Spring Cleaning Isn't Just For Springtime Anymore

 

Ah, springtime.  The crocuses are up.  The tulips are blooming. The cold, sleepy darkness of winter has retreated and our poor, neglected backyards are finally getting some relief.  This time of year also sees renewal inside many American homes, as millions begin their frenetic spring cleaning routine. 

 

Ever wonder why, at the first sign of a cherry blossom, so many of us feel practically compelled to steam clean the rugs, beat the mattresses and call in the window washers?  Where does this huge burst of manic cleaning come from?  And why do we always get it in the spring? What about the rest of the year?

 

Spring cleaning has been a cross-cultural phenomenon for centuries.  Probably even millennia (think: cave woman chasing out winter scuz with buffalo tail broom.)  Historically, after being shut up all winter, our houses, with their soot-spouting furnaces and leaky doors that let in the draught along with the dirt, were practically begging for a good scrub down.

 

Today, however, most of us are fortunate enough to live in homes with clean heat, better filtration and well-insulated doors and windows.  The truth is that our houses are probably no worse for the wear in springtime than any other season of the year.  Yes, there are still heavy-duty chores that need to get done seasonally.  It's just that that season no longer has to be spring.

 

The time has come to switch our cleaning vernacular.  We need to think of heavy-duty housecleaning tasks not as spring cleaning, but as "Do It, When It Needs Doing" cleaning.  Wash your windows when you notice they're dirty; polish the silver because you're hosting a dinner party; clean out your closets when you change over your wardrobe from summer to winter clothes. Simply stated: Don't put off until next spring what needs to be done today.  (On the other hand, don't do today what doesn't need doing until next spring!)

 

How To Tackle the Heavy-Duty Tasks

There seems to be a consensus among spring cleaners (and avoiders) that the annual heavy-duty tasks are demanding, difficult and time-consuming. Well, after cleaning San Francisco houses 15,000 times a year, the Clean Team has realized that with the right tools and the right techniques, even the heaviest-duty tasks can be light. 

 

All these tools and techniques are contained in the Clean Team's guide to heavy-duty cleaning, called Spring Cleaning.  (Don't let the title throw you.  Just think of it as code for "Do it, When It Needs Doing" cleaning.)

 

What exactly are those heavy-duty tasks?  Here are some Clean Team suggestions, along with our best tips for getting the three biggest challenge areas checked off the list first.

 

1. Clean and/or replace filters

It's easy to ignore what you don't see, but don't fall into that trap with your filters. If the furnace filter doesn't remove the dust, the house gets dusty - fast.  If the kitchen filter doesn't block the grease, your walls and appliances get it instead. The easiest way to clean your kitchen filters is to pop them into the dishwasher (you'll be amazed at the grime the dishwasher can dissolve).  If that doesn't do the trick, it's time to replace them.

1. Wash windows (and window treatments, while you're at it)

Dust, rain and fingerprints collect on windowpanes year-round, so why wait for springtime to let the sun shine into your home? The best tools for window washing are a (preferably) professional window squeegee with a replaceable blade, a window scrubber, a bucket of water and a squirt of Cascade or liquid dish soap.  If you're a squeegee newbie, remember two things: always use a dry blade and always start on a dry surface.  After window washers use the window scrubber to wet the window, they create a dry area (they call it a starter strip) by wiping a small strip at the top of the window with a cleaning cloth.  Now they have a dry place to start the squeegee.  Dry the squeegee between each use by wiping with a cleaning cloth. 

1. Wash walls & ceilings

If spot cleaning doesn't touch the dirt on your gloss-paint walls, then it's time for a good cleaning. You'll need a cleaning apron, some cleaning cloths, a Sh-Mop, half a dozen or so Sh-Wipes and Red Juice cleaning solution (mix a cup of Red Juice concentrate with about a gallon of water) in a bucket.  Dip a clean sh-wipeinto the cleaning solution and wring it until it's almost dripping wet and put it on the Sh-Mop and clean the wall in the same way you clean the floor.  It's fast and it's much easier than using a sponge.  Work from the top down.  To prevent streaking, dry the wall with a dry sh-wipe as you go. For tips on baseboards, molding, outlet covers, and other nooks and crannies, consult Spring Cleaning.

1. Move furniture to clean under and behind it
2. Vacuum and flip mattresses
3. Wipe down the inside of kitchen cupboards and drawers
4. Clean out the freezer (defrost it if need be) & dust refrigerator coils
5. Clean carpets and seal floors
6. Clean upholstered couches and other furniture
7. Declutter and wipe down bedroom, hall and bathroom closets

 

Most of the "Do It, When It Needs Doing" jobs in your home will need to be scheduled annually, if not more frequently.  Remember: clean it only when it needs it.  If it's just you and your spouse living in a retirement village, then you'll make a lot less dirt and grease that a family with four kids, two cats, a dog and a forest for a backyard. 

 

Either way, you've both got a home to maintain and "Do It, When It Needs Doing" cleaning is an important part of that maintenance.  By making an appointment with yourself - and your spouse and kids, if you've got them - to tackle each of these tasks as they arise, you'll be able to enjoy a cleaner home, year-round.  Happy Spring!