March into spring: A guide to spring cleaning your home

It's hard to think of spring without picturing the sun shining, the birds singing and the flowers blooming. The last thing you want to imagine is being stuck indoors scrubbing the floors on your hands and knees; however, it's time to spring clean. Whether you're a seasoned cleaner who can't wait to get started or a novice who needs a bit of advice, Charm has some tips to help you get started so you'll be enjoying the great outdoors before you know it.

The biggest problem you may face is feeling overwhelmed. So, before diving into a cleaning frenzy, know exactly what you're up against. Take paper and pen to each room and jot down what needs to be cleaned, tossed or replaced.

Are the shelves covered in 2 inches of dust? Does the love seat need new upholstery? Do you really want to keep that plastic singing bass 'decor' your uncle gave you for your birthday?

Answering these types of questions will help you estimate how long it will take to get your house looking spiffy.

Let's get real— a tedious house-cleaning effort will take longer than a day. If you plan it for only a Saturday, you may be in for a major meltdown. Instead, assign yourself a room a day. This plan will help you establish more realistic goals for getting the job done.

When you're on a roll and really in the moment, you want to avoid any distractions. One big distraction is having to drop what you're doing and run to the store to buy extra trash bags.

When you know you're about to start a cleaning crackdown, think of the tools you'll need; then, take an inventory of "have" and "need to buy" items. Go to the store, grab what you need and then buy some extras, just in case.

Or sing, listen to music, let the sunshine in ... whatever you think would help put a little spring in your step, do it! Deep cleaning can be a fun activity in the right mindset. Decide to enjoy yourself.

Open all of your windows to let the crisp air and bright sunshine fill the rooms as you dance and dust your way through your home. Assign tasks to family members and reward them with a movie night. Consider calling on a girlfriend to come help you clean, and offer to help her tackle her house, of course.

It's not easy to clean your carpet if toys are scattered around, and it's hard to dust your shelves with stacks of old newspapers or knickknacks staring you in the face. Time has come to get serious about de-cluttering.

After you pick up the toys and throw away the newspapers, look at all the stuff in each room. A good rule to live by is: If you haven't used it in a year, it's not your stuff anymore, it's your junk ... so toss it. Don't just dust it and rearrange. That is a temporary solution to an ongoing problem.

If your inner-pack rat won't let you part with things, don't get discouraged — get organized! Go out and buy some inexpensive plastic boxes and neatly store items that aren't displayed or used daily.

Charm asked, "What's your best tip for keeping your home (almost) clutter free?"

"I use file folders and baskets. Mail is my biggest problem. I pull out all the bill and important papers and put the rest right in the trash. I open the bills and then put them in a folder to be paid. I have file folders that I keep all bills and important papers in and at the end of the year, I go through them and re-file the important stuff."

Angela Fuller, 34, Longview

"My golden rule at home is to put everything back in its place when you are finished with it. If you have a place for everything, you can always find it, and if you put it back when you are finished, you won't spend all Saturday morning cleaning up what should have been put up when finished."

Beth Black, 43, Hallsville

"At least once a year I go through all the closets in the house and pull out clothing and other items to donate to the women's shelter. I try to use this rule of thumb: If I have not worn it or used it in a year, then out it goes!"

Cara Jordan, 29, Longview

"Each day ask everyone who lives in your household to give you 15 minutes of their time. Everyone work together to pick up, gather dirty clothes, clean the bathrooms, load the dishwasher, etc. If everyone gives just 15 uninterrupted minutes, it is amazing how much you can get done!"

Rita Bateman, 55, Longview

Even if strange smells aren't wafting out whenever you open your refrigerator doors, chances are you haven't gone through its contents in some time. Grab a trash bag and a cooler, and follow these steps to a more functional fridge.

Figure out what should stay and what should go. Inspect each item — Is it expired? Does it look/smell funny? Do you wonder why you even bought it in the first place? Is it fruitcake? If you say "yes" to any of these, it's time to start tossing.

Empty your fridge and put all the food you didn't toss into a cooler. Unplug your fridge and put all of the removable bins and shelves in a sink. Soak them while you begin cleaning the fridge, by sections. Work from top to bottom to avoid dripping water on already cleaned surfaces.

Decide where the easiest place to reach is in your fridge and put all the popular foods/drinks in that spot. For example, if milk and fruit is high on your household's priority list, put them in the most accessible section. Remember to place the taller boxes and containers at the back and the shorter ones to the front so everything can be seen.

If you still need to save space, look into buying space-saving products like can racks to free up some room. Also, find spaces for the little things, like small fruits, cheeses and candies. Designate containers for the different foods and you'll never have to hunt for them again. For the ultra-organizer, stick labels to the containers so it's clear to others what goes where.