Blog - Environmentally Friendly Tips for Spring Cleaning
Is it just me or did Spring sneak up on us? Do not get me wrong, I'm happy to see the cooler days gone, but for me Spring means it is time to clean.
Spring Cleaning
In Las Cruces Spring comes early. The warmth returns and it is time to spend more time outside, clean up the yeard, and open the windows to let the fresh air inside. Then it is time to get serious and scrub the house down.
I put together the following cleaning guide to help you with your annual Spring chore.
Bathrooms
Removing mineral deposits, rust and such from toilets doesn't have to mean chemical warfare. You can use environmentally friendly tools like pumice stones to erase stains, and mix baking soda with acidic vinegar to scrub with. Use these tools on the toilet, tub and shower.
Buy your supplies in bulk to save. A 64-ounce bottle of vinegar costs about $4; a 12-pound bag of baking soda, about $7. Both items can be used throughout the house. For just $1 you can mix equal parts vinegar and water in a 32-ounce spray bottle to make a terrific all-purpose surface cleaner. That's about $4 cheaper than buying a spray cleaner at the store.
Spring cleaning is the perfect time to extract dirt from porous grouted surfaces. For tile floors use your usual cleaner, but don't mop. Instead, run a wet/dry vac, which will suck contaminants out of the grout. Mopping drives the grime into the grout rather than removing it. Grout can harbor stinky bacteria that leave a bad odor in the bathroom. This technique is more time-consuming than mopping, but it's worthwhile to do at least once a year.
Kitchens
The kitchen can be a tough room to clean because there's usually so much stuff in it. Before you break out the broom, go through your cabinets and drawers, and put together a box of items to donate and a box of items to store somewhere besides the kitchen. Clear your countertops of everything except items you use nearly every day.
After you've de-cluttered, you can get to work cleaning. One tool you shouldn't overlook is an all-purpose microfiber cloth (about $5). These aren't run-of-the-mill dusting rags. Microfiber is a densely woven synthetic fabric that picks up dirt and greasy deposits without chemicals. You should be able to clean surfaces like countertops, sinks, and stoves with warm water, a microfiber cloth, and a bit of elbow grease.
Since you prepare your food in the kitchen, consider making your own vinegar/water spray. Conventional cleaners may remove dirt, but they can also harbor some nasty substances you don't want in your enchiladas. Microfiber, vinegar, and baking soda will clean and disinfect almost every kitchen surface at a fraction of the price. Don't neglect once-a-year chores like vacuuming refrigerator coils (unplug your fridge first), and tossing out expired food from the back of the pantry.
Bedrooms
Most homeowners should at least rotate and flip innerspring mattresses, and store out-of-season sheets and clothing. Also go through your closet, and donate items you haven't worn in the last 12 months. For carpets and mattresses, consider using a professional cleaning service. Figure a typical mattress will cost about $70-$90 to clean, a bargain considering how much time you spend in bed.
Even if you're getting your carpet professionally cleaned, you still need to break out the vacuum. Use the hose attachment to get to the hidden particles along baseboards, under your bed, and in your curtains.
Living area
Another surface you should consider getting professionally cleaned is living room upholstery. It can be tricky to know exactly how to deep-clean different types of fabrics especially if there are stains you can't identify. Costs vary widely depending on the size of the furniture piece and the quality and state of its covering, but a typical sofa might run $70-$90.
Microfiber cloths are great to use in the living area as well. Make sure you have cloths for each area of the house, though, so you're not cross-contaminating bathroom, kitchen, and living areas. Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe down windows, wood, mirrors, the tops of bookshelves, ceiling fan blades, and even the plastic housing of electronics for a quick, chemical-free clean.
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