ShirfulDesigns

Spring Cleaning - Part II: Cleaning Tips

So now that we know about the origin of spring cleaning, how do we go about it in the most efficient way?  We've gathered some of our favorite tips from various sources on the web: 

Martha Stewart offers a 3-page downloadable step-by-step checklist.  She focuses on windows quite a bit, but we appreciated the reminder to reseal grout lines.

Real Simple Magazine is offering easy tips and foolproof strategies for making your home sparkle—fast.  


Our favorite tip: while you're washing the mattress cover, lightly dust the mattress itself with baking soda, and leave the baking soda on as you put the clean mattress cover and sheets back on.  Over the next week, the baking soda will draw moisture and dirt out of the mattress. Next time you change the sheets - remove the mattress cover, vacuum the baking soda, and leave a couple of dryer sheets between the mattress and the mattress cover for a long lasting fresh scent.  

From Good Housekeeping Magazine: Now is the time to move the sofa, beds, and other heavy furniture you normally don't mess with.

We suggest: consider this a great opportunity to look at the room with a fresh point of view, move furniture around and find new inspiration in your existing space.

We recently discovered the One-A-Day Spring cleaning Challenge.  Marissa, the blogger behind the FinelyGround.net suggests that you follow a list of 23 tasks, crossing off one item every day.  Curious what's on the list? she includes going through your makeup drawer and tossing the old stuff you no longer use.  Clever!

We absolutely LOVE She Know's Parenting total-overhaul, family-style.  What better way to teach your kids than to get them involved in the project? Molly suggests you up the ante -- Before you kick off your Spring Cleaning event, throw a challenge out to your family -- including a prize for the winner. Choose a winner for the family member who donated the most old items, the one who does the best overall job, etc.