By Eliza • 2 Comments
Spring is just right around the corner, which means you’re craving a fresh and clean home that has been closed up all winter long. Obviously you’ve been keeping the bathrooms, kitchen and floors taken care of, but the spring is a great time to catch up on those chores that only need to be done a couple of times each year. Here’s how to make your house the cleanest on the block.
True, curtains don’t get that dirty, but they do get dusty and grimy after months of being opened and closed a couple of times each day. Plus, if you have kids or pets, they are bound to need a good washing. Take your curtains down and wash them in hot water to kill germs and get rid of dust mites. Once they’re dry, rehang the curtains and you’ll have instantly fresher rooms.
No matter what kind of floors you have, spring is an ideal time to give them a deep clean. For carpets, that means pulling out the carpet cleaner and going to town. Pay extra attention to high traffic areas, but make sure you get the cleaning fluid all along the walls too. For tile or wood floors, a simple steam clean can give them a new life that is more sanitary and that looks better. Take any area rugs outside and give them a good shake or beat to remove excess dirt that has collected in the fibers.
Many experts suggest flipping your mattress a couple of times each year for even wear. You can also sprinkle your mattress with baking soda, allow it to sit for about 30 minutes, then vacuum it up to refresh the mattress. Repeat this procedure on all of your home’s mattresses and then top them with freshly cleaned sheets and comforters. Perfect!
Unless you have kids with sticky hands and pets with wet noses, you probably don’t have to clean your windows all that often. Spring is a great time to give them a good cleaning so they are fresh and clean for the summer when you have the curtains opened all day long. Use window cleaner and a soft cloth to wipe down both the insides and outsides of the windows throughout your home.
You’d be surprised at how dirty the walls can get, even if you can’t see the grime. Use a soft cloth and a bucket of warm soapy water and give them all a good wipe down. This is especially important in the bathrooms and the kitchen. Don’t scrub too hard because you could damage the paint or drywall, but use enough elbow grease to get rid of dirt and grime.
This include your globes, ceiling fans, lamps and other various light fixtures. For cloth, use your vacuum to remove dirt and dust, then a damp cloth to remove surface stains. Metal can be wiped with an appropriate cloth for the material. Ceramic and glass fixtures can be removed from the wall and washed in warm, soapy water. Use a dust cloth to clean the blades of your ceiling fans.
You will be shocked to see what’s hanging out behind your fridge and stove. Pull them away from the wall and vacuum, dust and mop the floor and walls behind. Then clean the appliance itself according to manufacturer directions. Do the same with your washer and dryer.
There’s such satisfaction in knocking out these big jobs! What else do you include in your spring cleaning routine?