Sorry for the delay in getting this posted. But I'll be back on schedule this week.

When it comes to spring cleaning, I focus on creating a tidy baseline that will make it easier to keep my house livable all summer. Here is my basic task list:

Bathroom:

• Wash (or replace as needed) the shower curtain.
• Clean the medicine cabinet, getting rid of expired medicines and old makeup. Move the insect repellant, sun screen, and after-sun care lotions to the front.
• Tidy the linen closet so that you can find the beach towels and the light weight linens.

Bedrooms:

• Turn your mattress.
• Launder all bedclothes.
• Switch to lighter weight linens and blankets.
• De-clutter the night stand to make room for your summer reading.
• Clean and store winter clothes and shoes. (Don't store anything that requires repair or that doesn't fot.)
• Move spring/summer clothes to accessible drawers/closets. If things require repair, put them on the mending pile. If they don't fit, give them away.

Living Room/Family Room

• One word: De-Clutter. Get rid of everything you don't use. If you can't bear to part with it, store it.

Kitchen:

• Give the appliances a good wipe down.
• We;ll look at more specific kitchen things later this week.

Once you've done the de-cluttering, it's worth your time to do a good vacuuming. dusting, mopping, so that you are starti g the seaon clean. If yo can, make the effort to vacuum under and behind furniture and cushions.

Is there any other task that you think is essential to spring cleaning?