Spring Cleaning Tips For A *** & Span
Home
The tips below are tasks broken down by location and will help
you
spring clean your home room by room. The cleaning chores on the
next
page outline basic techniques that will help you clean almost
any surface
(or object) in any room.
Kitchen:
•
Dust Refrigerator Coils:
Turn off power at circuit breaker or fuse box. Coils are usually at
the
bottom of the refrigerator, under the grill. Clean coils with
the crevice attachment of a vacuum or a
specialty refrigerator-coil brush, available at hardware
stores.
•
Defrost The Freezer:
Turn off power at circuit breaker or fuse box. Empty freezer’s
contents; wipe
interior with a solution of 2 tablespoons baking soda per 1
quart hot water.
Living Room:
• Swap Heavy Curtains, Rugs And Throws For Lightweight Ones:
Clean items first. To
store,
roll material around an acid-free tube; wrap in a clean sheet of
cotton, muslin, or polyethylene; secure
with twill tape, and label each bundle so you’ll know which is
which.
Bedrooms:
• Rotate Bed And Change Blankets:
Turn over your mattress to distribute the wear evenly. Replace
cool-weather bedding with warm-weather
bedding.
• Clean Pillows:
Whether
made of natural fibers (such as down) or synthetic (often polyester),
most
pillows can be machine-washed. This rids them of mold, bacteria,
and odors.
Bathrooms:
• Discard Expired Cosmetics And Beauty Parties:
Secure these items in a plastic
trash bag, and keep it out of reach of children and
animals.
• Update Frist-Aid Kit:
In
addition to bandages and ointments, the kit should include a list of
emergency numbers, especially the one for your nearest
poison-control center.
Home Office:
• Organize Files:
Review
insurance policies, contracts, and household inventories.
• Clean Computers:
Scrub
casings with a solution of 1 drop mild dishwashing liquid per 1 quart of
water and a lint-free cloth; dust crevices in keyboards with
cotton swabs; wipe screens with a soft cloth
or a dry screen-cleaning sponge.
Closets:
• Replace Cool-weather Clothing With Warm-weather Clothing:
Wash or dry-clean garments
before storing them in a zippered sweater or blanket
bag.
• Donate Apparel You No Longer Use:
Many charities are happy to accept old clothing and may
send a truck to pick it up. They may also provide receipts for
tax purposes.
Utility Spaces:
• Clean Attic & Basement, Give Away Or Discard Unwanted
Items:
Divide whatever is left into
two zones: one for things you’ll need to retrieve in the next
six months, such as clothes, and the other
for objects that may be there for years, such as
furniture.
• Protect Objects In The Basement:
Use concrete blocks to keep storage boxes off the
ground.
Place washer and dryer on elevated pedestals (made by the
appliances’ manufacturers) to prevent
electrical shock during flooding.
Outdoor Spaces:
• Clean Porch Ceilings And Walls:
Sweep up cobwebs and debris with a corn broom, and wash
walls with a solution of all-purpose cleaner and water using a
polyester sponge.
• Scrub Decks, Patios, Driveways, and Walkways:
Treat mildew spots with a solution of 1
part
oxygen bleach to 3 parts water using a deck
brush.
• Wash Outdoor Furniture:
Most materials, including aluminum, plastic, wood, and wicker,
can
handle a solution of mild dishwashing liquid and water and a
soft-bristle brush.
• Inspect Light Fixtures:
Wash covers, and check for damaged wires and
connections.
Clean & Refresh All The Important Surfaces In Your
Home:
Wipe Walls And Ceilings:
Use
a vacuum to remove dust. Tackle stubborn surface grime,
especially
prevalent in kitchens, with a solvent-free degreaser (test it
first in an inconspicuous area to ensure it
won’t mar the surface).
Vacuum AND Shampoo Rugs:
Synthetic carpets and rugs with waterproof backings can be
deepcleaned
with a rotary shampoo machine and a hot-water extraction
machine. Rugs without backings,
including Orientals, require professional
cleaning.
Clean Upholstered Furnishings:
Take cushions outside and gently beat them by hand to remove
dust. If there are stains, check the pieces for care labels. Use
a vacuum’s upholstery and crevice tools
to clean under seat cushions.
Dust Your Home Thoroughly:
This includes hard-to-reach places, such as the tops of ceiling
fans
and window casings. Always work from the top of a room down,
vacuuming the dust that settles on
the floor. Avoid using dusting sprays as much as
possible.
Dust Books And Shelves:
Take
everything off the shelves, and brush shelves and books with a
feather duster. Use the dust-brush or crevice tool on a vacuum
to reach into tight spots. Wipe the
spines of leather-bound books with a clean, soft
cloth.
Clean Window Treatments:
Many draperies and curtains are machine washable; check labels.
Dryclean
fabric shades. Wipe wooden blinds with a damp cloth; warm water
mixed with a mild dishwashing
liquid is safe for metal and vinyl blinds.
Wash Window Screens:
Using
warm water and a mild dishwashing liquid, scrub each screen with a
brush; rinse thoroughly.
Wax Wooden Furniture:
Wipe
surfaces with a soft cloth dampened with water and mild dishwashing
liquid. Apply paste wax, such as Butcher’s wax, a few feet at a
time with a cotton rag folded into a
square pad. Let wax dry; buff with a clean
cloth.
Wax Non-wood Floors:
Vinyl
and linoleum floors that have lost their shine should be waxed with a
polish designed for these surfaces. Most stone and tile floors
can be treated with either a paste or a
liquid wax designed for the material.
Polish Metal Door And Window Hardware:
Liquid polishes and polish-impregnated cloths work
well for medium- tarnished surfaces; pastes and creams are for
heavier work. If tarnish doesn’t come
off, try a stronger product.
Reseal Grout Lines:
The
cement-based material between wall, floor, and countertop tiles is
extremely
porous and stains easily. Protect it with a penetrating grout
sealer; it’s best to apply it with a small foam
brush.
Ensure Fire Safety:
Change
batteries in smoke detectors (this should be done twice a year), and
make sure units are free of dust. Teach everyone in your
household how to use a fire extinguisher, and
review fire escape routes.
Don't forget this tip...
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