For those of you trying to overcome the winter blues — never fear, spring is here! Spring cleaning is a tradition for most that provides a fresh opportunity to clean, purge, and organize all areas of your home.
Start off by creating a checklist to stay focused on the areas that need the most attention. Think of areas where you spend most of your time. Afterwards, you can also work on areas like your garage and/ or attic. Plan ahead and purchase all the cleaning supplies and materials you need. Staying engaged will allow you to maintain a high level of motivation.
One of the most important part of spring cleaning is purging. Try to get rid of everything you don’t absolutely need. “Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle,” says Marie Kondo in her New York Times best-seller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.
Stay focused on the target areas you would like to accomplish before the day is over, but do not give yourself an unrealistic goal. Some projects require their own attention, so if you get to an area that you see will take too much time to clean out and organize, save it for another day.
Get your family involved! Everyone that lives in the home should participate. Put on music and establish some sort of a reward that will benefit and motivate everyone. Creating a “chore chart” to have year round is helpful to maintain everyday things that must be done in your home and gives everyone their own tasks.
Read the article entitled “Make Your Own Cleaning Products” attached to this newsletter. The article will teach you how to mix regular household ingredients to create natural cleaning products!
During spring time allergies tend flare up due to all the pollen in the air. The body mistakenly sees pollen as a danger and releases antibodies to attack the allergens. Histamines in the blood is what actually causes itchy eyes, runny nose and other symptoms related to allergies.
If you suffer from allergies, it is always a good idea to speak with your doctor to see what medications are best for you and possibly conduct an allergy test so you are aware of what causes allergy flare ups in your particular case. Although there are many off the counter medications with antihistamines, you may need take extra measures like changing your air filters more often, vacuum twice a week, wash your hair after going outside, keeping your doors and windows shut, and adding an air purifier to help keep pollen out.
Lastly, we have included a bright and colorful Avocado Fruit Salad with Tangerine Vinaigrette from the tasteofhome.com to activate your pallet with a fresh taste of spring. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Kristine Eckardt, Director of Member Communications,
HCCUA