Six Surprising Spring Cleaning Tips

Spring is in the air. If you are like most of us, you have a spring cleaning routine. In fact, research shows that more than 60 per cent of Canadians engage in a seasonal cleanup of their homes. While you're packing away winter clothes, washing the windows and cleaning behind appliances, you may want to consider some "outside-the-box" tasks.

Here are six ideas for a more creative spring-cleaning agenda:

1. De-clutter

Don't limit your tidying to the usual areas such as the garage, basement or attic. Tackle other areas of your house. Disorder in your living space – from mail spilling onto your kitchen counter to unused or nearly depleted shampoos, cosmetics and body scrubs in your bathroom – has a bigger impact on your life than what's packed away in the crawl space. Reduce clutter in every room of the house. Divide goods into boxes marked "keep," "donate" or "throw out."

2. Clean up your home computer hard drive

Shockingly few people perform what should be routine computer maintenance, from de-fragmenting to Spyware detection. Make sure you've downloaded and installed all available updates for the software you use most. Check virus software subscriptions and definitions to ensure they are up to date. Archive important data and delete old, unused or unimportant files.

3. Collect spare change

Most of us have a family change jar, but we also tend to leave money throughout the house. Collect change from under the sofa cushions, empty the change jar, and pick up that stack of loose coins from the laundry room. It is estimated that the average Canadian household has about $99 in spare change floating around. Why not roll it up and use it to reward yourself for cleaning? Your bank will be happy to give you folding cash for it. There are also change machines in grocery stores where you can dump all your change for cash (for a fee).

4. Take care of your indoor landscape

The houseplants you regularly water would appreciate a good dusting. To clean leaves, place the entire pot in a bathtub and use a hand sprayer (or your hand) to lightly shower dust off the plant. Give artificial plants or flowers a brisk shake outdoors. Tidy indoor water features, from tabletop or wall fountains to fish tanks, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

5. Clean up your music collection.

Anyone with even a modest-size collection tends to leave CD's separated from their cases, cases without jackets, scratched discs, damaged audiotapes and cassettes without cases. Gather them all together in one spot. Make stacks of unmatched CD's, cases, tapes and jackets. Toss irreparable discs and tapes in the garbage. Match CD's and cassettes with their cases whenever possible. Separate the music you listen to on the road and use a carrying case to help keep discs and tapes organized in the car. Categorize the music you listen to at home and store in racks that fit your home's decor and storage space.

6. Take care of the parts of your home that make summer enjoyable

Have your central air system serviced before the weather gets hot. Change filters in window units. Clean and refinish your deck. Whip your gas grill into shape using a wire brush and rust solvent to remove rust spots. Prime worn spots with a heat-resistant paint.

Have a great spring!