Chantelle Carter
I am hesitant to even say it as I don’t want to jinx it, but it seems that spring is on its way. For those who don’t enjoy winter and all the fun that can be had in the snow, this early warm and rainy weather must come as a blessing. For those who relish in the winter activities — who live and breathe the snow, you are probably ready to pack your bags and head North. Whichever side you are on, it is hard not to smile when you hear the beautiful song birds which accompany you in your waking hours, or the sight and smell of dirt (especially for the avid gardeners), or the fresh scented breeze which tempts you to open all the windows in your house to whisk away the stale winter air. These three things tickle my senses and spin me into a spring-cleaning frenzy, which takes me a few weeks to recover from. I am thankful for my spring and fall cleaning blitzes otherwise these chores would never get done.
Here is my strategy of attack for spring cleaning:
Week 1: Take down lighting fixtures that can be removed and wash in soapy water. Use a soft broom to dust and remove all cobwebs from ceiling.
Week 2: Wash all curtains, blinds, windows and windowsills. Touch up paint on windowsills if needed.
Week 3: Wash all walls and baseboards. Touch up with paint if necessary.
I use diluted household ammonia for windows, walls, and baseboards as it removes the grime without scrubbing or streaking. You must use EXTREME CAUTION — please read and follow the directions carefully on the bottle.
Week 4: Transplant houseplants if needed, and give them a dose of good fertilizer to wake them from their winter slumber. Last but not least, get down and dirty on your hands and knees and scrub those floors. Get in every corner, including under your appliances and furniture and scrub it clean enough to eat off of. Re-polish floors if needed. In carpeted areas, rent a steam cleaner or pay a professional to clean them for you.
Obviously these chores can be done a lot faster than the month allotted, but I don’t like it when house keeping feels like a “chore” and the more time I allow myself, the less it feels like that.
I hope this inspires you to get scrubbing valley friends, and may all the heavy duty cleaning be done by the time the dirt is ready to be dug in or the sun is ready to be bathed in.
