With longer days and warmer temperatures comes the annual ritual of spring cleaning. In addition to stowing away snow shovels and winter gear, homeowners can tackle a few cleaning projects that will wash away the doldrums of winter and leave homes sparkling and refreshed.
Top Spring Cleaning Jobs to Tackle
Windows. Top of the list to freshen up your home is to clean the windows, including screens, removing months of dust and cooking residue on the inside and dirt and grime on the outside. Drapes should be laundered and blinds should be cleaned. A handy way to clean blinds is to place an old sock on your hand and then run your hand across the slats of the blinds.
Shower curtains. Showering every day doesn’t get your shower curtain clean. It too needs a spring clean to remove any mould and soap scum. Both can go into the washing machine in some warm water with baking soda and laundry soap, and a few towels to balance the load. To maintain the liner between washings, apply a paste of baking soda and water to an exfoliating glove and then scrub away the dirt. After showering, make sure to close the curtain so that the liner can dry properly, thus preventing the build-up of mould and mildew.
Appliances. Spring is also the time to give appliances a good cleaning, pulling them out from the wall to access spills and dust build-up. After moving the fridge and stove, unplug them before cleaning. If you can’t pull out your stove, most have a bottom drawer that can be removed, giving you access to the floor underneath.
Expert tip: “Before cleaning the back of your fridge, it’s important to vacuum the coils, which will improve the refrigerator’s performance,” says Amelea Mackie, franchise owner for Molly Maid in Mississauga South. “Then, use an all-purpose cleaning product to wipe down the back and sides of your appliances. Move them back into position and then clean the front.”
