Your kitchen is the most used room in your home, so it needs the most attention. Whether you prefer to go from the attic to the basement or start outside and go inside, create a realistic schedule and focus on one task at a time. You'll need several days for more complicated projects, such as cleaning floors and organizing closets, but in due course, you'll check everything off your list and have a clean, shiny house at the end of it. Spring cleaning is the perfect time to clean your baseboards.
Although often overlooked, clean baseboards give your home the perfect finishing touch, says Leanne Stapf, chief operating officer of The Cleaning Authority. The sockets can be easily cleaned with a vacuum with a bristle brush and a hose attachment to remove dust, then clean them with a damp microfiber cloth and a multi-purpose cleaner. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, dust accumulates in every room of the house. When dusting, work from the top of the room downwards, vacuuming the dust that settles on the floor.
This includes hard-to-reach places, such as the tops of ceiling fans and window frames. Don't forget to dust off your books and shelves as well. Take everything off the shelves and brush it (along with the books) with a feather duster. Use the dust brush or crevice tool in a vacuum to reach tight spots.
Clean the spines of leather-bound books with a clean, soft cloth. Check all floors with a vacuum to remove crumbs and loose dirt. It's common to track bacteria and dirt from shoes all over the carpet, Stapf says. Not only can dirt buildup break down carpet fibers, but it can also harbor contaminants that can make you sick.
Although you probably already mop floors regularly, it's a task that you should also add to your spring cleaning checklist. Floors are one of the most exposed areas in our homes, so it's crucial to mop them frequently to keep the house clean, says Diane Amos, a spokeswoman for Pine Sol. Over time, our walls and ceilings accumulate with unwanted marks. To clean them, start by using a vacuum to remove dust.
Then, combat persistent surface dirt, especially common in kitchens, with a solvent-free degreaser (test it first in an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn't damage the surface). Take the cushions out and tap them gently with your hand to remove dust. If there are stains, check the parts for care labels. Use the upholstery tools and crevices of a vacuum cleaner to clean under seat cushions.
Curtains, curtains, and blinds should also be taken care of. While we may not interact directly with them, curtains can collect dust and odors from around the house and need to be cleaned, Stapf says. Give curtains a little more love every season, but look at their material before putting them in the washing machine. Some may need to be sent to the dry cleaner.
Lamps are a center for dust. Your ceiling fan is a good starting point, just make sure to turn off the bulb and let it cool down before cleaning it, Amos says. When it comes to your lamps, make sure to unplug them, as it gives them time to cool down before starting the cleaning process. Change the batteries in the smoke detectors (this must be done twice a year) and make sure the units are dust-free.
Teach everyone in your household how to use a fire extinguisher and review escape plans. When cleaning the outside areas of your home, take note of the areas that are hidden from view from your eyes. These areas include the roof, gutters, shutters, and mezzanines. These areas can become caked and clogged with leaves and foliage, increasing the chances of damage in bad weather.
You may have to run several cycles to get the job done, so return to this step as you go through the list of spring cleaning tasks. As you progress through your deep cleaning checklist, you should include universal household features in your cleaning. We asked four cleaning experts how to clean a house from top to bottom and compiled their wise words into a checklist that you can easily draw up the next time you clean your house. There are many different ways to schedule and integrate deep cleaning into your home cleaning regimen.
Spring cleaning may seem like a daunting task, but with a little planning and preparation, it's easy to get started. But if you like being able to open your windows and let in some fresh air after scrubbing every inch of your bathtub, sink, or stove, spring could be the cleaning season for you. Your kitchen space will be the most extensive part of your deep cleaning process because it's an area where potentially harmful bacteria can grow. Even if your schedule is busier than the average person's, you can still implement a deep cleaning program by focusing on one room per month or 1 or 2 tasks a week, taking into account the size of the house and the amount of work you do.
A designated cleaning day will ensure that you can go to spring cleaning, and a checklist will prevent you from forgetting your tasks in the middle of your cleaning day. For example, if you have 10 to 12 rooms in your home, that means your deep cleaning list will take a full 12 months on the monthly calendar. As spring rolls around, many homeowners are starting to think about thoroughly cleaning and tidying up their homes. Before you start your spring cleaning journey, you'll want to make sure you have all the tools you need to complete all of the tasks on your list.
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