Speaking of spring cleaning, when it comes to sprucing up your living quarters, there is
still no one better at it than Martha Stewart.
I wanted to share one of her best lists to help inspire you (and keep
track of) everything that needs to be done to prepare your home for spring—at long
last! Read it, use it and once you’re done, props to Martha!
Kitchen
• Dust refrigerator coils. Turn off power at circuit breaker or fuse box. Coils are
usually at the bottom of the refrigerator, under the grill. Clean coils with the crevice
attachment of a vacuum or a specialty refrigerator-coil brush, available at hardware stores.
• Defrost the freezer. Turn off power at circuit breaker or fuse box. Empty freezer’s
contents; wipe interior with a solution of 2 tablespoons baking soda per 1 quart hot water.
Living room
• Swap heavy curtains, rugs and throws for lightweight ones. Clean items first. To store,
roll material around an acid-free tube; wrap in a clean sheet of cotton, muslin, or polyethylene; secure with twill tape, and label each bundle so you’ll know which is which.
Bedrooms
• Rotate bed and change blankets .Turn over your mattress to distribute the wear evenly. Replace cool-weather bedding with warm-weather bedding.
• Clean pillows. Whether made of natural fibers (such as down) or synthetic (often
polyester), most pillows can be machine-washed. This rids them of mold, bacteria, and odors.
Bathrooms
• Discard expired beauty products and cosmetics. Secure these items in a plastic trash bag,
and keep it out of reach of children and animals.
• Update your first aid kit. In addition to bandages and ointments, the kit should include a
list of emergency numbers, especially the one for your nearest poison-control center.
Home Office
• Organize files. Review insurance policies, contracts, and household inventories.
• Clean computers. Scrub casings with a solution
of 1 drop mild dishwashing liquid per 1 quart of
water and a lint-free cloth; dust crevices in keyboards with cotton swabs; wipe screens with a soft cloth or a dry screen-cleaning sponge.
Closets
• Replace cool weather clothing with warm weather clothing. Wash or dry-clean garments
before storing them in a zippered sweater or blanket bag.
• Donate apparel you no longer use. Many charities are happy to accept old clothing and may send a truck to pick it up. They may also provide receipts for tax purposes.
Utility Spaces
• Clean attic and basement, giving away or discarding unwanted items. Divide whatever is
left into two zones: one for things you’ll need to retrieve in the next six months, such as
clothes, and the other for objects that may be there for years, such as
furniture.
• Protect objects in your basement. Use concrete blocks to keep storage boxes off the
ground. Place washer and dryer on elevated pedestals (made by the appliances’ manufacturers) to prevent electrical shock during flooding.
Outdoor spaces
• Clean porch ceilings and walls. Sweep up cobwebs and debris with a corn broom, and wash walls with a solution of all-purpose cleaner and water using a polyester
sponge.
• Scrub decks, patios, walkways and driveways. Treat mildew spots with a solution of 1 part
oxygen bleach to 3 parts water using a deck brush.
•Wash outdoor furniture. Most materials, including aluminum, plastic, wood, and
wicker, can handle a solution of mild dishwashing liquid and water and a soft-bristle brush.
•Inspect light fixtures. Wash covers, and check for damaged wires and connections.
Filed under: Products | Uncategorized