Spring Cleaning Suggestions

Despite this Georgia cold snap that has us bundling up in sweaters and coats, spring is quickly approaching! Be ready for the warmer weather by getting ahead on your spring cleaning!

Not sure where to start? Here are a few tips to have your home shining like new and ready for the spring season.

Around the House

Spring cleaning isn't just a time for loading the laundry and vacuuming the floors on the weekends - it's a great time to do a deep clean in all areas of the house, and get to some of those spots you don't always clean.
Start by dusting all areas of your home, and don't forget those hard to reach areas like the ceiling fans, tops of cabinets, doorways, and baseboards. Deep clean your floors by cleaning carpets and waxing hardwood floors and tile, and consider refinishing and cleaning the grout on tile floors.
After you've cleaned the dryer, let it help you clean your drapes by running them through a gentle drying cycle with a damp cloth to attract the dust, and rehang after drying. Pillows can also be cleaned this time of year by hanging them outside to air out, but some that are years old should be thrown away and replaced as they can collect dust, mildew, and even fungi!

In the Kitchen 

If you spend most of your time in the kitchen, it's probably time to take a hard look and clean up all those leftover crumbs!
After wiping down the counters, take that cleaner to the cabinets that often get overlooked. With everything you are whipping up in the kitchen, grease and spills can easily collect on your cabinets, and now is a great time to wash them down and get them sparkling like new.
If you have lime buildup on your sink, check out this great tip from HGTV - lay paper towels soaked in vinegar over the faucet for one hour. This will soften the buildup allowing you to easily wipe it away.
In the oven, wipe up major spills and then set to self clean. On the stove-top, use a toothbrush to wipe away buildup from underneath the burners and around the handles and knobs.
Your dishwasher can come in handy for non-kitchen items this spring too! Good Housekeeping says glass light-fixture globes, plastic toys, and containers and organizers (think toothbrush holders) can all be washed safely in the dishwasher by skipping the heat cycle!

Clean the cleaners

Your vacuum cleaner is sure to come in handy during your spring cleaning, but it needs a little TLC of its own. Replace the bag, clean filters, and use scissors to cut out the tangled strings caught up in the bristles.
In the laundry room, take out the lint screen and wash soak it in hot water with a bit of dish soap. The dust and lint that buildup can be dangerous can even cause a fire! After it's done soaking, scrub the screen gently and set it out to dry before placing it back in the dryer. The washing machine can be washed too, by adding vinegar and baking soda to a water cleaning cycle.
The dishwasher could use an extra look as well. Clean any left over food from the filter, located below the lower spray arm, and run an empty cycle with a machine cleaner.

Household Cleaners

If you're looking at all these cleaning tips and seeing dollar signs for all of the different cleaners you need, not to worry! Realtor.com has a host of homemade cleaners you can make that are both cheaper and safer than the store-bought supplies.
An all purpose cleaner can quickly be made from a gallon of hot water, 1/2 cup of castile liquid soap, and a few drops of a fresh smelling essential oil.
Baking soda works well as a carpet cleaner, and for tougher carpet stains, equal parts coconut oil and baking soda can be scrubbed in to lift away the blemish.
According to HGTV, salt and soda water is the best combo to tackle the refrigerator.

Baby steps 

Your deep spring cleaning doesn't have to happen all in one day! Take it step by step, room by room, and in just a few days your house will be ready for spring!

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