Photo Courtesy of Spouses Cleaning Houses
Snow is melting all over the country and that means that many are getting ready to roll up their sleeves and give their homes a good spring cleaning. Now that the weather is starting to warm up, many would be cleaners are tired of the musty smell in their houses and wants their houses spic-and-span. With so many getting ready to deep clean their homes, the web staff here at Toolbarn have these Spring Cleaning Tips for 2016.
1.) Make A Plan
Before you start, it’s always a good idea to write down what you need done so you don’t forget. Spring cleaning isn’t just limited to mopping, scrubbing, vacuuming or dusting. Also, some cleaning jobs can seem daunting. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a “battle plan” when attacking certain cleaning tasks.
If you don’t know where to start, write a list of every single room in your home. Make sure you include utility closets, garages and other storage rooms. Once that’s finished, list or make a diagram of all your furniture that you know needs cleaning. (Make sure you get under the furniture too!)
Now that you have your plan, it’s time to start cleaning.
2.) Sanitize Your Sink
Photo Courtesy of NBC News
It may be hard to believe, but your kitchen sink has more bacteria than any other room in your house. Even your bathroom and toilet seat. As with all things, make sure you wash down your sink with soap and water. Once that’s done, take vinegar or some other disinfectant to kill all germs. Also, make sure you spray disinfectant into the drain.
If you smell something coming from your garbage disposal, drop a lemon, some salt and ice. This helps eliminate odors while sanitizing your garbage disposal. If you have a stainless steel sink, you make it sparkle with mineral oil and buffing it to a nice shine.
3.) Use Microfiber Cloths, Not Paper Towels
Photo Courtesy of House Tweaking
Instead of using paper towels which can cost you money and deplete natural resources, purchase microfiber towels instead. They clean and sanitize more effectively and you can re-use them. Most brand cost $5 for a two pack and they can clean almost any surface.
4.) Get Organized, Get Rid of Clutter
Photo Courtesy of One Gutsy Mama
We’ve all had little piles of junk sitting everywhere at one point or another. But, now it’s time to clear that stuff up and give yourself a little space. One good way to get rid of clutter is to pick a little bit up at a time.
It’s also a good idea to buy yourself a couple of containers that can be purchased for cheap at local store. You can also label your containers in case you want to set certain items in certain rooms…or even keep one for your next garage sale.
5.) Right Broom for the Right Job
Photo Courtesy of She Knows
After a hard winter, you know you’re going to have to sweep your floors to get rid of rocks, dust, grime or other debris. Before you begin, make sure you have the right broom for the job. If you’re sweeping indoors, use a broom with finer bristles to pick up smaller dirt particles.
If you’re sweeping outdoors, you want to use a broom with stronger, thicker bristles which work much better to clear permeable materials. When you’re finished, store your brooms with the handle down if you can. It protects the bristles and it makes it easier for you to find the broom you need.
6.) Cleaning Your Carpets
Photo Courtesy of Purple Fig
As with all cleaning, your carpet is going to need it when the winter moves off for another year. You want to invest in a decent deep cleaner to get all the dirt buried in the carpet. Don’t be fooled by cheap cleaners because while some can be good, others can possibly ruin your carpet. It’s good to go with name brands and make sure you know what chemicals are in your cleaner.
Also, if you have stains on your carpet…make sure you pre-treat those areas to get all the residue out. While a deep cleaner will get most of the stain out of your carpet, it could leave behind a spot if you’re not careful.
7.) Take Your Time
Photo Courtesy of the Purple Fig
While some jobs can seem daunting or you have trouble getting started, it’s important not to burn yourself out after one day or one weekend. Instead of trying to get everything done in a weekend, plan your cleaning over several weekends to give yourself a breather and not wear yourself out before you go to work on Monday.
Also, if you can…get others to help you. Nothing is worse than doing all the cleaning by yourself.
Those are just a few tips, but there are plenty more out there. What’s your spring cleaning tip? We’d love to hear from you. Comment below and let us know. Thanks for reading and keep an eye out for future content from all of us here at Toolbarn!
