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3 Cleaning Tasks You Don’t Have to Think About Until Spring

Shifrah Combiths
Shifrah Combiths
With five children, Shifrah is learning a thing or two about how to keep a fairly organized and pretty clean house with a grateful heart in a way that leaves plenty of time for the people who matter most. Shifrah grew up in San Francisco, but has come to appreciate smaller town life in Tallahassee, Florida, which she now calls home. She's been writing professionally for twenty years and she loves lifestyle photography, memory keeping, gardening, reading, and going to the beach with her husband and children.
published Jan 16, 2022
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A person standing with a cleaning tool belt around their waist
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Credit: Joe Lingeman/Apartment Therapy

Cleaning the house is an instinctive and time-honored January activity: You’re full of that fresh-start energy, ready to clean out your closets, our cleaning supplies, and more. The way to have the biggest payoff, though, is by focusing our attention of the tasks that have the most impact — and by crossing certain tasks off your list.

Here are three cleaning tasks that can wait until spring.

Cleaning the Bed

We are all for a good mattress refresh, but doing it while your bed is clad in flannel sheets and piled with down comforters and cozy blankets isn’t the best timing. Instead, wait until the weather warms up and you change your bedding. When you do it: Wash everything, including the pillows and comforters, vacuum and spot clean your mattress, rotate your mattress, and make your bed with fresh, season-appropriate linens.

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Credit: Joe Lingeman

Cleaning the Windows

Washing curtains or dusting blinds when the house is still shut up against inclement weather and household members are spending lots of time indoors isn’t just inconvenient; it can also cause allergic reactions for sensitive individuals. Instead, save the cleaning of curtains, blinds, windows and window tracks for slightly warmer weather. You’ll be able to open windows to air things out as you clean and you’ll also be able to clean the outside at the same time without freezing.

Cleaning the Ceiling Fans

If you do this regularly, good for you! Don’t change a thing. But if this tends to be an irregular cleaning task in your house, wait until the weather warms up. In addition to avoiding stirring up dust during a time of year when fresh breezes aren’t cleansing your indoor air, it’s best to wait until you reverse the direction of your blades when the weather turns.