It’s that time of year again. It’s time to open the windows up after a long winter and let the fresh spring air fill your home. But as the warm sun shines in, it illuminates all the dust and dirt that winter has brought in with it. Time to get cleaning!
Doing a thorough clean in your home in spring is a good idea. Not only will you feel better about your home, but should you decide to move, a lot of the work will already be done by the time you list your house for sale. Remember, springtime is a great time to list your home, as there are more people interested in relocating at this time of year.
Take down your curtains, and wash them according to the directions on the label. Some curtains can only be dry cleaned. If the label says it’s safe to wash, do so on a delicate cycle, and use dryer balls to help the fabric move around in the dryer to help decrease wrinkling. While they are in the wash, use this time to dust your curtain rods and blinds. They can get pretty dusty, so use a microfiber cloth or duster that traps dust to avoid just spreading the dust around. Once your drapes are clean, you can iron them, but pay attention to what the label on them says in regards to ironing. You may want to rent a steamer instead and steam them once they are re-hung for that crisp, professional open house look. Other items you may want to launder in springtime are your comforters and duvets, decorative pillow covers and throws.
In the kitchen, pull out your appliances (stove, refrigerator) then sweep and mop, remembering to wipe down the baseboards and walls usually hidden behind these appliances. Clean the filters on your microwave (if applicable) and range hood. Often these filters can go straight in the dishwasher if the manufacturer states it’s safe to do so.
Clear any clutter off the top of your fridge and counters completely, and give both a good wipe down. Empty your fridge, and wash the parts that can be removed (crisper drawers etc.). Wipe down the rest of the fridge both inside and out with a good cleaner. Give another wipe down after with plain water to wash off any cleaner residue (it’s not a good idea to have cleaner left where food is stored). Use an eco-friendly cleanser whenever possible in all of your cleaning. Throw away any food that is past being safely edible before returning food to the fridge.
Clean off your light fixtures. If you have chandeliers, you know how all the little glass pieces are major dust collectors. If you feel they’re not too delicate, you might try putting them in the dishwasher (without detergent) to get them sparkling again. While you’re up cleaning your light fixtures, give your door frame casings and ceilings a good dusting as well. Many older homes have stucco or “popcorn” ceilings, and it can be difficult to clean these, as they readily trap dust, and getting them wet trying to clean them will often remove the popcorn effect and make a huge mess. Try using a vacuum with a brush attachment to clean this type of ceiling.
For your floors, give all your baseboards a good wipe down. Vacuum rugs thoroughly, then rent a rug cleaner and clean all your rugs. You will be surprised at all the grime winter can bring! If you have wood floors, give them a fresh coat of wax. For porcelain or ceramic tiles with grout lines, clean your grout with a toothbrush and a solution made with baking soda (the baking soda acts as a natural abrasive cleaner).
If the task of spring cleaning is daunting, which it very often can be, or you find you want to list your home for sale ASAP or have an open house around the corner and just can’t find the time to do it on your own, there are many professional cleaning companies in the Greater Toronto Area that will do a great job. Once your home has had a thorough scrub down, either by yourself or someone else, you can relax and enjoy that sweet spring fresh air! Happy spring!
