After
a winter spent primarily indoors, the urge to clean when the earth
begins to warm is common. These ten things should be on your list.
Bed
covers
Sheets
get washed, furniture gets dusted, but how often does your comforter
or bedspread get cleaned? Dust, skin cells and animal dander collect
on bed covers over time. For simplicity’s sake, take it to the
cleaners and let them wash it while you tackle the rest of the home.
Windows
plus
Washing
windows is often on the least desirable chore list. Sometimes that’s
because they are difficult to reach; other times cleaners leave
streaks that cause you to re-clean inside and outside trying to
identify the specific location of the streak. In addition to the
glass of the windows, clean the window sills and any window
treatments. Launder curtains or valances for the same reasons
mentioned for washing comforters.
Ridges
Furniture
surfaces like tables and bookshelves get dusted fairly regularly
throughout the year. Baseboards, doorframes and ceiling fan blades,
on the other hand can gather a year’s worth of dust before getting
attention. Spring cleaning is as good a time as any to clean those
ridged surfaces.
Closets
If
you are like most American families, your closets are full of clothes
you never wear. To make room for the new items you received over the
holidays, clean out your closets. A good rule of thumb is to get rid
of anything you haven’t worn in the past year. Give those clothes
away as hand-me-downs or donate them to a local charity. If you’re
feeling extra energetic, perform the same process for cupboards and
cabinets throughout the home, disposing of expired items and donating
excess items.
Kitchen
appliances
While
you are in cleaning mode, you might as well tackle the oven and the
refrigerator. These appliances are easy to neglect because they are
so commonly used. Take the time to clean out last year’s crumbs,
spills and residues to start fresh this spring.
Carpets/rugs
To
thoroughly clean the floors in your home will require furniture to be
moved. Vacuum or mop under the sofa, chairs and beds in your home to
prevent dust bunnies and insect carcasses from forming an army.
Shampoo the carpets and rugs while you’re at it.
AC
filter
Replacing
the filter in your heater and air conditioner keeps the air ducts
cleaner and makes your units run more efficiently.
Fireplace
Have
a chimney sweep clean your chimney before you clean out your
fireplace. Clean should always happen from the top first to prevent
double cleaning. Keeping chimneys clean prevents fires and bird
nests.
Consider updating your fireplace with a new fireplace
glass door or economy
mantel.
Gutters
It
was too cold over the winter to do it, but now that spring rains are
just around the corner you want your gutters to perform at their
best. Clean out leaves and muck that has gathered over the colder
months to keep gutters from getting clogged.
Lint
trap
Even
if you clean the lint trap after every load of clothes dries, it is
important to keep the space beyond the lint trap clean as well. This,
too, prevents potential fires as well as helping your dryer to last
longer and run more efficiently.
Tiffany
Marshall is an allergy sufferer who understands the value of keeping
a home clean for health purposes. She is a freelance writer who has
posted articles about house cleaning services, Austin condos and
catering for Austin businesses like www.maidsandmoore.com.
