Spring Cleaning To-Dos

Thursday, April 13, 2017
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Spring cleaning, in some way, shape or form, comes with the territory for most people. It’s the time of year to do the deep cleaning jobs that we often ignore on a daily basis, such as scrubbing the floor boards and cleaning on top of the kitchen cabinets. Beating the rugs outdoors is only worth doing in the warmer weather so that you don’t end up in a rain or snow storm while you do it!

I like to make a spring cleaning task list and check things off diligently. Making a to-do list for spring cleaning can be lengthy and overwhelming. With so many action items, where do you start? I've put together a list of the chores that rank high on my list and are non-negotiables. The last thing you need is to get through the year and realize you’ve double the work to do, so don’t miss out on these:

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LISTS
Everyone loves a good list. Make an inventory of everything in your food pantry and cleaning cabinets. Also, make a list of the pots, pans, bakeware, and kitchenware and a list of the garden tools you own. These lists will enable you to clearly see if you have any duplicates and if you can cull any of your belongings and have a garage sale to make some space.

REPAIRS
Making a note of each of your appliances and your pipes in the home is a good way to check if you need to make any repairs. Clearing out the lint from the dryer also comes under this heading as you’ll need to reduce the risk of fire, not to mention the fact that excess lint can make your dryer break down.

PESTS
Everyone knows that pests love to move indoors when it’s cold outside. Check your attic for rodent nests and check the beams for ants and termites, which like to move in after a period of rain. Calling in companies like Terminix to get your termite issue squared away before it becomes an irreversible problem.

ALARMS
It’s the time of year to check your smoke and house alarms. This includes carbon monoxide alarms. Regular checks on these each year can mean the difference between life and death, so don’t be lax on this one.

NOOKS and HARD TO REACH SPOTS
All the nooks and crannies in your house that you usually miss out need a scrub. Ceiling fans, for example, are rarely properly dusted. Dust will settle on them and as they spin, they dispense more dust through your home. This is the same with lightbulbs; they get dirty believe it or not! Clean them and change them over if they need it – fresh bulbs reduce the risk of the electrics blowing out on you. And don't forget to clean blinds and wash curtains and drapes.

WASHING MACHINE
Wash the washer. It may seem like a silly thing to say, but your washing machine doesn’t actually clean itself whenever it does a load of clothing. Empty it of clothes and run a normal cycle with detergent to clean the drum.
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These jobs are tedious, and no one likes to do them. Once they’re done, however, you 'll know that your home is truly clean and ready for those warmer months once again. Grab that feather duster, you’ve work to do!

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