Spring arrived Monday, March 20. Spring is a
time for renewal and there is no better time to rid yourself of
a winter's worth of dust bunnies, dirt and clutter.
To make your home sparkle for summer, Brenda
Borenstein, cleaning expert and owner of Organized Zone Inc.,
offers these helpful tips and tricks:
Pre-Cleaning:
Plan Ahead - Create a checklist outlining
each room you plan to tackle - it's satisfying to check off
each room you complete and helps keep you on track. Have
adequate cleaning supplies on-hand and use a cleaning caddy to
easily move from room to room.
Dress for Success - Wear loose, comfortable,
old clothing and don't forget your rubber gloves. For an
added touch, turn up the tunes to put you in the cleaning
mood.
Cleaning 101:
Pack and Purge - Eliminate clutter by
donating those never used items to charity. Put items away as
you go to make dusting and polishing quicker and easier. Less
mess = less to clean.
Direct the Dust - Dust falls downward so
clean from top to bottom. One-direction cleaning means you
won't waste time crisscrossing the room or cleaning the
same place twice.
Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum - It's essential
to vacuum at least once a week. Use a top quality vacuum, such
as Panasonic's Power-on-Demand Vacuum, which offers
technology designed to automatically detect the power and
suction level required for any cleaning job. Choosing a vacuum
with a HEPA filter is also important to trap allergens,
irritants and pollutants inside the vacuum to prevent them from
recirculating into the air.
Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Beyond - Vacuum and
wash all floor surfaces, clean mirrors/pictures and
counter/dresser surfaces. Don't forget ceiling fans and
lamp shades. Defrost your freezer and scrub down your counters,
appliances, stove top, microwave and the inside and outside of
your refrigerator.
Post-Cleaning:
Daily Cleaning Quickie - Light cleaning each
and every day is easier than tackling months of built-up dirt
and dust.
The Beauty of Baskets - Place baskets in
rooms that accumulate clutter to store odds and ends. Go
through each basket once a day and put things back in their
proper place.
Scheduled clean-up - Designate specific days
of the week to complete various cleaning tasks, so cleaning
doesn't become overwhelming.
Recruit Helpers - Cleaning is a much quicker
task when the whole family's involved. Even youngsters can
make their own beds or wipe off a table and the
television.
