It's Time For Some Spring Cleaning!
Life is busy... we get it; Sometimes, it's all we can do to dust, vacuum, and clear the clutter. But what is it that makes ’Spring Cleaning’ such a practical, time-honored tradition? Why is Spring the best time to get in there and clean, clean, clean?!
After months of being cooped up in our homes, during the cold weather, it’s nice to throw open the windows and air out our homes, once the warmer days hit. Living in Southern California, we’re lucky enough to have days that get warm enough for fresh air and cleaning, all year long, but there still needs to be a time of year that we dedicate to a good, deep clean. It’s easy for some of the greater, less-common tasks to get pushed to the side like cleaning inside the stove and refrigerator, washing all of the windows (inside and out), and flipping our mattresses. By putting aside a little time, each year (say, in the Spring), you’ll ensure that your home will be up-kept to the fullest and you can continue your standard cleaning tasks, the rest of the year, for maintenance.
While the list, provided, might seem intimidating, break it up into a way that works for you. Enlist the family to help, dividing up tasks and celebrating with a special treat when you’re finished! Decide what your time and life's schedule needs and plan your cleaning from there. Knock everything out in one weekend, divide it up into one day each week, or try for just a few minutes a day. However you need to set up your Spring cleaning routine to accomplish it, that’s fine.. do what works for YOU!
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.
After all of that cleaning is finished, you’ll want to add some other updates to your home, helping it to look and fell as fresh as it, now, is! Be sure to check out our calendar online and see all of the amazing, 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 to see you soon for a class at our studio if you’re looking for something fun to do in or around the Tustin area! We make the perfect event for everything from a fun and unique date night, an awesome girls’ night out experience, and we even offer private events! When you view our classes on our website, you’ll be viewing our schedule for our public classes, but you can also book a painting party with the guest list of your choice! Come in to celebrate a birthday, bridal shower, reunion, retirement, and more with friends and family, sharing their artistic sides, together. Make memories that will last a lifetime with a souvenir to treasure forever with one our classes.
View our website for ALL information! :)