If you haven’t already done your spring cleaning, here are a few helpful tips you can use before summer gets into full swing. For those of you who have your house listed for sale, these 10 cleaning tips can be used at any time of year to keep your home looking its best.
1. A quick pass with a microfiber cloth or a duster will bring new life to all your light fixtures, which pick up an alarming amount of dust over time. Work from the highest fixtures to the lowest, and complete before vacuuming or polishing the floors.
2. When cleaning your flooring, don’t forget the area under your area rugs. The base floor material (i.e., carpet, wood, linoleum, etc.) should be cleaned from border to border at least annually. You might be surprised what all you find under your rugs.
3. Dust and other debris usually accumulates in places where there’s little or no foot traffic – like under beds and behind furniture. Spring cleaning is a perfect time to sweep out the cobwebs, dust, toys, loose change and possibly an insect or two!
4. What’s the one area a lot of people forget to dust? Window frame tops and any kind of flat surface that’s higher than your head. A quick swipe with a damp cloth or paper towel will do the trick.
5. Little touches make a big difference with door hardware. Make those well-used handles and knobs shine with a cleaner appropriate for their material. Use mild soapy water to clean buildup off the doors themselves while you’re at it.
6. Nothing says “old and neglected” like bookshelves covered in dust. A thorough cleaning is best, which means removing the books and wiping down the shelving from top to bottom. Don’t forget to dust off the books themselves.
7. What kinds of things do little children like to put in their mouths? Right. So make it a point to clean/wash their toys and stuffed animals regularly. For hard objects, use a mild soap, never a harsh cleanser, and rinse well. This task also helps decrease the spread of germs during cold season.
8. Upholstered furniture needs regular cleaning, and in most cases this can be accomplished with a good vacuum and its brush attachments. A thorough cleaning necessitates removing all cushions (and pocketing the money you find!). This is a good time to rotate the cushions to even out the wear.
9. It’s amazing how much . . . stuff winds up in kitchen drawers. Mount a full-scale attack by removing everything and washing the drawers with warm, soapy water. This might be a good time to install new shelving paper.
10. Technology has taken over our worlds, and the conglomeration of wires and power strips are havens for dust. Clean all that, plus while you’re at it, clean keyboards, keypads and screens with a cleaner designed for this purpose.
The key to making spring cleaning – or home-showing cleaning – easy is to gather all the products and equipment you’ll need before you start. Then it’s just a step-by-step process to getting your lovely home back into the shape that makes you happy.