Spring Cleaning Carole’s Way

Posted under House Cleaning, Spring Cleaning

 

I had to open the windows the other day. Of course, to a clean freak, that means you have to actually clean the windows. But my ‘to-do’ list was pretty full too.

So I just cleaned the windows that I opened that day. Spent about 10 minutes each on 3 windows. A roll of paper towels and some glass cleaner. I cleaned the window before I opened it. I cleaned the storm that was going up. Put the screen down - Wiped the screen. Wiped out the ledge.

The next day it gets warm enough, I’ll do the other 3 in that room.

When I was in the laundry room, I took a big trash bag and filled it with some clothes that had been there for years, not worn and threw them out! Probably 2 minutes of effort - I was in that room anyway.

I washed some of the comforters that we won’t use anymore this year ( I hope!) and put them away. Laundry pretty much does itself. It’s not like it takes a tremendous amount of time or effort - unless you still have small kids. Boy, then it does - all that spot cleaning! I used to keep a jug of laundry soap nearby and put it on spots right way when the clothes went into the hamper. And I made sure to do one load pretty much everyday. Then it didn’t get overwhelming.

That’s my whole approach to housecleaning. Little things in spare minutes here and there.  I don’t know about you, but I just don’t have a whole day to devote to house cleaning. I can come up with a little time here and there.

Try it. Next time you’re going to the laundry room - take a trash bag with you. When you’re heading into a room, make sure to take things that need to be returned to their proper place in that direction. Think about how you can get one little thing done heading in the direction that you’re going anyway.

If you want the whole system laid out for you step by step - Click here to find out how to clean your house fast, and keep it that way!

Get a Jump on Spring-Cleaning

Posted under House Cleaning, Spring Cleaning

 

It’ll be summer before you know it! Now’s the time to tackle the spring-cleaning that needs to be done. I don’t know about you, but once it gets warm - I want to play!

Forget waiting until spring to start spring-cleaning. I mean, who wants to be cleaning when it’s warm outside? Use the impending warm weather as motivation to get you moving during this frustrating time of year. Your house will be clean and you’ll be free.

Here are some tips that will help you make sure you are ready to play once the temperatures get warm.

Pick one of these tasks anytime you have a little extra time.

Wash your figurines. I use dish soap. Just be careful that
the paint on the figurine can stand up to being immersed
in water. I’ve ruined a couple of antique ones where the
paint came off in water. Oops.

Wash your silk plant arrangements. You can either take
them Apart and wash them, or you can use the special
sprays designed to clean silk plant arrangements. I
recently took mine apart and washed them in the new
Dawn dish soap with Bleach Alternative. They turned out
very nice. My big pride and joy arrangement on my desk
is over 10 years old and people still rave about it.

Give your wood furniture a good cleaning. With the right
care and cleaning, your wood furniture can look great for
another 100 years. Here’s my tips for deep cleaning your
wood furniture >>>

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. Move the furniture and vacuum
behind. Edge. Vacuum the furniture. Vacuum your blinds.
Vacuum your mattresses.

Keep your animals brushed. That will cut down a lot of
work in the long run. Besides, most of them love it.
You’re keeping your house cleaner, and spending quality
time with your pet. Such a deal!

Wash your window treatments.

Clean the range hood. Even if you just work at it 5 minutes
at a time until it’s clean. Something I call the wear away
principle. I talk about it in Secret Confessions of a Clean
Freak. (leave the oven until you can open the windows.)

Above cabinets-
If you have open space above the kitchen cabinets, get up
there and clean it! If it’s really bad, you can use orange
409 and steel wool. If it’s really, really bad, spray generously
with orange 409 and let it sit for 15 minutes. Use a scraper
to remove the tough layers of gunk. Then clean again with
409 and steel wool.

Wipe down cabinet fronts.
If you’re not in the habit of wiping down your cabinets on a
regular basis, you should get in the habit. It will keep your
cabinets looking great a lot longer. Wipe wood cabinets
down with Murphy Oil Soap. If it’s gotten really bad, you
may have to revert to the wear away principle. Don’t get
overzealous or you may scratch the cabinets!

Wash the walls. Especially in the kitchen, bath and hallway.
Do a little at a time. Don’t kill yourself. Even if it’s one wall
At a time.

Some things just don’t make sense to do now. Cleaning
the carpet when we’re coming into muddy season doesn’t
really make much sense. Won’t hurt either - but you’ll have
to do it again later either way.

Just do a little here and there, and by the time April
comes around- there won’t be much left to do inside.
You’ll be able to get outside and feel that warm sunshine.

Besides, you’ll get some exercise so you can look great
when it’s time to put on those skimpy clothes!

Need more help? Click here to find out how to clean your house fast -and keep it that way >>>