If you’re like me, you look forward to Spring. Fresh green grass, flowers beginning to bloom, a warmth to the air. What you probably don’t look forward to is Spring Cleaning. With doors and windows closed for many months, kids and dogs cooped up inside during snowstorms, our houses can get stuffy and stale. Spring is the time to sweep out, spruce up and get our homes back in order. It can feel like an overwhelming task, but if you break it down, and do a little each day, your house will be springtime fresh in no time.

The best way to get a sense of accomplishment is to take it one room at a time. Start at the top of the house, and at the top of the room. Use a duster or vacuum to clear out spider webs in corners and on crown moldings. Wipe down the walls, baseboards, window frames and doors. Take down curtains and wash or dry clean.  Dust blinds and all furniture. Polish wood floors, shampoo carpets.

Each room will have something extra to do. In the bedroom, transition winter clothes out of closets and drawers. If you didn’t wear it this winter – get rid of it. No sense in storing something you don’t wear.

In the bathroom, clean out drawers, organize under the sink and straighten up the linen closet.

The kitchen has some extra steps. Get your dishwasher in top working condition. Pull the bottom rack out and check to make sure there are no big chunks of food blocking the drain. Place a cup of white vinegar in the top dish rack of an otherwise empty dishwasher and run it on the hottest cycle. This will remove any grease, and make it smell fresh. Clean the refrigerator, both inside and out. Grease can also build up on kitchen cabinets. Wipe them down with dish soap or vinegar. Clean the filter on your range hood by running it through the dishwasher. Clean the oven.

Your home is ready for Spring. Now go play outside.

Refresh with Spring Cleaning