A CLEAN
SLATE THE ULTIMATE SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST
S
BY TODD NELSON
pring means spring cleaning. There are many things you need to deep clean at least once or twice a year, both for health and safety reasons and to preserve the long-term value of your home and furnishings. So here is a checklist to tackle that deep spring clean.
BEDROOMS
– Linens: clean and stow heavy comforters and blankets; swap in spring/summer bedding. – Under/behind beds and dressers: move and vacuum/dust. – Mattresses: vacuum, flip, and rotate. – Carpets/rugs: shampoo and/or steam clean. – Wood floors: fill scratches/inspect sealant to determine if resealing is needed (typically once every three to five years). – Light fixtures: remove and dust lamp shades, bases, and cords; remove and clean overhead fixtures. – Closets: purge, organize, and turn over for spring/summer clothes. – Picture frames/mirrors: remove and dust, check color contrast to determine if walls need washing. – Walls: wash or spot clean fingerprints and other marks, inspect paint to decide if repainting or touchups are needed. – Vent covers: remove and wash or dust. – Ceiling: inspect to decide if repainting is needed/dust any overhead beams, light fixtures, ceiling fans, etc. – Window treatments/blinds: remove and clean, including hardware.
KITCHEN – Refrigerator/freezer: deep clean as recommended, two to four times per year. – Garbage disposal/drains: de-clog and deep clean. – Cupboards: remove all items, discard expired or stale items, wash shelves and all outer surfaces. – Drawers: remove and organize contents, wash inside and outside surfaces, clean and tighten grimy/loose hardware. – Food storage: sort, match containers to lids, discard orphan items. – Small appliances (toaster, coffee maker, mixer, etc.): deep clean. – Oven/oven racks/stove/drip pans: deep clean as recommended two to four times per year.
BATHROOMS – Medicine chest/vanity drawers/cabinets: remove all contents, discard overused and expired items (including makeup, toothbrushes, flossers, etc.); clean inside before replacing contents. – Drains: de-clog and deep clean. – Grout: inspect and decide whether to clean or re-grout. – Light fixtures/fans: remove covers and deep clean. – Walls/ceiling: inspect to decide if cleaning and/or repainting is needed. – Behind/inside toilet tank and around base/bolts: deep clean. – Bathmats, shower curtains, curtain liners, and hardware: inspect to determine if any need deep cleaning and/or replacing. 40
CIRCA Magazine
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June 2021
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