Spring Has Sprung...It's Spring Cleaning Time! (Part 2)

Now that you’ve gotten all your walls taken care of, it’s time to move on to windows and more! Don’t be discouraged by the seemingly endless amount of cleaning ahead of you. The payoff in the end is well worth the few hours of labor.

Windows

The best time to do your windows is on an average temperature, overcast day; this keeps the cleaner from drying quickly and leaving streaks. However, this is not an excuse to NOT clean your windows if it’s a warm, sunny day. Another helpful tip to avoid leaving streaks is to wipe the inside of the window in one direction and the outside of the window in the opposite direction. If there is a streak left you will be able to tell what direction it’s going in and in turn what side it’s on. For dusting blinds, wrap a cloth or paper towel around a ruler, spray the cloth, and run the flat side of the ruler along each blind.

Bathroom

Rubbing alcohol can be your best friend in the bathroom. Use it to remove that dull haze from your mirror and spots from your bathroom fixtures. Glass shower doors will shimmer like never before if you use white vinegar on them. For the bathtub/shower a solution of 1 cup ammonia, ½ cup vinegar, ¼ cup baking soda to 1 gal of water will do the trick. Lighter fluid can be used to remove most stains from porcelain sinks and bathtubs…just make sure you don’t light a match while you do it.

Kitchen

Baking soda seems to be endless with its cleaning purposes. Use it to clean stainless still sinks and/or pour onto your counter tops and then clean with damp cloth and wipe dry. Baking soda works its magic again if you place an open container in your fridge; it will absorb bad odors for about a month. While you’re in your fridge, go through and dump anything old or expired. Wipe down the shelves with vinegar to keep mildew away.

Carpets

Nothing beats a good vacuuming. If you do have some tough stains or a more thorough cleaning, you may want to look into renting a carpet cleaning from Lowe’s or Home Depot. If you don’t want to spend the extra cash, make sure to use a white cloth when tackling stains, this way the colors from the cloth won’t get on your carpeting.

Clutter

As you go though the bedrooms and closets, take note of items that you don’t use/wear/want anymore and gather them together. Can you say “Yard Sale?” Why not make a little money in your cleaning process? Gather all your winter gear from your closets and dressers and put them in a box or plastic container, label it, and store it someplace safe until you need them again next Fall. Placing a Bounce fabric softener in will help keep them smelling fresh; this is also a good idea for your dresser drawers, closets, and shoes. They actually absorb bad odors! Spraying the light bulb in a room with a light perfume will help give each room an extra something when the lights get turn on too!

After applying these tips your house should be sparkling and smelling fresh in no time! Remember, this advice isn’t just for your home; your work office could probably use a little TLC too. Go through some of those old files and pens that ran out of ink years ago and throw what’s not needed out. If there’s any personal information on papers and things, make sure you shred them before tossing them in the bin.

Do you have any good spring cleaning tips to share? Leave a comment below and let us know. Happy Cleaning.