Super Spring Cleaning Tips
In a spray bottle make a mixture of vinegar and water. Spray windows with the vinegar water mixture. Use old newspapers to wipe your windows clean. Use a damp cloth to wipe out window sills.
Curtains and Draperies
Take down all curtains and draperies. Most draperies need to be professionally cleaned. Most curtains can be washed at home in your washing machine but you should read the care label before putting them in your washing machine.
Screens
Remove your screens and clean them with soap and hot water. You can use some old wash cloths or hand towels that you don’t use in the house anymore. You can also use a garden hose to clean your screens. Let screen air dry before putting them back in.
Dusting
What are you going to do with all of those unmatched socks? Use them for dusting! Cover your hand with an old sock and dust away! This is great for dusting crown moldings, chair rails, door frames, etc. Don’t forget to dust the top of the refrigerator and kitchen cabinets if there is a space (shelf) above your wall cabinets. Pull out the refrigerator and wipe off any dust that has accumulated there.
Food Pantry
Springtime is a great time to clean out your food pantry. Take everything out so that you can wipe off the shelves. Place coasters under sticky items such as syrup, honey, jam, etc. This will keep any sticky messes off of the shelves and will make clean up a lot easier. If you come across any non-perishable items that you don’t need you can donate them to your local food pantry. Be sure to check the expiration date before you take any items to the food pantry.
Closets
It’s clean out closet time! Go through the kids’ closets and make a pile of the things they can still wear and a pile of the things they have outgrown. Then go through your own closet and get rid of anything you don’t wear anymore. Donate these items to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
Toys
Toys that are in good condition but aren’t played with anymore can also be donated to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. You may want to do this chore while the kids are at school since as you know they never want a toy till you decide to give it away.
Home Office
Go through filing cabinets and organize your files. Shred any papers you do not need to keep. Dust and organize shelves. If you have a closet in your office that you use for storage, organize it and get rid of anything you no longer use.
Carpets
You can clean your carpets yourself using your own carpet cleaner or you could rent a carpet cleaner from a local business. Hire professional carpet cleaners and let them do the hard work for you.
Lampshades
Use a lint roller to remove dust and dirt from your lampshades. Roll it up and down the lampshade. Lint rollers are also good for removing pet hair from upholstery. Get the kids in on the act and let them use the lint roller on table lamps and furniture upholstery. Do not let a child stand on a chair or ladder. It is very unsafe.
Bathroom
You can use car wax to clean and polish sink and bathroom fixtures and shower doors. The car wax will help protect against water and soap buildup. You can also use car wax on your kitchen sink fixtures.
