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The days are getting longer and the air is getting warmer, but with these perks comes a friendly reminder: The season of spring-cleaning is upon us. If the clutter has been piling up around the house since last spring, give your house a fresh start by getting back to basics.

Step #1: Plan Ahead
Before you break out the broom, start by going from room to room and assign tasks for each area.

Once you know what needs to be done, make a schedule for when you plan to tackle each task. Plan one hour of cleanup on both Saturday and Sunday. This way, it won’t feel like you spent your whole weekend doing housework. You'll feel less overwhelmed and have a greater sense of accomplishment.

Step #2: Eliminate Clutter
Before you can really start cleaning, you need to eliminate the clutter that seems to build up in every room. Start by sorting your clutter into three piles: keep, trash and donate. Save the essential items and throw away anything you no longer need.

Not sure what to do with your old clothes?
Take your unwanted but usable items to the Salvation Army® or another local donation center. You can clean up your surroundings and do something good for your community at the same time.

Step #3: Have Your Tools on Hand
No spring-cleaning event is complete without a basketful of cleaning products. But what do you need to get the job done? Because you've already established the chores you want to accomplish for each room, making a list of cleaning supplies should be simple. If you plan to dust, mop, sweep and scrub — your list is pretty much laid out for you. Just be prepared when cleaning time comes. Have your tools on hand ahead of time. This helps avoid scrambling at the last minute to get to the store before you can really start cleaning.

Step #4: Get Everyone Involved
Liven up your spring-cleaning session by getting your entire family involved. Divide into teams and turn the day into a friendly competition. Offer prizes for the team that finishes its room the fastest — and most efficiently, of course.

And don't forget to have all the essentials present: music, munchies and motivation! Play upbeat music to keep your team members pumped and ready to work. Use the team atmosphere to drive individual motivation. By working toward a common goal, you're likely to accomplish more work in less time. Not only will you reach your spring-cleaning milestone, but you might just have fun doing it.

Step #5: Clean the Concealed
In addition to standard spring-cleaning, don't forget these often overlooked areas and chores:

• Flipping and rotating the mattress can improve your sleep — and extend the life of your mattress.
• While vacuuming eliminates visible debris on carpets and rugs, we rarely take the time to freshen these areas. Use Febreze® to eliminate odors that occur
  underfoot.
• If your ceiling fan is just spinning dust around, try Swiffer Dusters® with Extendable Handle to clean dirt and dust in just one swipe.
• Eliminate stains and water spots on walls by washing the area with a mild cleanser, making sure to work from the bottom up to avoid streaking. For extra help with tough wall stains, try Mr. Clean Magic Eraser®.
• If your refrigerator spring-cleaning consists strictly of wiping down the inside, it's time to give the summit a good scrub. While you're at it give underneath the fridge a cleaning, as well.

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