Guide to Spring Cleaning

With all of the new life and shine outdoors,  why not rejuvenate the indoors as well?  This is precisely the purpose of spring cleaning!   It's the time to clean the windows,  dust the drapes,  and flip the mattresses,  readying your house and your spirits for the warmer weather.  Though scrubbing the bathtub  may not be your idea of the most exciting spring activity, we are here to help you prepare and organize so that you can remove all of that winter grime in the easiest way possible.  

Cleaning Each Room

Your cleaning will be much easier once you decide how you are going to tackle it, and sometimes this can be the hardest part. 

• Doing a little bit of everything at once is NOT the way to go, as it only leads to overwhelming feelings of frustration.  To get the most accomplished, break it down.  

• Go room by room.  Cleaning and finishing all of your tasks in one room at a time seems to be the most popular way to go.  You will feel accomplished and you won't have to worry about doing it all in one day.  You can do the kitchen today, the living room tomorrow, and so forth and so on.  Planning out your cleaning method in this fashion eases a lot of stress. 

The Living Room

Let's start with the common area.  This area of the house is the most lived in (hence its name) and has probably collected a lot of dust and grime from the holidays and snowy winter months.  Set aside a day or two for cleaning and de-cluttering.

Areas to focus on: 

Windows If you have blinds  on your windows, tackle them first.  Whether they are wood,  plastic,  or metal,  simply close them and run a microfiber duster  over the surface to attract all dust and dirt. Put those vacuum cleaner attachments  to good use!  The round brush attachment  is great for removing soot from window screens  and the crevice tool is great for getting rid of dessicated insects from the window wells.   With nothing left on the window, give the panels a good washing with a gentle window cleaner.	Curtains Use the crevice tool attachment  of your vacuum  to also remove any dirt and dust that may be trapped in the pleats of your curtains.   Make sure you have the suction on low so as not to harm your fabrics. Get your drapes dry-cleaned.  If this is a hassle for you, then you can also freshen them up by putting them in the dryer  on the air or fluff cycle and hanging them back up immediately.	Floors Replace heavy rugs  and throws  with lightweight ones  for the spring.  Vacuum  and shampoo  your rugs and carpets, and polish  or wax  any hardwood floors.	Furniture Clean out those wall units  full of VCR tapes and organize all of your home theater  electronics.  Look for DVD shelving  to open up space and find baskets  for remote controls,  etc.  The less clutter, the better.  Dust  and polish  any wood furniture, such as coffee tables,  desks,  or TV stands.    Do the same to books and bookshelves.   Wipe down leather couches  and run a vacuum attachment  over any furniture to collect dust and unwanted pet hair that will be shedding.   You may also want to steam clean  any upholstery.

 

The Kitchen

Move on to the kitchen,  another area of your home that surely sees a lot of action.  Depending on the size of your kitchen, this cleaning can be done in an afternoon.

Areas to focus on: 

Stove tops and Ovens Don't neglect your stove top range-hood filters.   Degrease them by soaking them in a sink of hot water and detergent.     Burnt-on splatters are a large problem.  Tackle them by removing cooktop grills and saturating the stains with an all-purpose cleaner.   Give it ten minutes and wipe it clean.	Microwaves To soften up some of the crud that has accumulated inside, put a bowl  of water and lemon juice into the microwave  for about one minute.  This loosens everything up and preps it for you to wipe the interior clean with a food surface sanitizer.	Refrigerators and Freezers You will want to clear out the refrigerator  and then vacuum  the refrigerator grill  and coil.   Wipe down the interior refrigerator and freezer  with an all-purpose cleaner  or food surface cleaner.	Floors Most kitchens are made of linoleum  or granite tile  floors, collecting dirt, dust, and crumbs everyday.  Take a broom  to the floor first or use a Swiffer.   Once you have all of the crumbs up, scrub the grout with a scrub brush  and mop the floor clean.

 

The Bathroom

Move on this important space that could surely use some sprucing up. 

Areas to focus on: 

Toilets Though you'll want to avoid doing this task, there are ways to make it easier for you.  Invest in a toilet bowl cleaner  and a good brush.    To clean around the base, use a swivel head mop  with a detachable pole  to distance you from the grime.	Drains To unclog the sink  or tub,  look for Drano  or make your own with baking soda  and vinegar.   The combination works to eliminate bacteria and loosen the drain.	Tiles and Grout To clean bathroom tiles  and grout, use a toothbrush  to scrub away mildew.   Another great tool for getting into those hard nooks and crannies is the magic eraser pen.	Cabinets and Closets Go through the medicine cabinet  and throw any expired medications, beauty products, and cosmetics into the garbage.  Organize your linen closet  by folding towels  and keeping other toiletries in baskets.   If you are feeling really ambitious, redecorate the bathroom for spring with a new shower curtain  and liner.

 

The Bedroom

Get your personal space in tact.  Organize those shoe boxes of photos and update your linens... you'll sleep better!

Areas to focus on:

Bedding Throw your heavy winter blankets  in the wash and replace them with lighter linens.   Change the sheets  and maybe even rearrange your bed for a total room makeover.	Closets Reorganize your closet  and give away your unwanted items.  If you haven't worn a piece of clothing  in a year, you probably never will.  Put your winter clothing  in a storage bin  and replace it with spring  and summer clothing.	Ceiling Dust  the cobwebs in the corners and the ceiling.  Don't forget about air vents!   Clean the light fixtures  and ceiling fan  (if you have one).  Use a gentle cleanser like Murphy's Oil soap  mixed with water.	Organization  Find ways to organize the shoes  laying all over the place, along with your pictures  and anything else that you may have laying around your bedroom.  The idea is to remove the clutter!

Your Tools

Below, a few key tools to make your task of cleaning just a little bit easier.

Hoover H2850 FloorMate PowerBrush 300 Upright Carpet Cleaner  This machine operates as a wet/dry vacuum and uses a bagless dirt collection system. It also comes with removable brushes and a squeegee for the utmost in cleaning convenience.	Dirt Devil Rechargeable Broom Vac  This vacuum comes in various different colors to suit any style home. A simple on/off switch will sweep and vacuum up messes in no time at all.	Oreck PR2600 Hoky Wet/Dry Sweeper  This sweeper is designed to clean both carpets and floors, making it the ultimate sanitizing machine. It is designed to hit low to the ground so it can get under hard to reach surfaces with ease.	Hoover H2510 Impulse Cordless Electric Power Mop  This electric mop uses a rotating brush for deep scrubbing action when washing or drying floors. It is lightweight and has a folding handle for storage.	Dirt Devil Upright Rechargeable Bagless Broom Vacuum  This rechargeable broom comes in different colors for variety and can pick up dirt and debris on all types of surfaces. Its bagless system allows you to easily empty out dirt after each cleaning.

 

Related Guides

Take our tips on cleaning, storage, and organization!

• Bathroom Organization and Storage
• Cleaning and Organization
• Closet Organization
• Kid's Chores
• Kitchen Sink Organization
• Photo Organization
• Refrigerator and Freezer Organization

External Links

• About.com: A complete checklist to spring cleaning. 
• iVillage.com: Tips and tricks on spring cleaning and organization.  
• MarthaStewart.com: Spring cleaning by the master.