Spring Cleaning
I’ve heard my mother say them a hundred times, and now that I have my own home and a couple of teenagers I find myself reciting the same old sayings…
“Don’t put it down. Put it away.” “File, don’t pile.” “Quality over quantity.”
“A place for everything & everything in its place.”
Well it’s that time of year again and I’ve got that Spring Clinging Fever! I love to start the season with a fresh, clean and organized home that makes everyone in the home feel good.
Here are my top five to-do’s on my Spring Cleaning list:
1. Clean Carpets and Upholstery
Spring cleaning is the ideal time to really freshen up your home and what’s a better start than with your carpets and upholstery. A deep clean of the fabrics that have absorbed a winter’s worth of dirt, body oil, and germs to get them ready for another year of wear is a great first step. Many professional carpet and upholstery cleaning companies have Spring Cleaning Sales this time of year as well.
2. Wash Walls, Cabinets, Baseboards, and Woodwork
It’s amazing how washing the walls will brighten a room. At first glance the walls may not always look as if they need cleaning but dust and dirt clings to vertical surfaces enough to warrant a seasonal or preholiday bath. Use a sponge and hand dishwashing detergent, washing the surface in sections. A sponge mop makes it easier to reach higher spots. Use two buckets: one for dishwashing detergent solution and another for wringing your sponge. Dry the walls and woodwork with a clean cloth.
3. Windows, Windows, Windows
The dreaded windows! A few simple tips make cleaning windows a much easier job than expected. First make sure that the windowsills and frames are cleaned first. Always start with a dry clean by dusting, sweeping and vacuuming away dirt before wiping with a wet cloth. To clean windows best, start at the top first and work down to the bottom. An important tip about preventing streaks is never to clean windows in direct sunlight. The sun will dry the cleaner before it can be wiped away and there will be streaks. Another “streak tip” is to clean windows with up and down strokes on one side and side to side strokes on the other. This allows you to see which side has the streaks inside of redoing the whole window. I find the best way to clean windows is with plain water and newspaper. Simply sponge on or hose on the water and wipe it away with newspaper, but be sure to wear gloves because the ink will stain your hands without them.
4. Clean Ceiling
Remove dust and dirt from ceiling fans, lights and vents. You may need a stepladder to wipe them down, unless you can reach easily. Use a damp paper towel first to carefully and slowly wipe off that heavy layer of dust and grime. Then clean or continue to wipe as necessary. Wipe away cobwebs from corners and those high hard to reach areas with a broom or feather duster. Your guest do notice them.
5. Sweep and Vacuum
Regular sweeping and vacuuming not only removes considerable dry soiling and grit, but it also does wonders for keeping your air fresh and clean, particularly if there are issues with dust mites, dander and other irritants.
What’s on your top 5 list this spring?