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Spring Cleaning

 

 Spring is in the air and so is the dust, dirt and clutter that has built up over the winter months!  Whether you are getting ready to sell your home, need to take an inventory of your belongings, you need a good cleaning from top to bottom or maybe it’s just time to transition into the warmer weather; spring cleaning is a good idea for every home. Once you have completed the task you will feel organized, tidy and just a little bit lighter!

Here are a few tips to help you get started, followed by a general checklist to help break the daunting task into smaller more manageable ones and ensure you get everything done. Also listed are some specific jobs for certain rooms and areas in your home.
TIPS

1) Get four large containers and label them:

Put Away– items that are used regularly and need to go back to their “home”

Get Rid Of– items you don’t use anymore that are in good enough shape for a 2nd life

Storage– items not used regularly or that are seasonal but you still need to keep and find a place to  store in your home

Garbage– anything that doesn’t fit  into the other categories

2) Depending on the size of your home, how you like to get things done and how much time you have, you can choose to either dedicate a
whole weekend to the job or assign different days to different rooms. The last chart divides your home into 7 areas, so if you choose to do one area per day then you can get the job done in one week!

3) If you want the whole family to get involved (this can be a challenge, sometimes quicker and easier just to do it all yourself!) here are some ideas to encourage them:

-Each person should do their own bedroom, especially if they want to decide what goes into the ‘Garbage‘ container!

-Let them read the checklist and decide which room/area they would like to do

-Organize a garage sale at the end of the clean up and make a rule, “The more you help, the higher percentage of profits you get”.
GENERAL CHECKLIST

Walls & Ceilings    – vacuum to remove dust and then wipe down Dust thoroughly   – from the top of the room down and then vacuum the dust that settles on the ground

Shelves   – take everything off, dust and wipe-down

Doors   – wipe down thoroughly and polish metal hardware

Windows  – remove and wash screens  -clean window treatments; check curtain labels, many can be machine washed  -clean glass (from the inside and out)

Upholstered Furniture – remove cushions and beat out the dust (outside)  – vacuum under the cushions and in crevices  – read care labels to clean
stains

Wooden Furniture -wipe down and then wax (if appropriate)

Rugs  – vacuum and then shampoo  -rugs without backings, including oriental rugs, require professional cleaning

Floors  – sweep and mop  – most non-wooden floors can be waxed

*Don’t forget to move all of your furniture to clean under and behind thoroughly!

AREA ROOM – SPECIFIC TASKS

Bedrooms – Flip mattress and replace winter bedding with more  lightweight ones.   Wash pillows, most can be   machine washed.   Put winter clothes away  and bring out warmer  weather ones, also get rid  of items you no longer  wear.

Bathrooms – Scrub EVERYTHING – Discard expired hygiene  products, cosmetics and  medications.

UPDATE FIRST AID KIT!!!

Living Room – Dust TV and stereo equipment, Swap heavy curtains,  rugs and throws for lightweight ones.

Kitchen Clean all appliances (turning  off power to do so), including  removing food from fridge and   freezer to defrost and clean.

Dust cupboards and shelves and clean out drawers Scrub sink  Throw out expired food.

Office  Clean computer and dust  keyboard  Organize files.

Stora     ~ Get rid of what you don’t need.

Utility Areas   – Organize In areas with concrete floors use blocks to lift  items and boxes off the  floor to preserve and  protect them.

Outdoors – Sweep cobwebs off porch  ceilings and walls, Scrub decks, patios,  walkways and driveways.  Wash outdoor furniture and  toys

Replace burnt out and broken light bulbs and  fixtures.

Just think of how fantastic you will feel when your whole home is clean, organized and up-to-date! If you are getting ready to sell your home then it will be ready for showing and make packing and moving so much easier.  And if you’re not then you can feel good about keeping your family healthy by getting rid of those hidden germs (that are there no matter how clean you keep your home!). When you are finished you can give back to the community by donating gently used items; or make some extra cash by having a garage sale, (check out our garage sale
blog for some tips).

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!!!

 

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