Spring Cleaning: tips, tricks, and benefits

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) – Now that the sun is out and shining, Siouxland residents may have that extra energy to get their spring cleaning checklists crossed off.

“When it’s winter and it’s cold, there’s no sun, we just kind of want to not do anything, and that’s okay,” said Siouxland Mental Health therapist Katie Mockler. “And now that we can have that energy to do stuff, let’s do it.”

It’s that time of year again to start spring cleaning and experts link the seasonal tidying to a boost in mental health.

“We can get overstimulated in our environment when we have a lot of things around us,” said Mockler. “Think about kids, if you have kids and there’s a lot of toys everywhere, they can get overstimulated, and so when we can have a nice clean environment to go home to, our brain can be more calm.”

Not only does decluttering clear out your personal space, it brings out a sense of pride.

“Being proud of our house, or proud of something we’ve done, and having that control and that accomplishment can feel really good, and give us a boost of endorphins,” said Mockler.

But for some, cleaning out an entire house can feel overwhelming and don’t know how to start.

“Take things at your own pace,” said Orderly Elegance owner Emily Nelson. “Don’t rush to try and get everything done at one time, spread it out over time. Over a month, over a week, over a few weeks, maybe over a few days. And then break it into sections, so work on just the kitchen one day, work on just the bathroom.”

If you’re not sure about what should be tossed, this simple trick can help make the decision.

“I always say if there’s dust on an item that means you haven’t used it in a few years,” said Nelson. “We should maybe think about donating it, or maybe giving it to somebody, and just thinking twice about the item. It really helps to just purge things and clear out the space.”

Categorizing is the best way to ensure your spring clean stays through the entire year.

“Place things into bins or containers with labels on them and create those zones so that when you grab those items they go back to the original place they were supposed to be,” said Nelson. “Putting things back is key.”

Organization specialists say the office is the most commonly forgotten space when it comes to cleaning.

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