CREDIT: BCLIVING
Spring is in the air, and a traditional spring cleaning normally follows.

As such an infamous dreaded task, cleaning is often ignored and put off throughout the year. Yet come springtime, the urge to purge and start anew often rouses even the least enthused to re-evaluate their feelings about cleaning. What is it about the change in seasons that makes it the ideal time to clean?

Spring-cleaning has become almost a ritual for many people and involves a thorough cleaning of the house from top to bottom. Perhaps it is a result of the feelings of being dormant and less active throughout the cold winter months, but a good clean can do one a world of good.

Whether it's a seasonal restlessness or simply an ingrained tradition, it is definitely a more useful and beneficial occurrence. Before starting your own seasonal clean, take a few minutes to do research and think about the reasons why the clutter piles up year after year. Sometimes, the real solution to the clutter is how to be organized enough to prevent the accumulation in the first place.

Here are some quick tips for cleaning and organizing around the house to help you with your spring clean this season and for seasons to come:

- Grab some baking soda! It has multiple uses from cooking to cleaning and is a wallet-friendly solution. You can clean many surfaces with this wonder product… without all the nasty chemicals.

- Another method to avoid chemicals is to use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean countertops and other surfaces.

- Use dryer sheets (even used sheets) to dust instead of Swiffer rags that are more expensive.

- Toilet cleaning duty? Pour a soft drink around the rim and let it sit for at least an hour before scrubbing.

- Microwave a sponge (nonmetal kinds) for two minutes to kill the germs.

- Do a classic closet purge and hang all your clothes with the hangers facing one direction. Each time you wear a piece of clothing, return the hanger in the opposite direction. Come the next change of seasons, if there are hangers that are left unturned, consider selling or donating those pieces.

- Whenever you leave your room, make it a habit to put one item away or return it to its proper spot.

- Stop being generous with the items you might use in the future, chances are you really do not need them and they are only taking up space!

Take advantage of this surge in cleaning inspiration and make use of the difference in not only your energy level but also your mental state that is naturally induced by the coming of spring. It is the ideal time to clear out and have a fresh space to start the season. A welcoming living space can vastly improve how you feel. If the task of cleaning an entire living space seems daunting, target one room or a commonly frequented space. Don't get discouraged; habits do not change in a day, but remember how good a clean space feels and work towards a lasting change.