Leader Enterprise Article - April 2010 - Spring Cleaning Tips

Spring is in the air! And hasn’t it been glorious!? The longer daylight hours seem to light a fire under us to clean,scrub,get rid of dust bunnies and organize our homes.
I'm sharing some simpler spring cleaning tips to help motivate you.It feels good to get your home freshened.It also helps shake off winter and welcomes the warmer temperatures.But don’t wear yourself out and try to ‘binge’ clean.Doing a little at a time can make a real difference over time.


Open up the windows and doors in your home and let the fresh air in and the winter doldrums out.


Get rid of your old sponges and look for some cheery, colorful ones to brighten up your kitchen.



Take your wastebaskets outside for a good cleaning. You can hose them out and turn upside down to dry.Sprinkle the bottoms lightly with baking soda to keep the odors down.I keep replacement bags in the bottom of the basket,so they are handy when the next one is needed.


Wash small knicknacks instead of dusting them.
Wipe refrigerator out with baking soda water to rid odors,or vinegar water to reduce mildew.An open box of soda will easily absorb odors for several weeks.Be sure to vacuum the coils and motor to remove dust and dirt and keep the motor running properly.


Wash your shower curtain and liner in the washer,adding a bath towel for scrubbing action.Hang to dry or pop in the dryer for a few minutes,then rehang.
Sprinkle your carpets with a light dusting of baking soda;let stand overnight,and in the morning,vacuum away the odors.If you prefer purchased fragranced carpet fresheners,add baking soda to stretch the product but retain the scent.

Air out throw rugs on the clothesline to freshen.

To remove scuff marks from no-wax floors,it’s as easy as rubbing with a dry paper towel.Don’t use anything abrasive as it removes the shine and scratches the floor.

We don’t have to spend money on pricey products to make our home ‘sing’ and smell fresh and clean.Here are a few ideas for using natural products in your home.


A wonderful natural air freshener is made by mixing lemon juice and water in a spray bottle.



Grind citrus peels in the garbage disposal to eliminate nasty odors and freshen the drain.Boil peels to freshen up the whole house.

To remove showerhead build up,remove and soak in white or cider vinegar,then scrub with a toothbrush.If it can’t be removed, pour vinegar into a plastic bag and tie around your showerhead so the nozzle is submerged.Let it set overnight,or atleast 8 hours.It should dissolve any mineral deposits.




Wondering what to do if someone comes to your door and you haven't gotten around to spring cleaning?Always have get well cards ready.Put them on the mantle,then let in your guest,sigh,and mention how of course you would have cleaned by now if that nasty bug hadn’t kept you down.


I have been using this recipe and am very pleased with the results.


HOMEMADE LAMINATE FLOOR CLEANER
In a spray bottle, mix 1 cup water,1 cup rubbing alcohol,1 cup white vinegar and 1 Tb. liquid dish soap. Shake,spray and mop as usual. A sponge mop does not do well on laminates - use a cloth mop.




Next month I will be sharing my two favorite asparagus recipes.