Spring is Here, Which Means it’s Time for Spring Cleaning!
Spring is here, which means it’s time for spring cleaning. Here are a few tips for homeowners to fix up the house and add value.
Wash Your Windows
Be sure to pick a cloudy day to wash windows. If it’s too hot and sunny, your cleaning solution will dry too fast and create streaks. For a handy home window-washing solution, combine a half cup of sudsy ammonia, one pint of rubbing alcohol, a teaspoon of dish washing liquid and one gallon of water.
Clean Sliding Door Tracks
Sliding glass door tracks probably aren’t the first place you would think to clean, but you’ll appreciate having done it before the summer entertaining season gets into full swing. Rub the tracks with an old toothbrush to loosen debris, then use your vacuum’s hose attachment to remove the grit before finishing with a wet sponge.
Scrub Down Overlooked Surfaces
You may overlook these spots on a daily basis, but once per year, scrub down your baseboards, door frames and walls with a sponge and a squirt of dish washing detergent mixed in a bucket of warm water.
Dust Light Fixtures
Use a specialized cloth to dust easily reached light fixtures and bulbs. For ceiling fans, skip the ladder and use an extendable duster. To clean dirty bulbs, lightly dampen your cloth with vinegar. Caution: Be sure bulbs are cool to the touch and your hands are dry. This is also a good opportunity to replace your old light bulbs with more environmentally friendly ones.
Clean Under Furniture and Appliances
Get some help and move your sofa and chairs as well as rolling up area rugs so that you can thoroughly vacuum the floors. Moving your kitchen appliances away from the walls can often give you enough space, allowing your vacuum hose to reach behind them.
Get Your Home Organized
- Pick up and get rid of clutter in each room before you start cleaning.
- Equip yourself with a few designated storage containers when you are picking up in each room: a box for garage sale items, another for items to donate to Goodwill and a garbage bag for items to throw away.
- Put away the things you are keeping in their rightful places and rooms.
Give Your Home a Safety Inspection
- Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Add an energy efficiency checkup to your safety inspection.
- Perform all required safety checks.
- If you don’t own a fire extinguisher, purchase one. Learn how to use it, and keep it in the kitchen.
What is the worst thing you’ve found while spring cleaning your home? Share your stories with us in the comment section below.
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