Spring is almost here. This is a great time of year to give the house a thorough cleaning and get rid of all those winter indoor odors, allergens, and clutter.
I like to do some deep cleaning in the spring to get ready for opening up our windows and letting the fresh air and sunshine inside. I try to make this a fun family project by having my 3 youngest daughters pitch in. Here are a few spring cleaning projects we tackle that you might want to add to your list.
Spring Cleaning Tips
De-clutter Storage Areas and Bedrooms
We take stock of whatever is in the attic, garage, or the outdoor shed. We also go through bedroom drawers and closets. Anything that we really don’t use anymore or haven’t worn in a year we donate to a local charity. Renting a dumpster is a cheap and easy way to deal with larger-than usual decluttering efforts.
This makes the girls feel good that they are giving to those in need. Plus, we get a receipt for a tax deduction. Large broken stuff we have our trash collector take away. Some of it they may be able to repurpose.
After the clutter is gone we clean the rooms/areas and then freshen them up by placing a Febreze AIR: Meadows and Rain scent in the room to give us a jump start on that fresh dewy smell of spring.
Give the Appliances a Makeover
You only have to deep clean appliances once or twice a year. I like to really get in there and clean the residue and grease inside the oven, microwave, range hood, dishwasher, refrigerator, and washing machine. The oven especially gets a lot more use in the winter when we aren’t grilling outside as much. A simple and inexpensive mixture of white vinegar and baking soda will help remove grease, spills, and mold on all appliances. While the girls really don’t love all aspects of this project, they do enjoy throwing out the random forgotten food that we find in the back of the fridge. It makes for a few ewwws and laughs.
Clean Pet Areas and Bedding
By the time spring rolls in, our dog’s bedding and toys are pretty stinky and slimy. This is the time of year to wash the bedding, place the plastic toys in the dishwasher, vacuum the pet area, and scrub the floor beneath his favorite spot. Once all is clean and smelling better, we will again place a Febreze Meadows and Rain scented Small Spaces or a Febreze Plug really close to our pup’s primary living space to keep it smelling fresh.
Wipe down Baseboards and Ceiling Fan Blades
Baseboards and the blades of ceiling fans are often neglected when it comes to cleaning. You may not notice the dust on fan blades until you actually turn the fan on in the spring and the dust becomes airborne. Baseboards can be easily wiped down with a damp cloth. The girls are encouraged to do their own rooms and bathrooms. But, the ceiling fans are my job. This requires a step ladder and another damp cloth.
Clean the Carpets
I think tackling carpets and area rugs are at the top of my spring cleaning list. According to S&S Rug Cleaning Services Atlanta, spring is the active season for pests to breed in rugs and carpets like beetles and moths.
A perfect way to prevent this is to use some of the efficient carpet moth killer kit.
I either call in a professional company that steam cleans to remove allergens, pollutants, and mites or I rent a steam cleaner and do it myself. If I do it myself I will sometimes add a few drops of essential oils, such as lavender or lemon, to the water to help naturally sanitize and make things smell nice. Both methods produce good results and we can breathe better with the allergens gone. As soon as the carpets are clean and dry I like to keep the rooms smelling fresh again by placing a Febreze Plug in a corner of each room, or maybe 2 corners.
Febreze & Spring Cleaning
Febreze uses OdorClear technology to eliminate odors. It doesn’t just cover them up. With a Meadows & Rain Small Spaces unit you can enjoy the fresh dewy scent of a spring day. You simply insert the scent refill into the holder until it clicks and then it is activated. This compact little device is perfect for smaller spaces like closets, storage areas, kid’s bedrooms, and bathrooms. For larger areas, use the Febreze Plug or the sprays.