Love to Louise

Author: Kelly Key

  • 10 Spring Cleaning Hacks

    10 Spring Cleaning Hacks

    Cleaning doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and spring is the perfect time to refresh your home! With the right tips and tools you can get your entire house sparkling clean faster and smarter. Here are 10 spring cleaning hacks that will save you time and energy.

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Declutter

    Before you start scrubbing, dusting, or reassembling your Honda engine, get rid of clutter. Donate, toss, or recycle items you no longer use.

    donation bags | storage bins

    Start From the Top

    Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, shelves, and windowsills first — this way, dust falls to the floor, which you can clean last.

    extending duster | microfiber duster

    Window Wipe Down

    Use a streak free glass-cleaner and microfiber cloth. Clean windows let more light in and instantly make a room feel brighter. Get those mirrors too!

    glass cleaner | microfiber cloth

    Refresh Carpets and Rugs

    Vacuum thoroughly then sprinkle baking soda.
    Let it sit, and vacuum again.

    baking soda | carpet cleaner |
    vacuum

    Kitchen Deep Clean

    Wipe down appliances, scrub sinks, and clean cabinet fronts. Don’t forget the refrigerator!

    all-purpose cleaner | gloves |
    sponges

    Bathroom Tackle

    Scrub the shower, sink, and toilet. Use a grout brush for tiles. Replace shower liners if needed.

    microfiber cloth | toilet cleaner | tile brush

    Doors and Baseboards

    These often-overlooked areas collect dust and fingerprints.

    all-purpose cleaner | microfiber cloths

    Curtains

    Remove dust and grime from fabric and ledges. Dust those windowsills if you skipped step 2!

    fabric freshener | laundry detergent

    Change Air Filters

    Do not fear the tripe to Lowes. Fresh air is essential to a clean home.

    air filters

    Fresh Scent

    Light a candle and take a load off. You did it, friend!

    candles | diffusers | essential oils

  • The Quiet Reset: 7 Small Rituals for a Purposeful Next Chapter

    The Quiet Reset: 7 Small Rituals for a Purposeful Next Chapter

    If you’re in the season where the house is quieter, the calendar looks different, and you’re wondering what comes next, you’re not alone. Love to Louise is a minimal, artistic lifestyle magazine for women with adult children—created for the in-between: after the busy years, before the “big plan,” and right when you’re ready to feel like yourself again.
    A young woman taking a break from technology

    Start with a quiet reset

    Purpose doesn’t usually arrive in one dramatic moment. More often, it shows up through small, repeatable choices—tiny rituals that steady your nervous system, clear mental clutter, and make space for what you actually want. Here are seven simple rituals you can try this week.

    7 small rituals to try

    • The 10-minute page. Write one page of anything—what you’re thinking, what you’re avoiding, what you’re curious about. Don’t edit. Just empty the mind.
    • A “yes list.” Make a list of what feels like a genuine yes right now (even if it’s small): a morning walk, a new lipstick, a library card, a class.
    • One room, one surface. Clear a single surface (nightstand, kitchen counter). A small visual reset can change your whole mood.
    • Midday light. Step outside for five minutes around midday. Natural light is a quiet, reliable mood support.
    • The 3-sentence check-in. Answer: What do I need today? What can wait? What would make today feel successful?
    • A weekly “beautiful thing.” Choose one small beautiful thing each week—fresh flowers, a new tea, a museum visit, a playlist—and let it be enough.
    • One brave reach-out. Text someone you miss, join a group, or RSVP yes. New chapters are built through connection.

    Small rituals don’t shrink your life—they widen it. They make room for the person you’re becoming.

    How Love to Louise fits in

    In Reads, you’ll find editorial pieces like this—clear, calm, and practical. In Shop, you’ll find curated picks that support everyday living well (the kind of things you’d bookmark, not impulse-buy). If you’re rebuilding routines, style, and identity with intention, you’re in the right place.

    Your next small step

    Choose one ritual from the list and try it for three days. Notice what shifts—your energy, your focus, your mood. Then come back to Reads when you’re ready for the next idea.