Your Spring Cleaning Checklist!
While most of us try to keep our homes, some version of 'clean and organized' (or at least 'clean enough'), there are a few things that always get left out of our constant, cleaning rotation. Moving large items or getting to the random stuff like between the sofa cushions, might not always be a priority when we’re dusting and vacuuming those few moments of the week that we find to clean. Annually setting aside one time of the year (say, Spring), and ensuring that you get to all of those forgotten tasks can be easily accomplished in a timely and easy manner.
Don’t be intimidated by the long list of tricky tasks, just focus on how to make it work for YOU! If you want to dedicate a whole weekend to cleaning your home and get it our of the way, all at once, go for it! If you’d rather break it down into one day a week for the month, or even half an hour a day for a week to accomplish everything, that works, too! Whatever your schedule and lifestyle allows for, try to make the most of your spring cleaning time and see how good it feels to get it done! Enlist the whole family to help, passing out tasks that each family member can do, and celebrate with a reward when everything is finished!
YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO SPRING CLEANING:
Around the House
-Wash windows inside and out. Wipe down the sills. To clean window screens, rub them with kerosene on both sides, and then rinse them with soap and water. Make sure to do this in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside.
-To revive drab drapes, take them down, remove hooks and run them through an air-fluff cycle in the dryer with a damp towel (to attract the dust) for 15 minutes. Re-hang immediately. Wipe blinds with a damp cloth.
-Dust your home thoroughly. Take everything off shelves, tabletops and dressers to dust. Now is also the time to get to all the places you've been neglecting throughout the year, including ceiling fans, above kitchen cabinets and baseboards and doorways.
-Wash out trash cans. To really clean garbage cans, spray them with a hose and dump out the water. Next, spray the inside with a disinfectant spray, scrub with a handled brush and rinse. Leave them upside down to dry.
-Move furniture away from walls and clean underneath.
-Deep clean your flooring. Have your carpets professionally cleaned and wax wooden floors
-Clean upholstered furniture. Vacuum pillows, as well as underneath the cushions. Look for stains and clean according to the care label.
In the Kitchen
-Clean inside the refrigerator. The best cleaner is a combination of abrasive salt and bubbly soda water.
-If there's lime buildup around the faucet, lay paper towels over the fixture and soak it with vinegar, letting it set for one hour. The deposits will soften and become easier to remove.
-To clean chrome, glass or stainless steel appliances, fill a spray bottle with a mixture of 50 percent rubbing alcohol and 50 percent water.
-Use a toothbrush to remove softened food from around the burners, knobs and dials on the stove top.
-Set your oven to self-clean. Be sure to wipe up major spills before setting it to self-clean.
-Organize your pantry, and throw out any expired foods.
In the Bathroom
-Spray a generous amount of bathroom spray or pine cleaner to the shower or bathroom walls. Allow cleaners to stand while other work is being done. Then go back and start scrubbing.
-To remove hard-water scale or mildew on showerheads, faucetheads and drains, soak them in vinegar. If the head isn't removable, position a plastic bag filled with vinegar over it and tape it shut.
In the Bedroom
-Over time, mattresses can wear unevenly. So, extend the life of your mattress by vacuuming it and turning at least four times per year, alternating between end-over-end and side-over-side rotation.
-Launder bedding and pillows. If you change bedding for the season, air out the spring blankets before putting them on bed. Store winter bedding after having it cleaned.
-Switch out cool-weather clothing for warm-weather clothes. Be sure to wash or dry-clean winter clothing before storing.
In the Home Office
-Get important papers in order. Set aside all tax return information so it's handy. Store any files from last year that need to be saved.
Outside the House
-Sweep porch and deck, as well as around doors and windows to get rid of cobwebs and debris.
-Wash outdoor furniture. Mild dishwashing detergent should work for most materials, but check your care labels to be sure.
Be sure to check out our calendar online and see all of the amazing, fresh, colorful paintings we have coming up! These beauties are sure to get you in the mood for the upcoming season and will add a gorgeous, pop of fun and color into your home, updating it for the warm weather!
We hope you’ll add a paint and sip class at Pinto’s Palette, Brier Creek to your list of fun things to do this season! We have some great paintings, coming up this Spring and creating some new art for your home will add some fresh and playful color into your nice, neat, and newly-cleaned space! You’ll have a talented artist helping to walk you through the painting, so it’s a great experience for first-timers, and you’ll have some delicious wine and great music to accompany you through the class. Change the colors in your painting to best match your home or Spring decor OR create the painting in your own, special way, anyway you like! Our classes make a great place to spend time with loves ones, catching up and creating some masterpieces! If you live in or around the Raleigh Durham area, we’re the place to be! Join us for a unique and creative experience where you’ll get in touch with your inner-artist and discover a new pastime!
We’ll see you soon and Happy Spring!
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