Spring is in the air!
It’s the time of year that we all feel, or are supposed to feel, compelled to
give our homes the once over ‘spring clean’.
This however can seem
incredibly daunting and most people do not know where to start. Even myself, a person close to being OCD with
organizing, sees the idea of spring cleaning looming in front of me.
So, as I am a ‘planner’
I was going to break my ‘plan’ down for me and thought why not share it with my
followers.
STARTING POINT –
Break it down… if you are a list writer, write a list of all the rooms in your
house and then start with one room in the house, even if it is just the powder
room, or start from the back of the house and work forward – whatever works
best for you! Identify what needs doing in that room specifically and get to
it!
In each room you will
have to do a few things, some of course maybe more.
1. DECLUTTER! Take a
scan of the room and see what you can ‘repurpose’. So often we just pass things by and do not
even notice that ‘watch box’ that you got for Christmas and is still sitting on
the tv stand in May, with the 3 links that you will never need. Go through your closet and think about what
you have not worn for the entire year. Even
if I kind of like something, I think – but I have 4 other shirts I would wear
before this one and it will not get worn – give it to someone who actually
would wear it. Don’t be afraid to tackle
that junk drawer in the kitchen, once you empty it out it will not take long to
organize.
2.
Clean windows – the worst of the spring cleaning jobs and
probably the best place to start. Get
the right equipment so it is easy – buy a squeegee and have a good supply of
old cloths or tshirts. Directions: To start,
dip a sponge into a bucket of warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap. Wet
window; rub dirt away. Dampen squeegee; starting at an upper corner, draw it
down pane from top to bottom. Repeat, overlapping strokes and wiping rubber
edge with sponge after each stroke. (For large windows, ''snake'' squeegee back
and forth; then touch up edges.) Dry windowsills with a cloth.
3.
Wipe down – doors, above door frames, light bulbs,
fans, picture frames, light fixtures, blinds, and curtain roads all gather
dirt. Do you have slatted closet doors?
It is amazing how much dust gathers in the slats.
4.
Curtains and Carpets - For synthetic carpeting, rent
or buy a shampooer/extractor -- a machine that cleans the fibers and removes
traces of soap using hot water. Open windows and let air flow to help carpets
dry. If you have wool carpets or rugs, or any that are valuable or delicate,
contact a professional for cleaning. Vacuum and steam-clean curtains or have
them dry-cleaned. If you'll be replacing heavy curtains with lighter ones as
the weather gets warmer, it is especially important to remove dust and dirt
before putting the curtains away for storage.
Kitchen:
1. Clean Out
the Refrigerator… This task is a daunting undertaking; make it more manageable
by breaking it down.
·
The first step is to wipe up spills immediately so
surfaces won't become stained.
·
Make it a habit to throw out old food once a week.
·
Every few months, wash the interior with a solution
of two tablespoons of baking soda for every quart of warm water. Wash
·
Loosen hardened spills on fixed parts by wetting the
area with the solution, allowing the residue to soften.
·
Use a toothbrush to scrub crannies.
·
Twice a year, vacuum or brush dust from the
condenser coils to keep the system from overheating.
2. Clean out
the pantry. Had a few old cans, or half
eaten bags of chips sitting in there for you do not remember how long? It’s
time to purge. We feel this need to hold
on to things sometimes, but if you know you are never going to use it, get it
out of there and free up the space. If
canned goods are not expired, donate them to a local soup kitchen or charity.
3. Organize
the Tupperware, pots and pans. Taking
the time to match up lids with containers, and tidy up your pots and pans will
save you time in the long run.
Maintain
Household Appliances:
1. Washer
and Dryer – does it need a service?
2.
Air-conditioning vents – do they need cleaning?
Summer is approaching and you want your air-conditioning to be working
efficiently and effectively.
Restock Housekeeping Supplies
You'll need all-purpose cleaner and glass cleaner,
specific products for problem spots such as mildew in tile grout, as well as
natural cleansers such as baking soda and vinegar. Stock up on sponges, rags,
scrub brushes, new mop, broom and toilet brush and rubber gloves, too. Looking to go green this year? try The Copper Pot's awesome green cleaning products www.thecopperpotbahamas.com
Donate
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Ask around in your community, the local
Salvation Army, Children’s homes etc are always in need of people’s
throw-a-ways. If you are in Nassau , the Bahamas humane society has a thrift
shop and they can actually make money on gently used items that then goes
towards the animals.
