Spring Cleaning, Part 1
March 18, 2016Spring Light
March 22, 2016In all rooms:
- Clean all lighting fixtures (vacuum shades, wash glass globes, etc.).
- Wash windows (inside and out).
- Dust everything, including baseboards, doorjambs, vents, and walls, especially corners.
- Vacuum, launder, dust, or dry clean window treatments as needed.
- Replace batteries and test smoke detectors.
- Dust mop, scrub, or vacuum floors and carpets.
- Move belongings and furniture and dust or sweep under them.
- Put all possessions where they actually belong.
- Clean mirrors.
- Launder or beat rugs.
Bedrooms:
- Empty closets and drawers, donating clothes that don't fit or that you don't wear and discarding clothes that are in poor condition.
- Make a pile of clothes requiring repair. Develop a plan for repairing them or having them repaired.
- Launder and fluff pillows and mattress pads.
- Flip or turn mattresses and vacuum box springs.
- Replace winter bedding with lighter bedding.
- Change linens.
- Launder blankets and comforters.
- Hang up clothes.
- Take winter clothes to be stored to the dry cleaner if necessary.
Living Room/Dining Room
- Spot clean furniture.
- Polish wooden furniture.
- Clean fireplace.
- Declutter as much as possible.
- Launder slipcovers and tablecloths.
- Vacuum sofa and chair cushions (including dining chairs).
- Designate a spot for mail and errand materials.
Kitchen:
- Defrost freezer.
- Clear cabinets and use, donate, or discard foods approaching or past expiration dates.
- Match up plastic containers and discard the ones missing lids or bottom.
- Pull the refrigerator away from the wall and mop behind it. Vacuum the refrigerator coils.
- Scrub cabinet fronts.
- Prune fridge art gallery.
- Do all dishes and put them away.
- Clear and scrub countertops.
- Scrub stovetop.
- Clean oven.
- Scrub sink.
- Clean refrigerator. (That means tossing out the science experiments hidden in the back and scouring away the apple juice spills from last month.)
Bathroom:
- Empty medicine cabinet, discarding outdated medications and cosmetics. (Note: Do NOT flush medicines. Many pharmacies provide containers for safe disposal.)
- Discard or donate any worn, stained, or torn linens or towels. (Many animal rescue groups are happy to accept old towels, blankets, and sheets.)
- Wash shower curtain.
- Bleach or replace shower liner.
- Scrub all fixtures.
- Wipe down shower walls.