Supplies for Seasonal Cleaning

I kicked off 2013 with a determination to conquer what I call a lost art in society, housekeeping.  My way of defining housekeeping is cleaning, repairs, decorating and organizing. January’s focus is on cleaning, which I blogged about the three main types of cleaning:  seasonal, deep and maintenance.  Last week I introduced you to a seasonal cleaning plan and today we are going to talk about the supplies you need. As a reminder, seasonal cleaning targets those areas inside and outside the home that you are likely to get to once-a-year.  Examples include washing windows and cleaning out the garage. … Continue reading

National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

Guess what today is? It is National “Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day.” And the timing couldn’t be more perfect, with Thanksgiving right around the corner. If you are hosting the Thanksgiving meal, you want to make sure everything is spotless. And you definitely want to make room for the food, so why not take advantage of this National event? Personally, I will be saving this job for the weekend. If you can do it today, go for it. But remember, this isn’t just about taking out the stuff that’s growing mold (oh, I hope that isn’t happening in your fridge—talk … Continue reading

Spring Cleaning the Bathroom – Part 3

Do you feel that spring cleaning is in the air? This is the perfect time of the year to deep clean and organize those rooms. And today we are going to be focusing on the bathroom. Without maintaining the bathroom, it can quickly fall into bad shape. Depending on how badly your bathroom needs it, you may need to do a thorough scrub down. My advice is to start with the decluttering, with the most likely culprit to be the medicine cabinet. This is a great opportunity to go through and throw out expired or unused medicines. Be sure to … Continue reading

Turning Cleaning into Exercise

Yesterday I decided to do some “fall cleaning.” Yes, I like to be different. Instead of deep cleaning my home in the spring (when I would much rather be outside), I do it in the fall. It helps prepare my home for the upcoming holidays and I like it to be really clean when I am going to be spending so much more time indoors. I only tackled my living room yesterday but it took me a good 3 hours. There was a lot of scrubbing (I have hardwood floors), wiping down walls, dusting and wrestling with these new sofa/loveseat … Continue reading

Forget Spring Cleaning, Try Fall Cleaning

Forget spring cleaning…I am not a fan of it. I prefer to do my “spring” cleaning in the fall. I have two reasons for this. The first is that I figure with having windows open throughout the warmer months, I have collected enough dust or whatever else may come in, that it needs a thorough cleaning. The second reason I prefer “fall cleaning” is because if I am going to be stuck inside my house for the next several months, I want it to be as clean as possible. Plus, it helps me prepare our home for the upcoming, busy … Continue reading

Deep-Clean Outside

According to NBC News, the death toll for the tornadoes that ravaged seven states earlier this week now stands at 340 people. However, authorities say that number is expected to rise, as members of the National Guard dig through untouched piles of debris in hard hit Alabama. The televised scenes of devastation are horrific and it makes me feel guilty about complaining about the mile-long list of outdoor spring cleaning that I have yet to complete. At least my home is still standing. I’m pretty sure the tornado survivors would be more than happy to spend their Saturday cleaning out … Continue reading

Tips for Outdoor Clean-Up

Hear ye! Hear ye! Now that Easter is over, if you still have Christmas lights up on your home, it’s time to take them down. And while you are out there you might consider sprucing up your home’s exterior. Spring cleaning lists should include chores that need to done to the outside of your home as well as the inside. Start with these basics: Siding: If your siding needs deep cleaning, then rent a pressure washer to remove dirt and grime that have built-up over time. Just remember to start at the top of your house and work your way … Continue reading

Patio Clean-Up

A huge part of spring cleaning is sprucing up the exterior of your home. The spring thaw typically reveals a litany of projects that need to be taken care of before summer starts. At the top of the list for most homeowners is patio clean-up. Once the snow melts you will be able to see how much time you will have to put into cleaning up your patio. If your patio weathered the harsh winter well, then clean-up will be minimal. Usually you will have to sweep up a few spots using a stiff bristle broom, but that’s about it. … Continue reading

Do You Really Need to Deep Clean?

Not your pores; your house. It seems everywhere I go these days someone or something is reminding me to deep clean my house in time for spring. For some reason, the season of new beginnings heralds the arrival of gratings reminders that it is time to get on my knees and scrub the dirty bathroom floors that I have neglected since Thanksgiving. Spring cleaning—BAH! HUMBUG! Sadly, there are quite a number of cleaning projects on my list. However, housekeeping is not only about removing dirt and grime from countertops and toilet seats. There are many other aspects to keeping a … Continue reading

Deep Clean Your Spring

With more than a foot of semi-fresh snow on the ground, it certainly doesn’t feel like spring in my neck of the woods. Still, with March coming to a close and summer right around the corner, I know I should get cracking on my spring cleaning to-do list. While I have tackled some minor chores, I still have a ton of deep-cleaning to do. While most of us clean on a regular basis, there are some tasks that require more than just a quick disinfecting. Spring is one of the seasons that prompt people to really get serious about cleaning. … Continue reading