Now that spring break is approaching swiftly, it’s truly starting to feel like spring, despite what the New Jersey weather might be telling you! While on paper this upcoming season sounds wonderful with flowers blooming, more sunlight, and warmer weather, it also brings bugs, humidity, finals, and SPRING CLEANING.

Here are five tips to make spring cleaning so much easier for you.

1. Have you used it in the past year?

Pulling some inspiration from my favorite television program, Ted Mosby from "How I Met Your Mother"’ asks the above question to his friends when they’re packing for an upcoming trip to Rome. The same applies for spring cleaning. Have you used in the last 365 days? If not, you need to donate it!

2. How often do you use it?

If the answer to number one is yes, but you’re still unsure about keeping something, ask yourself if you really need it. Though it was hard for my materialistic, shopping-addicted ass, I recently went through my 20-something pairs of shoes with this question in mind and managed to clear out a good amount of them.

3. Are you only keeping it out of obligation or nostalgia?

Let’s be real, those high school football t-shirts aren’t good for anything except painting days. You can get rid of them. Doing so will not immediately erase your high school memories from your mind. I promise!

4. Do you even like it?

Related to number three, many people, myself included, often find themselves keeping gifts or things they bought when they were younger because they don’t want to give them away or throw them out. But if you don’t like something, there’s no real point in keeping it.

For example, I bought a lot of things for my dorm room last year that no longer fit my aesthetic. But since I spent money on them, I’m hesitant to throw them out or donate them. I’ve just got to move past it and move on with my life!

5. Check in every crevice!

This is so important, especially as many college students will be moving out of their dorms in the next couple of months. It’s imperative to check absolutely everywhere for trash or dropped dishes.

If those things go unfound, they can seriously become gross and stink up your room. And, on a financial note, if the RAs find it instead, you’ll get fined. So, clean every single inch of your room!

I hope these tips will help make this spring cleaning season a bit easier to navigate. Happy cleaning!