It’s that time of year again! With spring comes the rite of Spring Cleaning - scrubbing your home to shiny perfection, cleaning out every nook and cranny and freshening your space. This annual task doesn’t have to be daunting or arduous – we have 5 easy tips for making the project more manageable, and even enjoyable.
Wax On, Wax Off
Waxing your furniture occasionally can help keep them in tip-top condition. For wooden furniture, wipe surfaces with a soft cloth dampened with water and mild dishwashing liquid. Apply paste wax (moving in small areas), with a cotton rag. Once the wax is dry, buff with a clean cloth. For non-wood floors that could use a little shine, such as vinyl and linoleum, use a polish that’s specifically made to work on those surfaces. Stone and tile floors can usually be treated with a paste or liquid wax designed for the material.
Dusting Surfaces
Nothing looks less appealing than a dusty surface – hence why spring cleaning often includes a thorough dusting of your home. Don’t forget any hard-to-reach spots such as above the ceiling fan, or the corners of bookshelves. Work from the top of a room down, so that any dust that lands on the floor can be swept up or vacuumed. When dusting shelves and desks, remove everything sitting on top and use a feather duster to properly clean everything.
Cleaning Larger Furniture
It can take a little more effort to clean larger rugs and couches. Luckily, high-foot-traffic areas only need to be cleaned 3-4 times per year, and lower traffic areas once or twice per year. For synthetic carpets and rugs with waterproof backing, these can be vacuumed and then deep-cleaned with shampoo. For upholstered furniture, take cushions outdoors and wipe off any dust by hand. Check the cleaning instructions if there are spots or stains to take care of, and use a small hand vacuum to clean the area underneath seat cushions.
Polishing Metal Hardware
For mild polishing tasks, liquid polishes and a cleaning cloth get the job done for areas such as metal door, window, and cabinetry hardware. For heavier duty cleaning, use pastes and creams to remove dull spots and tarnish. If your cabinets also have a grease build-up on their surface from daily cooking, use a ‘cabinet cream’ to cut through dirt and restore it to its clean state.
Bedding Maintenance
While smaller items such as pillowcases and sheets should ideally be washed every two weeks, larger items (that you don’t make direct contact with everyday) such as comforters can be cleaned 2-3 times per year. Throw them in the washing machine – just make sure to read the manufacturer’s label first. As for your washing machine, a disinfectant of distilled white vinegar and baking soda will keep it smelling fresh and high-functioning. To clean, run the machine with hot water, add the solution, and let the mixture sit for 30-60 minutes. Afterwards, restart the machine, let the water drain out, and wipe the insides dry.