April is upon us, and that means spring-cleaning, or at least planning for it. Spring-cleaning is an American tradition that transitions us from the winter season into the summer. In previous eras when heating up one’s home through a fireplace was essential, spring-cleaning was used to remove all the barriers placed to keep the heat in your home. It also meant cleaning up all the soot from the fireplace and airing out the home. Spring-cleaning is symbolic of the spring season, with longer daylight and overall excitement of the coming summer. Spring-cleaning is a great time of year to air out your home and clean those untouched corners and spots that have been neglected all winter long. Many of us may have been thinking about certain areas that look dirty, or maybe it is something you haven’t had the chance to do because of the cold. Spring-cleaning can also be used to get rid of unused items and potentially prepare for a garage sale. Now is the time to prep and take action. Here is a checklist of possible places to start cleaning.
Whole-house:
- Deep clean your carpets and wax/reseal your floors.
- Clean your baseboards.
- Move all your furniture and clean behind it.
- Wash your curtains.
- Sanitize the handles and doorknobs in your home.
- Clean those high, out-of-reach places.
- Polish furniture.
The kitchen:
- Clean out your closet. Get rid of unused items and clean the back of it.
- Clean your refrigerator and oven.
- Wash your kitchen cabinets.
- Clean out your silverware container.
- Wash out your dishwasher.
Outside your home:
- Yard work. Clean up your yard and start planting.
- Sweep out the garage.
- Clean out your fireplace.
- Tackle the home office. Go through old paperwork and prep for a fresh start.
- Power-wash the outside of your home.
- Don’t forget your car. Treat your vehicle and do a deep clean.
