By: Christine Satterfield

After a long winter, I’m always ready for spring! But how can I enjoy the warmer weather if I’m stuck inside searching for dust bunnies? Fortunately I’ve discovered some ways to make spring cleaning a little less painful:

The Closets

Closets are sometimes the most difficult places to clean. Since everything is hidden behind closed doors, it's all too easy to pack them completely full, top to bottom. To avoid unnecessary frustration when waging war against yours, start with a major de-clutter overhaul. Designate three large storage containers for:

(1)   things to keep

(2)   things to donate, and

(3)   things destined for the trash.

A closet cleanse will take away the stress of spring cleaning and give you extra room for a new outfit or two!

The Living Room

You never know what your kids left behind in couch cushions or underneath the coffee table, from small gadgets to chewed gum! Finding that treat stuck to the side of your suede coach is less of a “sweet surprise” and more of a headache. When a pro like me can't figure out a solution, I turn to my spring cleaning “therapist,” Clorox’s Dr. Laundry, for smart tips that save both time and loads of frustration. Check out her post on couch gum removal!

The Kitchen & Bathroom

And just when you think you can see the light at the end of the tunnel and the only thing standing between you and the freedom of the outdoors is a quick wipe-down of your countertops, it can be especially frustrating when not being able to get that last little bit of liquid out of your spray bottle stops you in your tracks. I used to go to “extreme measures” and battle with the bottles to get it out, but new SMART TUBE® TECHNOLOGY in Clorox^® Clean Up^®, Tilex^® and Formula 409^® sprays puts an end to that. It’s a built-in tube that reaches all the way to the bottom of the bottle so you can spray every last drop, making it easy to finish the job (and the bottle)!

Once done, give yourself a pat on the back and treat yourself to a small celebration. You’ve won the battle with spring cleaning!

Christine Satterfield is a wife and a mother with a house full of boys. She shares organizing and cleaning tips on i Dream of Clean and encourages moms everywhere to complete one task, each day, all year on Spring Cleaning 365.