Tackle Spring Cleaning Like a Pro!
By: Katrina Mendoza
The weather is starting to warm up and that means it’s the time to prep your home for the Spring season. It’s the time to get your cleaning supplies out, check the nooks and crannies and have your home looking and smelling fresh again! Aside from the normal cleaning routine that you do at home, check this list to help you tackle this big cleaning job like a pro:
1.Wash your windows and make sure they are streak-free – The melting snow makes our windows looking and feeling yucky. Wash all the gunk off, no need to get all fancy with those expensive window washers, just water until all the mud is gone. Wipe it down with a cloth then to make sure it’s clear and streak-free, use a newspaper to wipe the glass down!
2.Make your door presentable – A fresh coat of paint will definitely make a huge difference. To make it even fresher and Spring-ready, use a pop of colour!
3.Change your curtains; wipe down the blinds – If you use window coverings, now is the time to change them to something lighter for more natural light to come into your home. If you have blinds, take the time to wipe down each strip to get all those dusts.
4.Freshen up your carpet – All the dusts, food stains, crumbs make your carpet look gross. A carpet steamer will bring your carpet back to life.
5.De-grease your kitchen cabinets – Make a mixture of water, a cup of vinegar and baking soda and use that to spray on your cabinets. It will help with the stickiness and the smell!
6.Shine up your stainless steel – Get rid of those fingerprints and make your stainless steel shine again. Mix a solution of 1 tsp dishwashing soap and 1 quart hot tap water. Use a microfibre cloth and rub the solution along the grains of your appliances. Wash with hot water only.
7.Remove the food smell in your microwave – Fill in a bowl with 1/2 cup water and 1 tbsp white vinegar. Microwave for 4-5 mins. The steam will loosen smell-causing detritus stuck to the walls then wipe it down.
8.Deep clean your sink and tap – Again with the baking soda and vinegar solution, use that to sanitize your sink. Scrub it down good. Use that solution with hot water and pour it down the drain to clean that part too.
9.Get rid of those expired items – Check your fridge, pantry and cupboards. Free up some space and take those expired goodies out. Wipe down with warm water, vinegar and baking soda solution for freshness.
10.Dig into grimy grout – Dirty grouts are a serious eyesore. For a quick fix-up, mix 3/4 cup of chlorine bleach and 1 gallon water. Use rubber gloves and eye protection. Let the solution sit for a couple of minutes and scrub and rinse.
11.Freshen up your mattresses – By sprinkling baking soda and vacuum, you can make those mattresses fresh again. Use upholstery cleaner for musty mattresses! Leave a fabric softener sheet for a fresher scent or use a fabric freshener.
12.Purge your closet – There may be plenty of clothes in your closet that you haven’t used in years, but you’re just reluctant to dispose. Rule is if you haven’t worn them since last year, it should go to the bye-bye bin. You don’t need to throw them out if they are still in great shape. Consider donating them! There are plenty of organizations that would be happy to take them from you. Some would even go to your door and pick them up for free. Check out the list below for some of the places that accepts clothing donations:
– Siloam Mission https://siloam.ca/make-an-impact/donate-goods/
– https://www.kidney.ca/kidneyclothes
– The Clothes Closet – http://www.swfic.org/the-clothes-closet/
– Diabetes Canada – http://www.diabetes.ca/declutter?gclid=CjwKCAjws6jVBRBZEiwAkIfZ2qOwy4y_KwY-TOa3JKqEke6i_FLa51X-MkWPYBkKhm7EJd4PZnEYshoCWSMQAvD_Bw
