How to Deal with Spring Cleaning
First Step
If you have a wood stove, your walls may need washing after a winter of smoke. There are several products you can buy to make your walls look like they have been freshly painted. My wife uses a pine scented cleaner and some bleach. It gives the whole room a fresh pine smell and (the bleach) removes all the stains. Depending on how ambitious you are, you can use a sponge mop or a terry cloth rag. Make sure you wring the mop or rag often so the dirt doesn’t smear around. Change the water often, too.
Second Step
With winter rains and mud, your carpets probably need cleaning, too. You can either hire a professional company to come in and do the cleaning for you, or you can rent a carpet machine to do the job. Check your Yellow Pages to find the best deal, whichever way you want to go.
Third Step
Change the batteries in your smoke detector. Some people do it when daylight Savings Time starts. My wife does it during Spring and Fall cleaning. She takes the thing apart and soaks the cover in bleach to make sure it’s clean. At the same time, she removes the glass from the overhead lights and washes them, also replacing bulbs if necessary.
Fourth Step
Put all your winter clothes in airtight bags and take the spring and summer clothes out. It’s a good time to clean the closets as well. She gets rid of old clothes and junk that have accumulated in the closets during the winter. These things go to the local homeless shelter.
Fifth Step
Kitchen. She takes everything out of the kitchen, empties the drawers and cabinets, replaces the shelf paper, bleaches the counter tops, cleans the over (again) and dismantles the stove ( knobs, burners, etc.), removes the filter from the fan over the stove. Sometimes she just soaks it in bleach and detergent, other years she has replaced it, depending on how cruddy it got during the winter. She also uses a strong wax stripper on the kitchen floor, rinses well, and puts more wax down. She also moves the stove and refrigerator, cleaning under and behind them. I usually get to help with the pushing, pulling and replacing.
Sixth Step
Furniture gets special care in the spring, too. Either with the carpet/upholstery cleaner (or cleaning machine), she does the couch and chairs as well as our mattress. From time to time, she replaces the arm and back covers to keep it furniture looking new.
Seventh Step
The washer and dryer (and freezer, if you have one) need to be moved and cleaned inside and out, including the floor beneath and wall behind them. It keeps the fire hazard down and even increases efficiency.
Eighth Step
Curtains and drapes need to be cleaned in the spring. My wife washes the curtains a few times a year, but always when she does the spring cleaning. The heavy drapes may or may not be washable. If they are, you can pop them into the washer and hang them damp to prevent wrinkles. Or if they aren’t washable, you can have a crew come in and do them with the carpets. Or you can use a dry cleaner. Doing the cleaning process is easier at home than having to takes them someplace else, of course.
Ninth Step
Windows are not difficult if your home is a single story. The insides aren’t the tough part. If you have more than one level to your home, the outside windows can be a royal pain. If you don’t want to hire it done, you can buy several different types of car/window washing gadgets and the proper detergents for every project. I generally get to use a wand and spray the outside windows when I’m home during “spring cleaning.”
Tenth Step
All collectibles, flower pots, wall hangings, decorations, books, movies, etc. can be washed or dusted during “spring cleaning.” Canned air or professional care can be used for TV’s and computers to keep them clean and working their best.
Conclusion
These suggestions just cover the indoors. There are plenty of extra things you can do with the garage, storage sheds, lawn, garden and fences. Don’t forget to change the pads in swamp coolers, furnaces, etc. check your roof for winter damage, and be sure your fences are intact (especially if you have pets.) Get your lawn mower sharpened, too. Now, enjoy the opportunity to work in your yard and get some fresh air. You’ve earned it!
