Spring is in the air (except maybe in New York where it is so cold today!) and it is time for spring-cleaning! Can a house ever be clean enough is the real question, right? I was telling my boyfriend yesterday that our closets are bursting and we really need to give our apartment the 1-2 and clean up! Here are some quick tips because, hey, we are all short on time, but love a neat and tidy home:
- Restock your cleaning supplies!
- Dirty panes are no problem when you use rubber-edged squeegees, which are quicker and more effective than cloth or newspaper. They come in a variety of sizes — and a screw-on extension will let you reach high spots.
- Unscrew light bulbs and polish the bulbs with a microfiber cloth dampened with water (avoid wetting the metal screw base). Clean the bulbs in recessed ceiling fixtures with a dry Swiffer duster – they work wonders!
- Once or twice a year, wipe wooden blinds with a few drops of gentle wood cleaner on a nearly dry sponge.
- The best way to get rid of lime buildup around the faucet it is to lay paper towels over the fixture, soak it with vinegar and let it set for an hour. The deposits will soften and become easier to remove.
- If drapes are looking drab, take them out of the window, remove the hooks and run them through the air-fluff cycle in the dryer along with a wet towel (to draw off the dust) for 15 minutes. Hang them back in the windows immediately.
- Clean the blades of a ceiling fan by covering them with a coat of furniture polish. Wipe off the excess and lightly buff.
- Sometimes comforters, blankets and pillows don’t need to be cleaned, but they do need to be aired out after a long winter in your closed-up home. Take them outside and hang them on a clothesline for a day.
- Clean out the refrigerator – scary. I know. This task is a daunting undertaking; make it more manageable by breaking it down.
Steps to Cleaning the Refrigerator:
- The first step is to wipe up spills immediately so surfaces won’t become stained.
- Make it a habit to throw out old food once a week.
- Every few months, wash the interior with a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda for every quart of warm water. Wash removable shelves and drawers in the solution (let glass shelves come to room temperature first so warm water won’t crack them).
- Loosen hardened spills on fixed parts by wetting the area with the solution, allowing the residue to soften.
- Use a toothbrush to scrub crannies.
- Twice a year, vacuum or brush dust from the condenser coils to keep the system from overheating.
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