5 Things You Shouldn’t Skip!
After being cooped up inside for several months, there is something satisfying about deep cleaning your home—but man, is it a lot of work. “A lot of our clients just don’t know where to start,” said Kathryn McDaniel, owner of Polished to Perfection Cleaning Services.
So if you’re pressed for time, what do you really need to clean? We asked McDaniel to help you out. Below, she explains the top five Spring Cleaning tasks you should fit into your schedule.
#1 Windows
Her advice? Divide and conquer; start with a bedroom or two and go from there. Don’t attempt to do all the windows at once because you might burn out. “Windows are a beast! I hate cleaning windows!” McDaniel joked.
Screens are tough to dust or wipe. For the best clean, McDaniel suggests removing your screens, taking them outside and spraying each one with a water hose.
#2 Kitchen Cabinets
Yes, this means you take all of your items out of the cabinets. Everything. Every cabinet. Every drawer. “Start with that cluttered catch-all drawer. We all have one,” she said.
Then, McDaniel suggests using Murphy’s Oil Soap on both wood and laminate cabinets. This is also a great time to declutter the kitchen. For example: throw out those pieces of Tupperware that don’t have lids.
#3 Baseboards
McDaniel says this is often one of the most overlooked spots in a home because there are several steps involved. But you don’t have to spend hours crawling around on the floor.
“We will actually sweep the baseboards first. Then, we go back with an attachment on the vacuum cleaner,” McDaniel explained. She finishes the job with an inexpensive mop and Murphy’s Oil Soap/water.
#4 Indoor Fabrics
Dust loves to hide in your curtains, couch cushions, etc. Most of these can be washed in your washing machine. Nicer, more expensive fabrics may be dry clean only. If you can afford it, take those to the cleaners. If not, try to spot clean.
McDaniel says a carpet cleaner, like a Bissel Green Machine, works great on your couch cushions.
#5 Declutter
Just like with the windows, break this down by room. Start with the kids’ rooms then go from there. And McDaniel says—get your children involved in the process! “It’s a teaching moment. Explain how there are tons of nonprofits that take donations that can really use them,” said McDaniel.
Even adults have a hard time letting go of things. McDaniel’s rule of thumb for clothing: “If you have not worn it in two years, you aren’t going to wear it.”
For those family members who have a hard time letting go of things, allow them to pick a select number of items from the pile to keep. That makes them pick what’s really important to them—then the rest has to go!
