Guest Post: Time To Get Cleaning!
Written by Courtney Wilson, Buyer’s Agent and Closing Coordinator
Spring is here, and to us it’s time to get cleaning. I won’t bore you with all the gory details on how to clean, but I do want to share some tips and a few tricks. If you’ve read our newsletter, you’ve seen a couple of these already. My 4 favorite tips to get the seemingly-monumental task done are:
1. Put on your favorite music. Listening to something upbeat will help you stay on task and keep your energy up. It also keeps the TV off, which is always a distraction around our house.
2. Assemble all your cleaning supplies in advance. It doesn’t help to dig through the cabinet under the sink to find the one thing you need, when you end up off task and re-organizing everything under there. It also reduces cleaning time, because everything is at your fingertips.
3. Make a list of everything you want to get done. It’s much easier to track your progress and make sure it all gets done when you can check things off a list. It also helps to compartmentalize that list and break it into smaller tasks so the whole job doesn’t seem so colossal.
4. Recruit helpers, if you can. Get the whole family involved in the clean-up, and the task won’t seem so massive. I can’t say I’ve ever recruited a toddler to help clean, but I’m sure there are a thousand moms out there with great ideas. I’d love to hear your input on this in the comments!
It really helps to keep in mind that the whole point of spring cleaning is to declutter, clean, and re-organize. Here are some of my tricks and forgotten corners of the house that we might overlook:
- In the kitchen, don’t forget the appliances! While the oven cleaner is taking care of the stove, start pulling out old food in the fridge and especially the freezer. Take all the shelves out and wash in warm soapy water. Vacuum the crumbs and things out of the bottom of the fridge and wipe down the inside of the freezer. After the fridge is done and the oven cleaner has done it’s job, don’t forget the bottom of your toaster. Ick…ours gets particularly gross.
- Run an empty load in your dishwasher with white vinegar. Do the same with your washing machine with bleach.
- Take some time to vacuum and wipe out the bottom of drawers and cabinets. This applies to the kitchen, but also the bathroom. I really like the pre-moistened wipes for this job.
- Try white vinegar and a grout brush in your shower. Its fumes are non-toxic and you are putting less chemicals down the drain. Also in the bathroom, don’t forget to wipe down the outside of your toilet. Those wipes are great for this job as well.
- Pull out the attachments to your vacuum and get into the cracks and crevices of your upholstered furniture (check for loose change and toys first!). You’ll be amazed at what collects there.
- Don’t forget your ceiling fans…they need a good dusting or a wipe down with diluted Murphy’s oil soap. Make sure to change the direction they turn to maximize the air flow for the hot summer to come.
- Take some time to clean your bedding, including your mattress pad. Launder your duvet cover or take your comforter to the cleaners. They usually run specials this time of year.
- When you start to tackle your closet, do it either first or last. I find that I like to procrastinate and wait until the very end, when I can give it more attention. Make 4 piles…trash, keep, garage sale, charity.
- Now is a great time to have your carpets and area rugs professionally cleaned. They take a lot of abuse! Same thing with your drapes.
- Don’t forget the exterior of your home…clean any cobwebs and dirt from your front porch, power wash or wipe down your patio furniture, power wash your porch/deck, patio, and sidewalks. Clean your welcome mat.
Whew…all this talk about cleaning is making me want to procrastinate. I think there are some really important shows on the DVR that need watching…
Does anyone else have any great tips or tricks for spring cleaning?
