Springtime Means it's time to Spring Clean!
If you’re like me, then you enjoy the prompt that is ‘spring cleaning’. Not that we don’t clean all year round, because for most of us, it is the weekly chore that we dread. Dreading means that there is likely corners that have been cut, which now need to be looked at a little bit closer. Here are some of our go-to spots for a deeper clean this spring season.
Baseboards
Yes, I started with the tedious job of base boards, and that’s because I truly think that this is one of the most important spots to get deeper on. Unless you are a super person and manage to do it more often then once or twice a year – kudos to you! Having a vacuum with a handheld accessory will make this job a lot easier on your back, plus you can pick up those bigger dust particles rather than wipe and release them back into the air. I usually start with the vacuum, and then will go over them with a warm, damp cloth. For extra grime you can use a water/vinegar/castile soap combination, but the key is to make sure the cloth is damp rather than wet.
Windows
This can be a job in itself - the interior of your windows, the exterior of the windows, the window screens, the windowsills. The first thing to notice is mould, which can commonly show up along the corners or edges of the window. Dust, which is comprised of many different elements, when wet, is a common cause of mould growth. Thankfully this can be solved and prevented in the future.
First step, make your cleaning agent, and protect your skin by wearing gloves and even a face mask. Spray the infected areas and wipe away the mould before continuing to clean the rest of the windows. Once that’s under control, you can move to cleaning the glass on both sides, and removing the screens for a wash.
Appliances
Another part of our home that often gets forgotten, maybe it’s the filters of your dish washer, or the drawers and shelves inside your refrigerator, or the secret cubby of water that is stored inside your washing machine. Use this opportunity to evaluate what could use a deep clean, and start checking them off your list. A tip for the refrigerator, do it while it's empty! Perhaps after a vacation, or just before a big grocery shop. Empty out the drawers and shelves and give everything a wipe down. The washing machine filter should be soaked in soap and water, then you can add a cup of vinegar to the top shelf and run a cycle. Lastly, the little reservoir of water in the washing machine can be found behind a small door - mine is on the bottom left side. This should be drained every few months, and maybe wipe down the inner drum and rubber parts to remove any mould residue.
Mattress
This is something that is ALWAYS forgotten, and rightfully so! By the time many of us hit the hay, we’re lights out and not worrying about a mattress that hasn’t been cleaned in a while. I love to crank open the window and take apart the entire mattress. First you will want to take off your bed sheets, and then move on to removing the mattress and pillow protectors. All of this should be washed and dried before putting it back on. Once the mattress is exposed (this applies to Sunshine Mattresses or other natural latex mattresses), it would be a great time to unzip the cover and flip all the layers on the inside. See our Instagram or YouTube channel video content on how to do this simply.
Wool Pillowtops, Duvets and Pillows
Did you know that wool fibers will deodorize and de-sanitize with direct sun exposure? Bring these babies outside and into the sunlight – especially while the air is still somewhat fresh! This means you can skip the step that involves washing them - after all, don't you have enough laundry to worry about! This is also a good time to vacuum under the mattress, the surface and sides of the mattress, and even your foundation!
If you have a vacuum already that you love - awesome. If you don’t love you’re vacuum, or perhaps yours needs replacing, I would highly recommend looking into one that has a HEPA filter. HEPA is an acronym for "high-efficiency particulate air." It is a type of filter that can trap a large number of very small particles that other vacuum cleaners would simply recirculate back into the air of your home.