As the warmer weather starts arriving and we are all home more than ever, it’s time to start thinking about giving the house and yard a thorough cleaning.
You may think, “I know what needs to be done, I’ve been doing it for years.” Bathrooms, closets, windows, baseboards, we all know the drill.
However, we have come up with a few odd jobs that you may not think about but can really freshen up your space. And what better time to do it than now when you are spending so much time in your home.
Read the six outside-the-box Spring-cleaning ideas below to discover some not-so-obvious ways to deep clean and then sit back and enjoy the season.
Fresh Face
It’s funny that one of the first things people see when they walk up to your house is something we rarely clean or even think about. Although you may not be having many visitors right now, people walking by on the street and your delivery person might be noticing your down and dingy front door.
We recommend washing your door with dish soap and water and then drying it completely. If the fact that your door is now clean shows its wear and tear, why not paint it?
This may be the time to completely change the look of the exterior of your house with a bold new colour.
Trends show that sorbet (a dark pink/purple) and mint green are the hot colours for Spring 2021.
Elegant Entrance
Let’s face it, your entranceway takes a beating during the winter. Between boots covered in snow and rain, backpacks strewn about, clunky skates being thrown here and there and always-lost mittens and scarves, your entrance is often the dirtiest part of your home.
No judgement here, we don’t have time throughout the cold months to be constantly mopping the floor when it will all be filthy again as soon as the kids get home.
Late Spring (after the rainiest part of the season) is the perfect time to get down there and really scrub the grim away so the first part of your home that you step into is something you can be proud of.
Start by washing out build-ins, shoe racks and floor mats, then thoroughly wash the floor. Collect all of your winter gear in a storage box of your choice and pack that away and keep an open (and decorative) bin with all of your Spring and Summer essential such as sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, sandals and whatever else you need to get outdoors.
Pantry Purge
There’s no shame in it, we all have it – that forgotten about food at the back of the pantry that no one in our family will ever eat. Where did it even come from?
That doesn’t matter now. What matters is taking the time to get in there and do a clean out of everything you won’t eat and expired items.
Make a mental note of items that are soon to expire and use them to inspire new and exciting meals.
Maybe this is a good time to get organized and buy some matching storage containers that can hold everything from cereal to pasta to your favourite cookies.
It doesn’t hurt to wipe down all of the shelves and take a vacuum to the far corners while you are at it.
The biggest benefit of this pantry purge? It makes more room for Spring staples like sparkling water.
Under Used
It is a bit ironic that the place where we clean our clothes is often the most infrequently cleaned room in the house.
Take the time to dust and wipe down any shelves in the laundry room and the washer and dryer themselves but don’t forget to “get down” as well.
It is important to clean underneath your appliances (including the fridge and stove).
This is a two-person job and it is important to ensure that you are moving these large items in the way recommended by the manufacturer, but it is worth the effort.
Dust and grim stuck under and beside these large appliances can cause fires, unnecessary wear and tear and lead to expensive repair or replacement costs.
Stale Storage
Because they are not seen by anyone other than the members of your family as they hurriedly look for an item they need, out-of-sight storage areas like utility closets, under the stairs or up in the attic often get neglected.
The facts that they are usually dark and rarely visited makes them the perfect hideout for dust, cobwebs and even unwanted pests.
It might be a dirty and thankless job but dragging everything out of storage, vacuuming underneath it and wiping down any shelves can go a long way in giving you peace of mind that there is nothing lurking in there.
This may also be the time to organize some of those stored items in large labelled storage containers. Make sure you put the least used items (Christmas decorations for example) in the back and the things you may need soon (did someone say kiddie pool?!) closer to the front.
Clean Cushions
It’s finally time to get outside!
Although we are often reminded to freshen our indoor furniture and accessories like throws and pillows and rugs, the outdoor ones often get overlooked.
They should have at least as much, if not more, attention as they are often left outside during rain or snow or stored in musty basements, garages or sheds.
The tags on many of these items recommend dry cleaning but often they can be surfaced cleaned with a bit of dish soap in plenty of water and then left outside in the Spring sun to air dry while you sip your favourite beverage and finally get out to enjoy your backyard.
stacie@frogmediainc.ca
