Q: It’s time to start spring cleaning and I don’t know where to start. Help!
A: From Hillbilly Housewife: “It’s time to start clearing out the cobwebs of Winter and prepping our homes for the beauty of Spring. But, where do we start? Here are a few tips I came up with that will help you to kickstart your Spring Cleaning.
There are three basic steps to spring cleaning: Deep Cleaning, Organization, and Maintenance. Deep cleaning consists of wiping down walls, cleaning windows, wiping out cupboards, and cleaning under furniture. Organization means cleaning out closets, drawers, and cabinets. Go through clothing and toys to get rid of things that have been outgrown. The first two steps can be completed at the same time, but maintenance will take some extra steps and dedication on your part throughout the year.” (read more…)
Q: I have allergies. How can spring cleaning help?
A: According to Women’s Day Magazine: Allergy sufferers know that the arrival of spring also means the start of sneezing, wheezing and other seasonal symptoms; according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, more than 35 million people are affected by seasonal allergies. Aside from reaching for meds, you can also find some relief through your annual spring-cleaning routine. “A thorough once-over of your home helps control both indoor and seasonal allergens,” says Sakina Bajowala, MD, Board-Certified Allergist & Immunologist with DuKane Allergy Asthma Associates in St. Charles, Illinois. “You won’t completely eliminate allergens, but there are many ways to reduce exposure for you and your family.” Here, a few tips to help you tidy your way to an allergen-reduced home. (read more…)
Q: Is spring cleaning really necessary?
A: Maybe not…The Case Against Spring Cleaning
They say March comes in like a lamb and out like a lion. Those springtime breezes bring in more than just the blooming crocuses; they blow in countless reminders that it’s time for spring cleaning.
If spring cleaning is your thing, go for it! But if you never quite get that urge to scrub your home from top to bottom in one go, you can take solace in this article: A case against spring cleaning.
Historically, spring cleaning was a necessary response to being literally shut in for the winter. Coal and wood burning furnaces sprayed soot and ash all over your home, making a thorough scrub-down imperative once the weather warmed up. Today’s forced air furnaces and better filtration systems all but eliminate the winter build-up.
So without the soot to contend with, is spring cleaning still necessary? The answer is probably no. Which is fortunate, since goodness knows that with today’s busy lives, most of us would probably never find the time. Instead of setting aside two weeks out of our schedules to spring clean, what we we really need to do is:
(1) Devise (and stick to) a good, regular cleaning schedule, and
(2) Create a plan for tackling the heavy-duty house cleaning tasks (read more…)
Have a question about spring cleaning? This line is open until Friday, June 1st. We’ll take the top questions and post the answers right here and on our Facebook page.