Next on the agenda for many of us will be Spring Cleaning. It
will be time to open the windows, air out the house, shake out the rugs, and do
those tasks we do once a year to make our homes fresh and clean.
I have to admit, I was not taught to clean in my home. My
grandmother would pay a visit several times a year, and spend a lot of the time
cleaning our home. I never really understood it until I got older, and realized
that the house needed it.
My mother was an artist, and cleaning was not her forte. When
one of my older sisters got married, my grandmother came to visit her, and she
taught her how to clean house.
I remember how surprised my sister was when my grandmother
climbed up a ladder to clean off the top of the moldings over the doors. She
asked her why in the world she would climb up and clean a place that nobody
could ever possibly see.
I think that sums up spring cleaning. If you should get ill,
someone may come over and bring you food, but nobody, but nobody, is going to
pull out the refrigerator, clean behind it, and vacuum the coils, except you.
If you don't take the sofa cushions outside and beat out the
dust, they will become like powder puffs. When you sit on them, the dust will
rise like steam. It's both embarrassing, and unhealthy.
Spring cleaning does not have to be expensive. It is a lot of
work, but doesn't involved a lot of money. You can make all your own cleaning
solutions using just a few ingredients.
A checklist is a handy item to have for your spring cleaning.
Cleaning has never been my forte either, but this year I am determined to get my
house sparkling clean.
We are all limited in the amount of time, and energy that we
have. I am compiling a list of chores to do. I won't have to think about it when
I am ready. I will just run through the list. If I run out of steam, I will quit
and take it up later.
If I have forgotten anything, or anyone has some tips that may
help, (other than finding someone else to do it) please send them to me. I will
post the link to this article on the website and keep updating the article with
new ideas and tips. The checklist will be there, ready for you to print when you
are ready.
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Start at the Top
Begin at the ceiling getting rid of cobwebs. Attach a cardboard
tube to your vacuum hose to reach, or use a long stick with a piece of felt
wrapped around it. Be sure and look up in the tops of closets. Ceiling vents
also collect a lot of dust. You may have to remove them to get it all.
Moldings and Woodwork
Dust moldings, including above the doorways. If you have wood
wrapped windows, get the tops of those moldings also. You will also find dust on
the top of picture frames, the blades on ceiling fans, and above cupboards.
If the wood trim and wooden interior doors are in bad shape in
your home, you can often restore them by the use of Liquid Gold. If you have
wooden sills under your windows, it is a good idea to wax them once a year to
prevent water damage. Use a paste wax.
Walls and Windows
Wash down your walls. Start at the bottom to avoid streaks.
Most people don’t have the energy to rub down all their walls.
If you do, great. If not, just clean them where they need it the
most, which will probably be your children’s rooms, and areas around light
switches and doorknobs.
For crayon marks, try heating the crayon with a blow dryer to
soften the marks before you try and get them off.
Clean the windows. Your windows will stay cleaner if you also
clean the screens. You can take them down and spray with the garden hose, or you
can dust with a paintbrush.
Clean skylights.
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Kitchens
Wipe down and disinfect cupboards. If you want to change the
shelf paper, think about using wallpaper. Buy one roll and you have enough to do
your whole kitchen at an economical price. Be sure and buy the pre-pasted glue
type. After immersing in the water to activate the paste, let it sit the
required time before you use it. Many people get in a rush, and forget you need
to let the paper sit for a few minutes for the glue to activate.
Clean the refrigerator. Take out the drawers, and wipe down
every part of it. Pull it out and clean behind it. Wipe down the outside, and
vacuum the coils.
Clean small appliances, including the can opener, which often
collects germs.
Clean the stove, oven and microwave. Replace the burner pads if
necessary. Set a pan of ammonia in the oven overnight to loosen grime and then
wipe clean in the morning. Heat a little ammonia in the microwave to clean and
freshen.
To freshen the drain, pour 1/2 cup baking soda, and then 1/2 cup
vinegar down the drain. Wait 5 minutes, and then rinse with hot water.
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Bathrooms
Clean the caulking. If it is dry and brittle, replace it. Water
is the biggest enemy to your home. It is incredible the amount of damage it can
do (and where it can go) if not controlled. Make sure water is not leaking
anywhere.
If your bathroom has an odor you can’t get rid of, liquid has
probably run under the toilet or flooring. You may be able to get rid of the
smell by taking up the toilet and cleaning the flooring. If it is bad, you will
not get rid of the smell until you take up the flooring and replace it. You may
also have to replace some of the sub flooring if water has reached it and rot
has set in.
Clean or replace the shower curtain. The shower curtain can go
in the washing machine with a little bleach. Put it in the sun to dry.
Clean under the cupboards.
Freshen drains same as the kitchen.
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Utility Room
Check washer for scum buildup and remove. Run a wash cycle with
bleach, and rinse with vinegar.
Check dryer exhaust to be sure there is no lint buildup.
Clean and freshen basins and drains.
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Linens and Upholstery
Shake out linens and rugs, or beat with a broom, and hang in the
sun to freshen.
Take sofa cushions outside and beat with a broom to remove dust.
Vacuum or clean drapes.
Clean upholstery or spot clean stains. To remove stains, try
shaving cream, or hair spray.
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Floors
Sweep floors, mop and vacuum. When you vacuum, get under the
bed, and move furniture to reach areas otherwise neglected.
You can freshen your carpet by sprinkling it with a mixture of
baking soda and cornstarch. Use about 1 cup per room. Leave on for 30 minutes,
and then vacuum.
Remove any floor vents and vacuum or pick up the trash that has
fallen into them. ______________________________________________________
Misc
Clean blinds and dust pleated lampshades with a soft paint
brush. If the blinds are very grimy, put them in the bathtub to soak, or take
outside and lay on the grass and clean, remembering to turn the handle and do
both sides.
Clean and sterilize trash cans.
Clean the telephones, computer pad, and doorknobs.
Clean the dust off silk flowers by shaking in a bag with salt,
or buy one of the commercial spray cleaners.
Take fresh plants outside and hose off dust and trim dead
leaves.
Carefully dust light bulbs.
To wax your furniture, you can make your own polish by mixing 3
parts olive oil with 1 part either vinegar or lemon juice.
Check the fireplace flu for cretonne buildup, or have
professionally cleaned.
Turn the mattresses and change the batteries in your smoke
alarms if you are not on another schedule for those tasks.
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I hope that many will find this list helpful to make
Spring Cleaning
both easier and more economical