| Most, if not all, of us like to clean our homes, offices | | | | 6. Here is an old trick for getting baked-on, stuck-on |
| or even our lives during the season of spring. It just | | | | gunk from pots and pans. Put a dryer sheet in the |
| feels good to be able to achieve a fresh, clean start. | | | | bottom of the pot, fill it with water and let it soak |
| Here are some great tips to supercharge your home | | | | over night. Works like a charm. |
| spring cleaning efforts: | | | | 7. Baking soda or club soda will clean and shine |
| 1. Protect the environment, your kids and pets by | | | | stainless steel sinks. To remove water spots from |
| selecting non-toxic cleaning products. You can find | | | | stainless sinks, scrub with a cloth dampened with |
| safe products in your home to use. Baking soda, | | | | rubbing alcohol or white vinegar. |
| essential oils, lemon juice, and white vinegar all work | | | | 8. Your floors need help to when it comes to spring |
| well. | | | | cleaning. Vinyl, linoleum or ceramic tile floors need |
| 2. Make cleaning easy with tools you have around the | | | | squeeze mechanism mops and a decent-sized heavy |
| house, like a basket to hold all your supplies in that | | | | duty pail to really get well cleaned. Clean hardwood |
| you can carry from room to room. Use disposable | | | | floors with a light duster such as the Swiffer. You |
| wipes or, to be kind to landfills, you can use old rags | | | | can use a broom or vacuum attachment to sweep |
| and cloths. | | | | any messes, or dust from the surface and then |
| 3. Your old vacuum cleaner could be doing more harm | | | | damp-mop with a mild cleanser such as Murphy Oil |
| than good if it is just spreading dust and dirt around | | | | Soap (smells so good). |
| instead of sucking it up. Have your vacuum serviced | | | | 9. Dust all furniture, picture frames, knick knacks, |
| before spring cleaning time or purchase a new one if | | | | table tops and any crevices where dust can gather, |
| needed. | | | | before you sweep or clean the floors. Use a feather |
| 4. After washing bed sheets, blankets or comforters | | | | or lambswool duster. Extendable ones are great for |
| and quilts, hang them out to dry in the fresh air and | | | | reaching in those high or hard-to-reach places. |
| sun. This will not only save dryer energy, it will get rid | | | | Natural-fiber cloths work best for those damp cloth |
| of bed bugs and humidity. | | | | jobs. |
| 5. If you have leftover yard leaves from last fall, | | | | 10. Save time by multi-taking during spring cleaning. |
| take the time to rake them up. Use a biodegradable | | | | You can put a load of laundry in the wash, then while |
| paper yard waste bag. These bags not only help the | | | | the clothes are being washed, dust the rooms and |
| environment, they are also strong and easy for you | | | | tidy up. While the laundry machines are humming is a |
| to use. The outside of your house will look fresh and | | | | perfect time to do up those dishes or run the |
| clean, too. | | | | vacuum cleaner. |