Get a head start on spring cleaning!
Winter may seem endless, but with daylight savings time right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get a head start on your spring cleaning. Here are some things to make sure you tackle for a fresh start come spring.
- Clean up those door mats. Door mats and floor mats are the front line of defense against dirt and dust entering your home, and if they’re saturated after a long winter, they won’t do their job properly. Since they’re made to be durable, door mats can withstand a tougher cleaning than a rug. Shake loose any debris, and vacuum or sweep the mat to remove any remaining dust. Sprinkle baking soda on your mat to deodorize it. You can leave the baking soda on the mat to be washed away during the next rain, or you can rinse with warm water and prop up to dry. If you’re looking for a way to keep your business’ door mats clean, SITEX can help. Our mat program will pick up and clean your mats weekly, no matter the season.
- Freshen up the floors. Wooden floors can be spruced up with a wash-and-wax floor cleaner. It’ll provide the protection your wooden floors need for another year, and clean at the same time. Carpeted areas have absorbed a winter’s worth of dust and dirt, but a deep cleaning will get your carpets ready for another year of wear. If you are shampooing carpets or cleaning upholstery yourself, test your rental equipment in a concealed area first. You don’t have to move all your furniture out, just everything slightly out of place, clean, and place wax paper underneath the legs when you replace them. That’ll allow the carpet to dry and protect your furniture. If you’re not in the mood to DIY this, a professional carpet cleaner can get the job done in just a few hours.
- Clean out (and in) the fridge. Your refrigerator deserves a little TLC, and cleaning the inside and outside fixtures will make keep your fridge humming for a long time. Remove all food, drawers and shelves from your fridge. Any shelves or drawers can be washed in the sink. Use a mixture of warm water and dishwashing liquid to clean the interior of your fridge. Baking soda can be used on tough spots. While you’re attacking the inside of the fridge, check your condenser coil, which can gather dust and lint. Removal of dust and lint buildup is critical for preventing your fridge from overheating. Remove the toe kick and move your unplugged refrigerator a few feet out from the wall. Use a long handled brush and a vacuum cleaner with an attachment to remove all the dust.
- Clear out clutter. Have things lying around the house that you just may need someday? Guess what, you probably won’t. Old appliances, extra linens and towels, expired sunscreen, cosmetics and medication, plastic grocery bags, books you’ll never read, old magazines, electronics, phone chargers and cords, cables and wires can all find a home elsewhere. However, getting them out of your home doesn’t mean sending these items to landfills. Americans throw away about 130 million cell phones each year, and recycling those would power 24,000 homes. The Environmental Protection Agency has more information on where you can take old electronics, and other items that are not as easily re- or up-cycled.
- Organize and update bed linens. How many sheets do you really need? Rule of thumb says two sheets sets for each bed. Extra linens just take up precious space in your closet. Use old sheets for projects, rip into rags, or donate. If you’ve pared down your linens but can’t seem to stop them from falling out of the closet every time you open the door, Martha Stewart has the solution for you. She recommends folding sheets inside of their matching pillowcases, keeping everything securely in one place.
- Check your ceiling fixtures, light bulbs and fans. Ceiling fixtures and fans are known to carry dust, especially if you haven’t been using your fan during the winter, but light bulbs are often overlooked. Cleaning the bulbs is as simple as wiping them (while turned off and cool) with a lint-free cloth. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, clean lights give off 30% more light than dusty ones, and you’ll use less electricity around the house. For ceiling fans, dust the lights and blades. Ideally, blades should be dusted weekly. For cleaning ceiling fixtures, take down what you can and wash in the sink with soapy water. Refrain from putting any fixtures in the dishwasher, as they may break.
- Organize your command center. Everyone has one spot that seems like just an endless pile of mail, magazines and loose papers and taking the time to organize this space will greatly benefit your whole family. In a central location, attach bins to the walls to catch mail, recipes, important documents, and things specific to each family member. Should everyone have a cubby? Is there a master schedule? Hooks for coats and bags? Find something that works for you and commit to properly stowing gear there for at least 21 days – that’s how long it takes to create a new habit. Get some ideas for your command center from Good Housekeeping.
Are there any other areas you clean each spring that we may not have mentioned? Maybe you have the secret to the best way to keep your house free of clutter. Share those ideas here or with us on our Facebook page. Happy cleaning!