|
| |
Dust it, Mop it or Give it Away
Spring cleaning can be so cathartic |
|
Make it easy on yourself and cart your cleaning supplies in a caddy, like this pail.
| In the beginning, there was dirt. Lots of it. From the layer of black ash put out by coal-fired heaters to the sooty grime of gas and kerosene lamps, for turn-of-the-century housekeepers, spring cleaning was a necessity. A hundred years later, we're free to choose. The urge to clean house when the days turn balmy springs as much from the soul as the grime.
"Spring cleaning is cathartic," says Maggie Bright of Mackerel Sky Design in Malibu, Calif. "It frees you up from those jobs you've left undone that have been hanging over your head for months." |
|
|
Bright starts spring cleaning by paring down belongings and giving them to charity. "We've become major consumers at this point in American history, and we buy things we don't really need," she says. "Give away the things you no longer use – it helps people less fortunate and helps you, too. "We function better in a clean and orderly space. We long for it – it's a soul thing." |
|
 | Cheryl Mendelson, author of "Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House" (Scribner,1999) says she gave up spring cleaning the year she was busy writing her book.
"When I finished this book, the house was a disaster," she recalls. "I did a big, traditional spring cleaning and found it was the most amazing experience. It made the whole family feel so good, I've been doing it ever since." |
|
| Break spring cleaning down into five basic areas, then tackle each one, Mendelson recommends. Tackle floors, windows, window hangings, the kitchen, closets and do a "dust patrol." |
|
| "With our air-tight houses, we live with a lot of allergens," she says. "Open up the windows, ventilate the rooms, use exhaust fans in moist areas." |
Environmental scientists at the University of Washington have found that spring cleaning reduces allergic triggers that cause asthma flare-ups and stuffy noses. Dust mites, mildew and other allergens can get trapped in the bedding and upholstery of well-insulated homes.
"Your home is the single biggest investment you'll make," says Debra Paratore, a Realtor in Bellevue, Wash. "It's been a long, dark winter. Go through the house, take a look around and clean out the cobwebs. You'll feel great and be so glad you did." | 
Curtains collect dust and mites so wash or dry clean them |
|
|
| While most of us can't bring in a team of cleaning professionals to help with the chores, we can pick their brains for tips on how to get things done. |
|
| Kitchen |
This is the time to pull appliances back from the walls and clean the floors and walls behind them. Use a dustcloth to clear dust and debris away from air compressors and air vents. Put the contents of your fridge into an ice chest and clean refrigerator walls, shelves and bins. Vinegar or baking soda added to water are great for reducing odors. Empty kitchen cupboards and toss foods and spices that are too old. Sponge down shelves and doors. If you're ambitious, this is a good time to reorganize the pots-and-pans drawer. Find something you haven't used in a while? Think about donating it to someone who might.
Bedrooms
Move the beds from their accustomed spaces and thoroughly sweep or vacuum. Flip and rotate mattresses. Clean under box springs, a favorite haunt for dust bunnies. Send winter bedding, like down comforters and wool blankets, to the cleaners. Wash and dry cottons that have been stored through the winter.
Bathrooms
Deep clean tiles, sinks and toilets. Rotate towels in the linen closet. This is a good time to go through the contents of your medicine chest and toss expired products. Inspired? Clean the shelves before you put everything back.
Rugs
Rugs and carpets last longer when they're clean. Wall-to-wall carpets can use a deep cleaning once a year. Beat the dust out of area rugs – it takes a long time 'til they come clean so be patient – or send them out for a professional cleaning.
Floors
Move furniture and mop and wax the areas that, through the dark and busy winter, haven't seen the light of day. |
|
Work is faster – and more fun – when you do it in teams. |
Safety first
Read all cleaning product labels for hazard information.
Don't mix products – simple things like ammonia and bleach form a harmful gas.
Stick to a few, simple basic cleaning products, and keep them away from the kids
Work in a well-ventilated space.
Open the windows and turn on a fan – it's part of the sping cleaning process, too. |
|
| Wear protective glasses, rubber gloves and long sleeves to protect your eyes and skin. |
|
Don't take on more than you can finish. Doing one or two jobs completely will give you a sense of accomplishment and well-being. Living with a dozen half-finished chores can be demoralizing.
When you're done – enjoy! Put up your feet, sip a cool drink and revel in the peace of it all. |
|
| |
|
|
