Be Ye Separate

Spring Cleaning?

Blessings!

   Let's see a show of hands here...How many of you do Spring Cleaning? Now how many of you do it more than once a year?

   I used to just clean clean clean all year. Not that I don't keep up but I don't deep clean every day anymore. Why? Because keeping everything THAT clean means having to go back over it again and again, sometimes several times a day! Now I deep clean twice a year. I "Spring Clean" in Spring AND Fall:) Here's why:

   Spring cleaning is something I do to get under it all after months of indoor activities. Yes I still keep up on mopped and swept floors, dishes, counters, bathrooms, bedrooms etc. But the actual "Spring Clean" is to get rid of all the extras that were accumulated throughout Fall and Winter. It's little things that we don't realize. Things like pulling out the extra serving dishes because we all know that the most family oriented activities are in winter like Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and Easter. At the end of it all, the icebox needs desperate cleaning, floors of closets need scrubbing, mudrooms need complete overhauls, front porches need arranging and sprucing up. Curtains should be taken down and washed, dried and refreshed, quilts, blankets, pillows and even mattresses should be cleaned, aired and refreshed. But I think ya'll get that part:)

   For us, Fall Cleaning is just as important. For all that was overlooked during the summer when we were busy with planting, gardening, animals, family picnic's and anything else we can think of to keep us from going back inside until it's time to sleep:P As Fall approaches us we are slowly turning toward those thoughts of organizing and preparing for our sequestered life of several months.

   This is when we pull down all window coverings (I don't have many because I love the fresh air and natural light pouring in during my summer months), pull all bedding and clean and air it all. Dragging the matresses out for a day of just airing, whacking and turning letting the sunshine (God's natural disinfectant) cook all the germies and smellies out of them:)

   Canning causes us to look at storage difficulties and choices. This is when we pull the kitchen completely apart only to put it all back:) We wash down all shelves and reline them with something new and pretty, scrub the freezer and icebox down inside and out, pull all furniture out and get on hands and knees and scrub the floor and windowsills. Relabel all shelves and put the foods and cookware back in order once again.

   Once that is done we get to the bedrooms. Get furniture moved around to suit our taste for the winter (it all has to do with where the sunlight falls in winter vs. Summer), take down pictures and such and sweep walls, windows etc. Rehang and pull all things out of the closets. Get rid of anything not worn for too long, air out coats, boots and other winterwear.

   The mudroom is usually the last thing to get redone. Why? Because it gets overused throughout all the year so it's usually the one room that needs the most attention. We pull all things out including the washer and dryer. Floors get scrubbed, walls washed down, shelves redone and then put it all back. We make sure that anything that is partly used is combined with another partly used (who doesn't let that happen now and then?:P), throw all empty things out even if we had thought we could use it for "something" in the near future. If we haven't by the time cleaning comes around, chances are we won't!

   I have sent my clients their to-do lists and I am already receiving phonecalls with a few questions and "I hope to's":P I tell them the same thing I tell my own family...it's not vital to your existence, it's not worth sacrificing the space and it's not happening:P

   If you are a Fall Cleaner like we are, I pray that you are able to get it all done with a joyful heart and a clear mind. Our minds tend to clutter up some during our summers and we tend to focus on reuse, recycle and frugality. Just remember that sometimes frugality is getting rid of and if you haven't resued it yet then get rid of it. Someone, somewhere might need it. I suggest freecycle in your area. We get rid of all kinds of things that way. It helps someone else who is seeking those items and gets it out of our hair:)

   Have a very wonderful week!

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

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{ 18:31, Monday, September 15, 2008 } { Posted by stitchnchick }

I've missed visiting with you, so I decided to stop by. I loved this entry! I also clean in the fall. I love to go into winter with things cozy and tidy. :-)

Amy

~~~~~~As always, I am blessed by your visit:) I too enjoy making home cozy for the winter. It just seems more together and less overwhelming once we are trapped inside:P
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 00:44

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{ 18:53, Monday, September 15, 2008 } { Posted by gabbie427 }

I am in the midst of the fall cleaning as well. For us it is a deep clean that includes closets, junk drawers, etc. This way all is cleaned and organized for the upcoming holidays.

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

~~~~~Those closets sure do tend to hide a lot, don't they? I notice that the floors of closets tend to get so dirty without realizing it. We think nothing of throwing in wet and muddy shoes, slide unwanted things in them because company showed up, always hiding the mess. And yes we can't forget to make our holidays less frustrating and more joyful when we aren't worried about those tasks that need done:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 00:47