Lemon scents wafting through
halls, dust bunnies banished, crisp, clean curtains waving in wind. Ahhh, spring cleaning.Did season pass you by? Never fear. It doesn't have to be spring for homeowners to get itch to clean house. No matter what season it is, homeowners can enjoy that same feeling by shaking dirt down from ceiling and sweeping it out door.
Clean scents, polished floors, spotless window glass, and scrubbed decks - here we come.
Plan Ahead
Before jumping in gather tools, cleaning supplies, buckets, trash bags, boxes, and a few friends to help out. Wear something old so good clothes won't get stained, or bleached.
Decide how much time it will take to clean based on size of your home and how many family members will pitch in.
Tool Time
A week before you plan to start your spring cleaning marathon, review what supplies you have on hand. Do you have:
- Ammonia for wiping away grease
- Foaming cleaners for bathtubs
- Squeegees to make quick work of window washing
- Buckets for mixing concentrated cleaners
- Cleaners made for washing cars and trucks
- Oven cleaner
- Floor cleaners for wood and linoleum
- Stiff-bristled large brooms to sweep away winter dirt
- Angled soft-bristle brooms for indoor use
- Sponges and scrubbing brushes for general use
- Lambswool and ostrich feather dusters to clean in hard-to-reach places
- Laundry detergent booster
- Static free cleaner for electronics
- Oil soaps for wood cabinets
- Cleaners formulated for artificial plants
- Oxygenizing cleaner to remove spots and stains without bleaching fabrics, upholstery or carpets
- Other brushes for specific uses: toilet bowl brush, refrigerator coil brush
- Ladder for reading ceiling fans, tall bookcases and to wash windows
Purchase versatile concentrated cleaners when possible. Benefits include being able to dilute cleaner to different strengths depending on cleaning job involved. They also cost less per use and require less packing making them environmentally-friendly.
Brushes and brooms that are made for a specific purpose make job easier. Toilet bowl brushes scrub under rim with less effort. Cleaning refrigerator coils is as easy as an afterthought when you use a soft brush made for just that job.
A lamb's wool duster with extended pole makes it easy to sweep walls and ceilings for cobwebs and dust. The static in wool works like a magnet to attract dust with little effort on your part. Rags, sponges, gloves that protect your hands from effects of cleaners, mops, and brooms can be stored in one place until you need them. A small laundry basket or extra bucket can be used to carry supplies from room to room. Create one bucket of supplies for bedrooms, living rooms, dining areas, and one bucket of supplies for bathrooms and kitchen.
