- Claudia Harris

Broker/Owner

Mary Mitchell Miller Real Estate

E-Mail: Claudia Harris
Website:   http://www.mmmrealestate.com  

Don't you just love that feeling you get when you check items off a list? Get that adrenaline going with our spring cleaning list.

Spring cleaning isn't quite the ritual it once was, but there's still a basic human need to open up and spruce up our homes when the weather gets warmer. To help you scratch your itch to spring clean, we've put together a spring cleaning list for those pieces and parts of your home that are most neglected throughout the year. Plus, we've added tips to make the chores easier. 

Before you begin:

Now you're ready to tackle your spring cleaning list:

Walls: Dust your walls with your vacuum brush attachment, then clean using an all-purpose cleaner and rinse. Repair your walls by patching holes and dings and touching up paint.

TIP: Don't use a spray cleaner, which will only leave streaks on your walls. Soak a cloth in cleaner, then wipe. To rinse, follow up with a clean cloth soaked in plain water. 

Baseboards: Dust with a microfiber cloth or use your vacuum brush attachment, then spray with an all-purpose cleaner and wipe clean. 

TIP: Clean your baseboards after you clean your floors since cleaning floors tends to kick debris up onto baseboards. 

Windows: Use a microfiber cloth soaked in a solution of ¼ cup vinegar, ¼ to ½ teaspoon dish soap, and 2 cups water. 

TIP: Don't be tempted to use more vinegar. Too much can make windows appear cloudy.

Window screens: To deep clean your window screens, you should remove them. Place outside on a tarp or other clean waterproof surface, then use a garden hose, an all-purpose cleaner, and a soft brush (gently on the screen) to clean. Repair any torn window screens.

TIP: When removing your screens and hardware, label their location as you go to make re-installing them a breeze.

Shelves: Remove all items from shelves, and dust both the items and the shelves. 

TIP: Use museum putty to secure items that tend to fall over, especially if you live in earthquake-prone areas.

Driveway: Use a pressure washer to give your driveway (and garage floor) a good cleaning. It's amazing what a difference a sparkling driveway makes to your home's curb appeal. 

TIP: Try using Coke or Pepsi to remove oil and grease stains. It'll take a little elbow grease, too, but the acidity of dark colas helps remove oil stains, as well as other tough stains, such as rust. 

Siding: Using warm, soapy water and a soft-bristled brush attached to a long handle, clean your home in sections small enough to keep soapy water from drying before you can rinse. 

TIP: Pressure washers can make the job go easier, but if you're a power-washer newbie, you risk stripping off paint or damaging your siding. Try one of the newer, lighter, electric power washers, which are easier to handle, or stick with the old-fashioned method. Either way, wash from the bottom up to help prevent streaking. 

Upholstery: Vacuum your sofas and chairs. Spot clean or steam clean as needed. Freshen dusty pillows, throws, and curtains by tossing them in the dryer on low or no heat. Or, take them outside on a nice day to fluff and bask in the sun as an energy-saving alternative.

TIP: To spot clean, use "whipped detergent" -- a mixture of half dish soap and half water. Beat to a froth. Soak a cloth in the mixture, wash the stain, then rinse with a cloth soaked in fresh water.

Ceiling fans: Spray the inside of an old pillowcase with cleaning solution, then slip the bag over each blade and wipe clean. 

TIP: Before you go up a ladder to clean your ceiling fan, check to see if the fan is turning in the right direction to keep your home cool. If you feel a breeze underneath the blades when turned on, your fan is set for summer. If you don't feel a breeze, change the direction.

Air conditioners: Change your air conditioner filter, or clean it by soaking it in a vinegar-and-water solution for 1 to 4 hours (depending on how long it's been since you last cleaned). Let dry completely before replacing.

TIP: Let the filter dry outside in bright sunshine to kill bacteria and to help remove odors.

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Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this.  

Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Mother's Day Quiche

In honor of Mother's Day, and that fact that so many mothers are treated to "breakfast in bed" on their special day, I'm sharing my go-to recipe for quiche.

• 1 store-bought deep-dish frozen pie crust
• 3 eggs
• 1.5 cups light cream or milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 
• Pinch of cayenne
• 1 cup grated Swiss cheese (or cheese of your choice: other good options include Fontina, Gruyère and Cheddar. If using a strong cheese like goat, feta or bleu, use only 1/2 cup)
• 1/2 to 1 cup (total) of assorted toppings such as bacon, sausage or ham; raw vegetables like spinach, broccoli, zucchini, green or red peppers or cauliflower; or lightly sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes, onions or leeks.

Preheat oven at 425 degrees.

1. If desired for a nicer presentation - recommended! - thaw frozen pie crust for 10 minutes or until pliable and move pie shell to a glass baking dish and secure tightly to rim.
2. Pre-bake pie shell at 425 degrees for about 7 minutes.
3. Combine the eggs, cream/milk, salt, nutmeg, and cayenne in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
4. Sprinkle the cheese and toppings in the pre-baked pie shell.
5. Pour the egg mixture over the toppings, leaving 1/3 inch of space between the top of the egg mixture and the crust.
6. Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees, then lower the heat to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes longer, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Serve warm or room temperature.

Happy Mother's Day to Everyone!