Dan Hechtkopf and Reid Heidenry of South Beach Investment Realty are experts in home remodeling and cleaning. To help you get your humble abode in tip-top shape, here are their top eight tips for spring cleaning your home!
1. Take Care of Stainless Steel
Use a light mist of wax-based aerosol spray once or twice a week. Don’t put on too much — you don’t want to soak the surface and make it greasy. Wipe the mist with a clean, lint-free cloth, and never use oils to keep away fingerprints — lint will stick to the oil.
2. Organize Closets
Organizing your closet is the first step to organizing the rest of your home. Get rid of unused clothes and accessories, and organize the rest by how you get dressed in the morning and by color.
3. Removing Stains/Odors
Blot up as much of the smelly mess as you can right away. While you’re blotting the upholstery, put a plastic liner or a garbage bag between the cushion and the fabric so you don’t push the contaminant into the cushion. Then flush with cold water as best you can. Blot and flush again.
4. Creating a Different Mood
You can make a fast, easy change with bedding, towels, and table linens to create a different mood. Switch things out seasonally, or for a special event, or whenever you want to play with a certain color or pattern.
5. Taking Care of Your Tiles
You can also mix baking soda and water for a homemade cleaner: Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into 2 gallons water and mix very well. Then apply the liquid with a string mop or sponge mop.
6. Reorganize Bookshelves
Sort books by size and subject. Remove and discard any ripped dust jackets (unless you think they might have value). Line books, some vertically, some horizontally, in a rhythmic pattern. This will relieve the monotony of rows.
7. Taking Care of Hard Wood Floors
The keys to keeping your wood floors looking new are to avoid over sanding, use trivets or saucers under plants to avoid water damage, use furniture protectors to avoid scratches, and damp-mop once a week with a mild soap like Murphy Oil Soap.
8. Make Sure You Clean Right
Make sure you clean your house completely. Polish silver, wash windows, wipe down the light bulbs in your lamps, wipe down the walls. Everything will gleam and glisten. The effect will be cathartic and make you feel like you have accomplished something.
feature image via Dish, Dish
I thought this article didn’t cover the title…I was looking for real helps on spring cleaning beginning soon. Instead it was platitudes of what we all should be doing in every other season as well.