Spring forward 2025 - Forward Our Mail

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Ahhhh, Spring! Just the word brings all kinds of things to mind: Spring break, spring dresses, first day of spring, spring training, spring cleaning…. Spring is the onset of all things new, isn’t it? After months of hibernating and hunkering down to stay warm, it’s finally time to take in the sunshine, slip into some cute sandals and head outside! Can you feel it? Are you ready for it? I can hardly wait! To celebrate the season, I want to encourage you to welcome the season with a few simple spring touches. They’re easier than you think!

Spring Cleaning

Okay, let’s just get this out of the way so we can stop fretting about it! Spring is an amazing time to beat the dust out of the rugs, wash the windows, and do some general spiffing up. Gone are the days when women had weeks and months to tackle literally everything in their homes. But, with modern conveniences, much of the need to do those deep cleanings has all but gone, as well.

There are a few things I really enjoy doing each spring to make my home feel fresh and ready to take on a new season.

Wash the windows. While this isn’t the easiest chore I’ve ever tackled, I must say it is one of the most rewarding. I have tried literally every method known to man, each one leaving me feeling disappointed and exhausted! Let’s see…I’ve tried the coffee filter method, the news paper method, the vinegar and baking soda method, and good old fashioned windex. BUT, it wasn’t until I found e-cloth products that my world (and my windows) were transformed! I’ll link my favorites in the resources below, but let me just say…. all you need is water. That’s it. Just water. (It’s like Norwex at a fraction of the cost!)
Shake out / swap out the rugs. After a long winter of rain, snow, ice, and salt, the outdoor rugs look as if they’ve been through the wringer. While outdoor mats can be costly, they don’t have to break the bank. If you watch the sales to Hobby Lobby, you can find amazing outdoor mats for 50% off. My personal favorite place, however, is Home Depot. You can find much wider and much larger outdoor mats for a reasonable price. I’ll leave a couple of options in the resources for you.
Steam clean the floors: Maybe it’s not a big deal at your house, but our hardwood floors take a beating, and at the end of winter, there is a layer of salt on our floors that puts up a fight. It’s like that sludge wants to move in and start keeping house! I found an inexpensive steam mop that simply cannot be easier. It’s light weight, it does an amazing job, and it’s super inexpensive. If you are looking for a way to clean hardwood or vinyl floors you really have to check this out!

Signature Scents

What scent automatically reminds you of spring? For me, it’s that classic fragrance of Williams Sonoma stores. You can find recipes for this classic scent online, but I’ll link the one I like in the resources below. It’s super simple; all you need are some lemons, some water, and some rosemary. Easy peasy, lemon squeezie!

Another favorite is the vanilla sandalwood candle from Sand and Fog. While you can often find this brand at TJMaxx, HomeGoods, or Marshalls, it’s rare you can find this scent. I’ll link it up for you from Amazon, but let me just say… it’s vanilla-y and fresh all at the same time. It’s my signature scent go -to for spring.

If you’re looking for a signature scent that does more than fragrances your house, let me tell you about Benevolence candles. They’re made in the USA, right in LA. Every scented candle purchased results in a donation to their charity partner Zoe International. Every candle brings light to the darkness of human trafficking. My favorite is Eucalyptus & Chamomile. It is my all time favorite scent – any time of year. But it’s light enough and fresh enough for a spring fragrance.

A breath of fresh air

Once the cleaning is done and we’ve lit a few candles, there is nothing like opening the windows and letting in a breath of fresh air. It’s a spring staple, isn’t it?

In places like Scandinavia, Germany, and Japan, the culture is to open the windows even in the cold winter months. In Sweden, people often open their bedroom windows to air out the room before making the bed. In Germany, it’s customary to open the windows 6-8 times a day to “let out the moisture.” They refer to this as lufting. In Japan, you will often see garments airing out in the fresh air. This helps freshen the clothes without having to over-launder.

One of the best ways to bring in the spring is to open the windows! Even if it’s still chilly outside, opening your bedroom window while making your bed is enough time to freshen the air in the room. Opening a bathroom window after a hot shower clears the steam. Opening a kitchen window releases cooking odors.

Overall, I think it’s high time for a touch of spring, wouldn’t you say?