Spring cleaning tips
By Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 27, 2002
Start from top to bottom. Begin cleaning ceiling fans and light fixtures before cleaning furniture, windows and carpets.
Wash windows inside and out.
Vacuum or wash draperies and window treatments.
Wash throw rugs, blankets and bed covers.
Move and vacuum underneath furniture.
Hold a family wardrobe check as you bring out warm-weather clothing. Sort winter clothing for discards and donations before you store.
Check and clean downspouts and gutters.
Arrange for an inspection of your air-conditioning system before blazing weather starts.
Check and clean air filters and vents.
Replace smoke detector batteries.
Drain sediment from hot water heaters.
As you use cleaning products, read the labels to discover each product's capabilities and check for directions for use, storage information, environmental cautions and disposal information. Circle critical information with a felt-tipped pen and stick an adhesive-backed red dot near it as a reminder.
To prevent streak marks when cleaning large vertical areas, start at the bottom and work up, overlapping areas as you clean and using a circular motion.
Abrasive cleansers provide extra cleaning power for hard-to-remove soils like food particles and grease residue in sinks. Be sure the abrasive product is suitable for the surface being cleaned; otherwise it may scratch the finish. In general, liquid, spray and gel cleansers are less abrasive than powders.
Clean microwave spills when they happen. If they don't get "baked on," it's a snap to wipe them up before they harden.
Use a small foam paintbrush to clean tight spaces between cabinets or under appliances.
Save money on paper towels by using washable, lint-free cloths. Merry Maids uses surgical cloths. Lockwood uses old rags, diapers and cut-up towels.
Try the two-bucket method when you clean walls or floors. Fill one with cleaning solution and leave the other empty. Wet the cleaning sponge or cloths in one and squeeze the dirty water into the empty bucket. This keeps your cleaning solution clean.
Clean books with the vacuum's round brush attachment. Vacuum the backs, then the pages.
Keep cleaning supplies in every bathroom. It's an incentive to clean since you need not walk down the hall or go downstairs to get anything.
Get familiar with the latest generation of cleaning products. Specialized disposable wipes are made for glass, furniture, floors, even leather upholstery. Great for dirt-conscious consumers, these disposable towelettes and the germs they pick up can be thrown away. Anyone can use single-use dust mitts, dry cloths that fit over the hand like a mitten.
All-in-one mops are making that job easier. These electrostatic mops use cloths or sheets to clean dusty floors of all types. They also work on vertical wood surfaces such as paneling.
Make your own products
Make your own aromatherapy cleaning products with essential oils, sold at health food stores and other locations.
For hardwood floors: Add a capful of citrus-infused vinegar and a few drops lemon, pine, cinnamon or tea tree oil to a gallon of warm water. Make the infused vinegar by saving citrus peels and placing them in a bottle of mild vinegar.
For kitchen counters, add a few drops of peppermint or rosemary oil to warm water for cleaning.
For dishes and windows: Add 15 drops of bergamot to a 10-ounce bottle of biodegradable dishwashing liquid from a health food store.
In the dryer: A few drops of lavender essential oil on a clean cloth will freshen clothes as they dry.
Surfboard
Helpful Web sites for spring-cleaning tips:
www.organizedhome.com. Tips on cleaning, decluttering, home organization, homemade cleaning solutions, storage ideas.
www.hgtv.com. The Web site of Home & Garden Television. Do a search on "spring cleaning" for ideas on cleaning, decluttering and getting ready for spring and summer inside and out.
www.cleaning101.com. This is the Web site of the Soap and Detergent Association. Tips on household cleaning, laundry, dishwashing, home safety.
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