The first signs of spring are in the air. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and your home is in dire need of a deep cleaning. Although giving your home a large cleansing is never a fun task it’s much needed after a whole winter of wet, dirty snow, and salt on the sidewalk being tracked inside. Try following this spring cleaning checklist to get your home looking fresh.
When you start your spring cleaning it’s best to start at the top and work your way to the floor. So vacuum your ceilings and walls to remove any dust that may have gathered.
While towards the top of your house in each room, dust the light bulbs and light fixtures. Cleaning your bulbs will allow the light to shine more brightly.
During the winter you should have your fan set to clockwise to pull cool air up and push warm air back down. As soon as it turns to spring you should set your fan to a counter clockwise direction to push cold air downward and lower the temperature of the room. Don’t forget to dust the blades when you turn the switch.
Changing the batteries in your smoke alarm should always be on your spring cleaning to-do list. If you have a hard time remembering, make it a habit to change them on daylight savings time twice a year.
The windows are the middle area you want to focus on when spring cleaning. Now that the sun is shining you want to be able to open your curtains and let the natural sunlight shine through the windows.
All winter your blinds and curtains have been gathering dust. Take a moment to vacuum both your curtains and your blinds to eliminate the layer of dirt and give your home a fresh look.
Choose a cloudy day to wash your windows, unless you don’t mind streaky windows. If it’s too sunny the solution you use will dry too quickly and leave streaks. For a window washing solution try mixing ½ cup of ammonia, 1 pint of rubbing alcohol, 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, and 1 gallon of water.
The floors can be one of the dirtiest areas in your home since you and your loved ones tracked dirt and salt through your home, or at least part of it, all winter.
If you have wood floors you can use a wood cleaner and a polish to both clean and add a new protective coating. For other floors receiving wear and tear, such as your kitchen, use a floor cleaner that cleans and shines.
Vacuum the whole house. While vacuuming, scope out problem areas. These will be the areas you’ll need to focus on with a deep stain cleaner. If a stain remover just isn’t cutting it, you may want to consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning service.
As for your rugs, it’s best if you clean your rugs every five years, ten years if the rug isn’t used much.
Although cleaning your home may not be your idea of a good time, at least the spring cleaning will leave your home looking nice and refreshed when you’re done. If you’re really dreading it, try turning on some tunes, and following this spring cleaning checklist to keep you on track. You’ll be done before you know it.