Hooray!  It’s finally spring.  Now if our weather would just act like it!   So while we’re waiting for spring to actually make it’s appearance outside our door, we can get on that “Spring Cleaning” thing.  Our house NEEDS it.  Even though we “tidy” several times a day, it’s not deep, serious cleaning.  The windows, walls, corners, and baseboards have been sadly neglected for several months.

I’ve found a couple of links to follow as guides as we work in some extra projects throughout the next week (or however long it takes).

Printable room by room cleaning check list  (there’s some items here that I had not thought of)  http://richlyrooted.com/2014/03/deep-spring-cleaning-game-plan-with-printable-checklist.html

Some times it’s best to separate during clean up instead of all of us working in the same room.  These task cards will work well for when we aren’t working well together.  These also will work well all through the year when we only have a few minutes “heads up” that company is coming.  Everyone draw a card and ready set go!   http://www.upsidedownhomeschooling.com/cleanup-blitz-cards-a-free-parenting-and-housekeeping-tool/

Over the past several months we’ve been making our own cleaning products.  I’ve counted this in with lessons in economics, chemistry, environmental science, home ec., and lifeskills.  If my kids were a little younger, math and reading comp would be lessons covered too.  This link takes you to  67 recipes!   http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2013/06/homemade-all-natural-cleaning-recipes.html.

And here’s a little more  to go with this spring cleaning theme.  “Why We Spring Clean” from a scientific view point, and some history and geography as the possible origins of spring cleaning are examined.   http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/spring-clean-in-spring.htm

We won’t be forgetting the music!  Cleaning is much more fun when there’s music!

Top 10 pop songs for spring!  http://top40.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/springpopsongs.htm

A few others with “Spring” in the lyrics.  http://www.songfacts.com/category-songs_with_seasons_in_the_title.php

betty jo