Believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about spring
cleaning your Lexington home. You owe it to yourself and family to enjoy a clean that’s
more than dirt-deep. Think allergen-deep. And spring cleaning isn’t something
to dread—just follow our easy spring cleaning tips and tricks.
1. Make a Schedule
Scope out your Lexington home: What areas need the most work? Where do
you skip during routine cleaning? Those are the best places to start.
Regardless of where you start, having a plan for when you’re tackling each room
will keep you focused on the task at hand. Our
printable
room-by-room Spring Cleaning Checklist can help.
2. De-clutter
Studies have shown that a disorganized home adds to
your stress level. The scientific implications of inhaling dust gathered in
your home – combined with the psychological stress of coming home to a pile of
unsorted laundry after a hard day at work – can take a sudden, unexpected toll.
Spend some time organizing your closets, spring cleaning your office, and
looking into that junk drawer to eliminate unnecessary stress from your life.
3. Always Work from Top to Bottom
When you think about how to spring clean your Lexington home, it’s
important to start from the ceiling down. This will force debris downward and
keep you from having to re-dust or re-clean your space. If you have a vacuum
with a long extension hose, use it to get cobwebs and dust from your ceilings
and fans. Then dust your furniture and other items before vacuuming all the dust
from your floors.
4. Use a HEPA Vacuum
Many people shampoo carpet or have it professionally cleaned
during the springtime. If you’re not looking for that level of commitment, you
should at least vacuum with a high-quality HEPA vacuum. It’s one of the
best spring cleaning supplies you can arm yourself with. Using a vacuum with
HEPA filtration will remove dirt and dust, but it will also remove allergens
and impurities from your air. You’ll see this suggestion on just about every
spring house cleaning list. Most vacuums come with attachments, like dusting
brushes and crevice tools, and hoses that can be used to clean any location.
Use these tools to clean ceiling fans, cobwebs in corners, furniture, pillows,
and tight spaces like behind furniture. Be sure to move your furniture too (or
at least vacuum under it).
5. Walls and Windows Need Love too
People almost always think to clean their floors, but they
typically forget about walls and windows. Most dust settles on the floor and
other surfaces, but not all of it. Just use a damp towel to wipe down walls and
blinds (starting from the top). On the outside, remove and wipe down the window
screens. When it comes to the actual window, using a steam cleaner with a
squeegee is a great way to clean windows.
6. Think Green When You Spring Clean
You want to start spring off on a clean note, so don’t
expose yourself to chemicals and toxins. A steam cleaner is one
of the best green products for spring cleaning. It can be used to clean your
microwave, tile, hard floors, kitchen appliances, bathrooms, and even outdoor
areas. Since steam cleaners only use hot water vapor, they are a 100% natural
and chemical-free cleaning solution.
If you don’t have a steam cleaner, one of the best natural
combinations for cleaning is white distilled vinegar, baking soda, and water.
These ingredients are affordable, non-toxic, and have worked for ages when it
comes to cleaning. Goodhousekeeping.com also has an
extensive list of other green spring cleaning products.
7. Don’t Be Scared of the Kitchen and Bathroom
No longer fear cleaning your bathroom! You’ll get through
it. Here are a few spots you may forget about:
Kitchens
Wipe down your cabinets
Go through your pantry and refrigerator, wipe down the
shelves, and throw away any old items
If you have stainless steel appliances, be sure to use
gentle cleaners or a steam cleaner to avoid scratching or other issues
Bathrooms
Consider installing a new bathroom fan. Replacing an existing
fan or adding a new one can help to ensure your bathroom remains in top notch
condition. Not just great for ventilating moisture during showers, these fans
are great for odor and vapor removal too. Depending on the unit you select, it
may even come with built-in lighting, automatic operation, and other
user-friendly features. Other tips for the bathroom include:
Change your shower curtain
Go through your cosmetics drawer and throw away any expired
items
8. Don’t Forget About Your Air
Replacing furnace and HVAC filters is one of the most
important and overlooked parts of spring cleaning. In fact, replacing a
standard filter with a more robust one with a high MERV rating does wonders for
improving your indoor air quality. When ducts build up dust over winter, and
these filters catch those unwanted particles so they don’t enter your space.
It’s an inexpensive way to make sure you’re breathing clean, healthy air. If
allergens, indoor chemicals, or odors are a larger concern for you, you can
also consider getting an air purifier.
9. Spring Cleaning Safety
Cleaning will more than likely unsettle all the winter dust
on furniture and fixtures. If you suffer from allergies or are using heavy-duty
cleaners, be sure to read the labels. For safe spring cleaning, wear rubber
gloves, masks, scarves and even hairnets. Protective clothing will
help guard against skin irritations and allergic reactions.
10. Let Spring Cleaning Set a New Tone
If your space feels dark and heavy, you can make small
changes to help make it light and fresh for spring. Adding new colorful pillows
or art are great ways to change up your space. Replacing items like
bedding, towels, table linens, and even window treatments are other ways to
transform your rooms for spring and warm weather ahead.
