It’s been a long, weird winter, so we’ve decided to spruce
things up by getting some spring cleaning done. (Did you ever notice how spring cleaning puts
a smile on your face? Maybe it’s because
we know that summer is right around the corner.)
Anyway, here are a few helpful tips on cleaning your home up
for Spring.
1. Safety first! Change the batteries in ALL of your
smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. And make sure the unit is free of
dust.
2. Light fixtures can be full of dust. Take a
minute or two to clean easily accessible light fixtures, lamps and ceiling
fixtures. Don’t be surprised if everything looks a bit brighter when you’re
finished!
3. Take your area rugs outside for a good shake
down and maybe a few hours of airing out. Your wall-to-wall carpeting could
probably use a good cleaning too, so break out the steam cleaner! It may help
with those seasonal allergies, too.
4. While you’re in cleaning mode, wash down your
walls. Dust and dirt sticks to vertical surfaces, too. The easiest way to clean
your walls is with a good soft sponge and warm, mild, soapy water. On flat
painted walls, try using a dry microfiber cloth. It will work well on removing
dust.
5. Your windows and blinds could probably use a
good scrubbing, too. Take down your heavy curtains/drapes and send them to the
cleaner. Let the sun shine in!
6. What about your furniture? During the winter
months, it collects dust, dirt, body oils, and germs. (And if you have a pet,
it has also collected pet hair and dander.) Time to haul out the vacuum
cleaner. You can steam clean furniture as well. Just make sure you test an
unobtrusive spot to make sure that the detergent from the steam cleaner doesn’t
fade the color or ruin your upholstery.
7. Head for the kitchen! When was the last time you
gave your fridge a good scrub down? Go ahead and throw out those leftovers that
you’ll never actually use. Check out your condiments. Bet you have a few that
have expired. Now that your fridge looks like it has been raided by a horde of
teenage boys, get cleaning. A magic eraser or a sponge and hot soapy water will
get the stuck-on grime. Clean the outside too. And don’t forget a fresh box of
baking soda to help absorb any odors that may be lingering.
8. While you’re in the kitchen, give the stove,
cabinets, walls and counters a going over with a grease-cutting cleaner. You’ll
be amazed at how nice they feel when they aren’t sticky anymore!
9. Embrace your OCD tendencies! Organize that
closet that doesn’t close, or those shelves that have been making you twitch.
Throw out, donate or repurpose as much as possible.
10. Don’t
forget the outside chores! If you don’t have them, add extensions to your
gutter downspouts to keep water flowing away from your foundation. Clean out the
gutters in case there is debris leftover from fall. Blow out the air conditioning
condenser with a leaf blower to clean the filter. Call your sprinkler installer
to get your system set up for warm weather.
We hope that these helpful hints will get you started on
your spring cleaning adventure.
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