpaper
• Anything causing damp or damage to your home will be causing your home to lose value, will be damaging other items and will be potentially affecting your health

You might not want to invest in any changes, but they might be the best option for your home in the long run.

Clear Clutter

A spring clean should not mean cleaning around items or areas that are cluttered, that bring you no joy. A real spring clean should mean deep cleaning the home and garden, and getting rid of anything you don’t need (selling it, giving it to charity or chucking it) or use, that doesn’t work, or that makes you feel negative things. Try watching Minimalism: A Documentary About The Important Things by The Minimalists. If you don’t immediately want to get the bin bags out and start chucking stuff out, watch it again! You deserve to reclaim your home.

Hopefully these tips have helped you feel inspired to invest in a spring clean for the long run, because a little extra effort will go a very long way to giving you the home you deserve.