Sunday, March 3, 2013

Spring Cleaning Fever

I hope you had an amazing weekend! It has been an absolutely beautiful weekend in Tucson, which really motivated me to actually accomplish some tasks for once. I mentioned a few weeks ago that I have been in the mood to get a jump start on spring cleaning and organizing, and I have been continuing to work on that project each weekend. So I thought that I would compile a list of helpful cleaning tips that I have found throughout the web to help you get started on your spring cleaning goals.

1.) Start by filling a large bucket with all of the cleaning products that you will need to clean throughout the house. These items may include an all-purpose cleaning spray, a glass cleaning spray, paper towels or clean rags (terry-cloth), a sponge, scrub brush, a toothbrush for scrubbing small areas, and a pair of rubber gloves.

2.) Use a lint roller to clean dust and hair off of curtains, lamp shades, or other fabrics found throughout your home.

3.) Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is a very helpful cleaning tool that can be used to clean baseboards, tubs and tile floors, switch plates, dirt stains on walls, and many more surfaces.

4.) One often overlooked item that should be cleaned every few months is your washing machine. A simple method to clean it is to fill your washing machine with water, then add 2 cups of white vinegar to the water and let it sit for an hour. Next you can start the washing machine again and let it run a full cycle. Once it has been drained be sure to wipe down the inside of the washer to remove any leftover residue. Then if you want to clean it even further, you can fill your washing machine with water again and add 2 cups of bleach this time. Let it soak for another hour and then drain all of the liquid. Don't forget to clean the outside of your washer and dryer as well!

5.) A solution of one-to-one distilled white vinegar and water is a natural cleaner that can be used to clean and disinfect floors, glass, and other surfaces. It can also be used to remove hard water and heat stains from stainless steel pots and pans.

6.) Make sure to dust all of your light fixtures, ceiling fans, and wall or floor vents. Also make sure that you are changing your air filters every 30-90 days depending on whether or not you have pets or suffer from allergies.

7.) If you want to freshen up your mattress, just sprinkle it with baking soda and let it sit for an hour or so. Then use a brush attachment on your vacuum to clean it all up.

8.) Spot clean your carpets, get them professionally deep cleaned, or you can rent a carpet cleaner from your local grocery or hardware store and clean them yourself. 

9.) Wash all of the windows in your home, inside and outside.

10.) This would also be a great time to go through your wardrobe and donate all of the old clothes and shoes that you no longer wear.

11.) A good way to clean rust and grime stains out of your toilet bowl or tub is to use a product such as Super Iron Out, which does not contain bleach. You can also use a product such as Borax or The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner.

12.) Make sure that you are washing your pillows at least 3 times a year. You can place one or two at a time in your washing machine and wash it with your usual detergent. To dry the pillows place them in your dryer with a few clean tennis balls and run it on low.


Download this free printable checklist from How to Nest for Less

Sources:
http://www.acraftyfox.net/tutorial/cleaning-day-how-to-wash-down-pillows-at-home/
http://justsweetandsimple.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-to-clean-washing-machine.html
http://www.finelyground.net/2012/03/one-day-challenge-spring-cleaning.html?m=1
http://www.familyhandyman.com/diy-projects/cleaning/interior-cleaning/top-10-household-cleaning-tips-the-tough-problems#step9
http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/p/thorough-spring-cleaning-checklist.html
www.marthastewart.com

Have a great night!

- Jenny 



 




1 comment:

  1. this post came at a perfect time, i am in a spring cleaning mood and finally cleaned our apt this weekend after wayy too long. i will not even tell you how many of the things on that list i do not do ... =\

    ReplyDelete