Spring Cleaning
Most cleaning experts say that a big spring cleaning is not as necessary as
it once was because our homes are much cleaner than they were in the days of
wood stoves and oil lamps. But few of us get around to these seasonal tasks
without a special spring-cleaning push. Here's our list of should-do chores:
1) Clear
away clutter. Put magazines, mail, stray books, clothes and toys in their
place.
2) Once
the air is warm, open all the windows and let the spring air naturally deodorize
the rooms.
3) Clean
high and low. Remove the cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling, dust the tops
of door frames and baseboards.
4) Clean
one room at a time, beginning with the dirtiest one. Start at the back of the
room and work toward the door.
5) Use a
new vacuum bag and vacuum everything you can--drapes, lampshades, bookshelves,
blinds, window and door frames and, of course, carpets and floors.
6) Deep-clean
vinyl, laminate or wood floors. Because we typically track in a lot of dirt
during the summer months, it's best to wait until fall to have your carpeting
cleaned.
7) Clean
(or replace) throw rugs and door mats.
8) Spot-clean
walls and ceilings with a dry sponge or with as little water as possible.
9) Clean
woodwork, window sills and vents.
10) Clean light fixtures, especially
ceiling fixtures.
11) Vacuum bed
mattresses, flip them over and turn the head end toward the toe end.
12) Replace
furnace filters. (Yes, you have to continue to replace filters monthly in the
summer, too, if you have central air conditioning) and remove any clutter from
around the furnace.
13) Test your
air conditioner and schedule necessary maintenance now--before the warm-weather
rush.
14) Check
basements, bathrooms and other damp areas in your home for mildew. Clean
mildewed areas with a solution of 1 cup chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of water.
To prevent mildew, make sure areas are dry and well-ventilated and use a
dehumidifier in the warm-weather months.
15) Wash windows with a mixture
of 2 tablespoons of household ammonia or white vinegar and 1 quart warm water.
Wash with a cotton cloth and work from top to bottom. Squeegees make quick work
of drying, but lintless rags or paper towels also do the job. To prevent
streaking, don't wash windows in direct sunlight.