Below is a check list as published by Realtor Magazine. Also, don't forget to change the batteries in the smoke detectors and replace the air filter in the furnace. Maintaining your home every year will cost a few bucks, but the financial consequences of not doing so are immense. A good spring cleaning every year should be a regular event in maintaining a sound home. Happy Spring!
- Let the sun in. Make
any room look brighter with clean blinds and windows. For a green window cleaner, mix a solution of
one part white vinegar to eight parts water, plus a drop or two of
liquid dish washing liquid. Spray on and
wipe with newspaper to avoid streaks. Washing on a cloudy day also
reduces streaking.
- Sniff out smells. Check
the drip tray underneath your refrigerator and wash out any standing
water from defrosting. Remove inside odors by washing the inside of the
fridge with a baking soda and water solution. Boil lemon juice in your
microwave and add it to your dishwasher to eliminate bad smells. Also,
put the lemon rinds down the disposal. Add activated charcoal in the
fridge to keep odors at bay.
- Make your bed better. Vacuum
mattresses and box springs, and then rotate and flip over. Do the same
for removable furniture cushions. This is also a great time to wash or
dry-clean the dust ruffle and mattress pad.
- Clean those coils. Improve
energy efficiency by vacuuming grates, coils, and condensers in your
furnace, stove, and refrigerator (either underneath or in back). If a
vacuum won’t reach, try a rag tied to a yardstick.
- Wash the walls. Grease,
smoke, and dust can adhere to walls and make even the best decorating
look dingy. Wash walls using a general-purpose cleaner with hot water.
Start at the top of the wall to avoid drips and in a corner so that you
wash one wall at a time. Rinse the mop head frequently in clean water.
And don’t press too hard, because flat latex paint won’t absorb much
water.
Enjoy the warming weather.
Jim
