Spring Forward with Spring Cleaning

Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 11, 2012, 2:00am!  To most of us that means we lose an hour of sleep.  It can also be a reminder to get MOVING with your spring cleaning!  To help things along we have mapped out some guidelines on what to remember when cleaning out your home.  Spring is the time for new beginnings:  flowers blooming, birds chirping and getting some chores completed so we can enjoy the sunshine coming our way!

Let’s get MOVING!

1. Clean walls and ceilings for spider webs and dust.
2. Wipe down light fixtures and ceiling fans.
3. Vacuum and shampoo all carpets.  Dry clean or launder area rugs depending on their fabric care instructions.
4. Sweep/Vacuum/Polish all other floor surfaces such as vinyl or wood according to care instructions.
5. Remove all items from shelves and dust thoroughly.
6. Clean/Polish all door and window hardware
7. Furniture:  Wipe down Leather furniture with leather wipes and for upholstered furniture gently beat cushions outside to remove dust.
8. Clean out your medicine cabinet and replenish your First Aid Kit.
9. Change the batteries in smoke detectors and change filters in your heating system.
10. Wash windows inside/outside, including window screens.
11. Clean window treatments according to fabric care instructions.  You can even put them on low heat in the dryer to remove dust.
12. Wipe down blinds with wet cloth.
13. Clean out all indoor trash cans to keep them smelling fresh.
14. Clean out bathroom cabinets, throwing away old cosmetic products and other unwanted items.
15. Reseal grout where needed.
16. Rotate mattresses. Clean blankets, comforters and pillows.
17. Clean out closets getting rid of unwanted items.
18. Home office:  Organize files, cleaning out items that aren’t needed and shredding documents.
19. Outdoor spaces:  Sweep and scrub/power wash decks, patios, driveways and walkways.  Clean outdoor light fixtures.
20. Wash outdoor furniture.