Spring Cleaning

Do you wish cleaning were as simple as Snow White wielding a broom and whistling while she works?

It seems no matter how thorough a housekeeper you are, there are a number of spots that tend to get bypassed during your spring-cleaning tirade, only to grow in grime if ignored. What? You’re one of those people who supposedly leaves no stone unturned as you move through your spring cleaning tasks like a whirling dervish? Realtor.com suggested these areas of your home we can bet you’ll forget to clean this spring as well as what to do about it.

Tile floors and/or countertops have grout that can harbor germs and mold, and a mere swipe of a nubby-sided sponge or a thorough mop job may not cut it. The grout will eventually start to stain, meaning an even bigger cleaning job down the road. Cleaning experts advise wiping the grout with vinegar, then scrubbing it with baking soda and a brush. Yes. On your hands and knees, if need be. Also effective are borax or olive oil-based Castile soap. For in-your-face moldy grout, spray on 3% hydrogen peroxide diluted by half in water and let it steep for 45 minutes, then rinse.

We’re not trying to go existentialist on you, but just because you can’t see dirt doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Picture yourself as a tiny drone buzzing close to the ceiling, photographing anything above your sightline, and you’ll be able to picture where a primo dust collection is taking place. We’re talking door and trim tops, upper kitchen cabinets not attached to the ceiling, stately bookcases as well (as the tops of each book), and on and on. And just think about how anything that started out as dust in your kitchen is now mixed with sticky kitchen grease. It’s the stuff about which obsessive types have nightmares.  How to head off those nightmares? Use a damp cloth to wipe door frames and bookshelves. For greasy gunk, try rubbing dish detergent on, leaving it for a moment, then wiping it off. If that doesn’t cut it, level up to Goo Gone Kitchen Degreaser. And don’t forget light fixtures and ceiling fans that trap bugs and attract dust bunnies.

“Look down” is not just a musical phrase out of a song in Les Mis. Try casting your eyes down into your garbage disposal using a small flashlight to aid your view. But first, prepare your stomach for it. Beside general disgust, you’ll take note of the serious grease buildup that has the potential to seriously back up your sink drains. Attack this by running hot water, turning on the disposal, pouring a tablespoon of dish soap down there, and letting the water run for 15 to 30 seconds. Then turn off the disposal and let the water run until this orifice is bubble-less. Use an angled brush (if you can find one) to scrub the underside of the drain flaps with hot water and dish soap.

Okay, toilets are just naturally disgusting merely by the nature of and reason for their existence, and your toilet brush and holder can make their own horror movies. We know thousands of fastidious people simply give up on the idea of cleaning these things in favor of buying new ones and, of course, that is an option as long as you budget for it. But you can also prevent some germ build-up on your existing implements by spraying down the brush with disinfectant after each use. Use your toilet seat to clamp it down and let it dry awhile, dripping over the bowl. Oh, and spraying warm water mixed with a few capfuls of bleach is also a good remedy. Just be very careful with the bleach.

Drapery is a passive collector of dust, pet hair, odors, and other air gunk. Start with vacuuming them, then determine if they are washable. You can rent a steamer for the really heavy stuff, but the very idea of cleaning a house full of drapery may have you running to a professional.

Oh, and don’t forget the electronics — phones, keyboards, computers, entertainment electronics, etc. All fall into the category of things your grimy fingers touch every day and some heat up, making them dust magnets. Keyboards collect food crumbs (you know how this happens, so don’t pretend you don’t). After carefully flopping your keyboard over to dislodge the crumbs, use a toothpick or Q-tip to dislodge anything stuck in the crevices and swipe the rest with a cotton ball soaked (but not dripping from) in a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol.

Did you know that research shows that cell phones are dirtier than toilet seats? For your phone, grab a dewy-soft microfiber cleaning cloth and spray it with a 50/50 combination of distilled water and vinegar or distilled water and isopropyl alcohol. Wipe down your phone thoroughly without getting it too wet.

Chimneys are serious business and chimney fires are more common than most would think. Don’t want to get up on your own roof risking life and limb to sweep your own chimney? Then call a handy professional for the task, because doing it wrong can have serious consequences. Experts recommend once a year for this at a minimum for optimum fireplace safety.

Have you decided that no amount of spring cleaning is going to make you happy with the house you are currently in?  Maybe now is the time to sell!  Spring is an excellent time to get a home on the market, however, before you do that, Contact Us. We can help you get pre-approved for a mortgage and determine how much house you can buy this next time around.  Rainbow Mortgage, Inc. is a broker so we have access to many different lenders and their loan programs which translates into more options for you!

Source: TBWS