Spring cleaning provides an opportunity for you to make the most of your home’s aesthetic qualities. Photo: Sara Hunt Malone Design (2015)
April is here, which means it’s once again time to engage in the longstanding domestic ritual known as spring cleaning. In addition to tackling annual maintenance tasks like cleaning your carpets and flushing your water heater, spring cleaning offers a chance to optimize your home for enjoying the temperate weather and extended daylight. Here are some simple things you can do to brighten, freshen and rejuvenate your home.
Brighten
During the sunny season, you’ll want to bring as much light as possible into your home. Start by washing your windows. Regardless of the tools or methodology you employ (most professionals recommend using a squeegee and a 100 percent cotton cloth), there are a couple of important rules to follow. First, don’t clean your windows in direct sunlight—they’ll dry too fast. Also, when it comes to hard-to-reach windows, your safest bet is to hire a professional.
When cleaning some windows or glass doors, you may encounter water spots. While these spots are technically permanent (they’re literally etched into the surface of the glass), the whitish residue can be removed by using a variety of household products, including vinegar, lemon juice or, for more resilient stains, a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.
Next, it’s time to bring back the shine in your kitchen, which can also be done using common household products. Scrub your stainless steel sink with a mixture of baking soda and water; you can use a fine steel wool pad to remove scratches and a vinegar-soaked sponge to remove water spots. You can also employ these methods on the front of your stainless steel dishwasher and refrigerator to give them the same spring “zing.” For a porcelain sink, try this easy trick: place paper towels along the bottom of the basin and saturate them with bleach or hydrogen peroxide. After 30 minutes, rinse the sink—it should be sparkling clean.
Freshen
After being closed up all winter, you’ll want to give your home a breath of fresh air. Since deep cleaning will disturb layers of latent dust, it’s important to use the right tools, like a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency filter and an electrostatic cleaning cloth or mop, which will attract and capture dust before it becomes airborne. Additionally, you can reduce your exposure to dust by wearing a mask while you clean.
Besides exorcizing the dust from your home, you’ll also want to get rid of any foul odors coming from your kitchen or bathroom. Remove refrigerator odors by cleaning with a sponge dipped in baking soda solution, then leave an open box of baking soda on the top shelf to prevent future ones. Vinegar can be used to remove odors from a dishwasher or microwave.
If you notice an odor coming from your toilet even after repeated cleanings, you may have a leaky seal, so be sure to check and replace it as needed. Afterward, use baking soda to remove residual odors once and for all.
Rejuvenate
In addition to inviting light and fresh air into your home, take steps to rejuvenate the aesthetic qualities of your indoor environment. For instance, putting some new throw pillows on your couch or repainting your bathroom in a vivacious color can liven things up in accordance with the spring spirit. Another way to get a healthy dose of spring fever is by bringing in some new house plants or an arrangement of fresh flowers. All in all, by complementing your cleaning with some light decorating, you’ll be able to maximize the comfort and beauty of your home in this most comfortable and beautiful of seasons.
To find a Diamond Certified house cleaning or window washing company in your area, click on one of the links below.
Alameda County: House Cleaning, Window Washing
Contra Costa County: House Cleaning
Marin County: House Cleaning, Window Washing
San Francisco: House Cleaning, Window Washing
San Mateo County: House Cleaning, Window Washing
Santa Clara County: House Cleaning
Sonoma County: House Cleaning, Window Washing