The weather is warming up, the birds are singing, and it’s that time of year again – spring cleaning has sprung!

In nature, spring is all about a fresh start, and it’s the perfect time for the same in your home. This season of renewal is a great excuse to spark a change in yourself and ditch the old memories and household items that are holding you back from a new and improved you. You’ll feel lighter and proud of yourself after you tackle the task of spring cleaning, and it’s not just because the baseboards get dusted or the pillows get fluffed. The true motivation and reward behind decluttering comes down to our most basic human instinct – to be happy. According to psychologists and organizational experts, tidying up your living space and removing items that you no longer use or need is a one-way ticket to happy town. This is due to the fact that having excess “stuff” lying around for no good reason is a big cause of not only mess, but stress. And the number one place that you want to focus most of your clutter destroying power might be surprising, but according to the experts, it’s where we spend the most time and where we need to feel the most refreshed and relaxed – the bedroom.

But where do you start?

This spring cleaning checklist just for your bedroom will give you a jumpstart to getting the room where you spend the most of your time at home a fresh, rejuvenated feel.

Strip the Sheets

The first place to start is by giving your linens a good washing. You’ll want to use a mild detergent since these items are so close to your bare skin, and avoid bleach products. This is a great time to get your heavier bedding like comforters washed and put away, as well. Pack them in a plastic garment bag and store them in your closet until the next time the temperature drops.

Don’t Forget the Pillows

Check the labels on your pillows to make sure that they are machine-washable, and if they are, toss them in on a light cycle with liquid detergent. When it’s time to dry them, put two clean tennis balls in with them to help bring them back to life and restore their fluffiness.

Mattress Makeover

We can’t forget the most important part of your bedroom! If you’re still sleeping on a traditional innerspring mattress, now is the perfect time to give it a refresher by flipping or rotating it as directed by the manufacturer, and giving it a light dusting of baking soda to remove any funky odors that might have accumulated over the years. Just be sure to vacuum up any access powder before making the bed with your nice clean sheets. If you’ve recently upgraded to a memory foam mattress, you don’t have to worry about flipping or rotating, which is one of the best parts of the foam mattress, but the baking soda trick can be used here too. You may also choose to remove the mattress cover and air it out on a porch or patio for a nice “outdoorsy fresh” feel.