Spring Cleaning Tips For Homeowners
May 11, 2023 brooklyn,Brooklyn Buyers,Brooklyn Buyers Agent,Brooklyn Landlords,brooklyn real estate,brooklyn realty,brooklyn sellers,Brooklyn Sellers Agent,renting in brooklyn,spring cleaning,spring in brooklyn
Spring has sprung, and you know what that means…spring cleaning! It’s time to open those windows, let the fresh air in, and clean out the grime your home collected during winter. It’s a new season, and what better way to start fresh than giving your home a good old cleaning!
Keep reading below for a complete list of spring cleaning tips for homeowners.
Start By Preparing Yourself and Your Home
Jumping right in can seem daunting, mainly because all you want to do is relax and enjoy the excitement of the city because everyone is out of their homes now. So, we recommend preparing yourself first for the big clean. Your spring cleaning may take more than a weekend, which is okay! Here are a few ideas on how to prepare for spring cleaning:
- Buy Your favorite cleaning products.
- Make any appointments to deep clean carpets or refinish floors in advance.
- Create a playlist to listen to and sing along to while cleaning.
- Replace your linens with new fresh ones.
- Declutter by trashing or donating clothes and appliances you haven’t used within the last six months.
If you are looking to donate, try Pick Purple Clothing Drive. They stop by your home and picks up your donated items from your doorstep, free of charge. All proceeds go to Batya Girls, Inc, an empowering network for teenage girls.
What To Avoid On Your Spring Cleaning Journey
If you have that “I am going to do it right this year attitude”, there are a few common mistakes to avoid this year.
- Not Planning Ahead: We discussed preparing above, but having an action plan on what you will tackle is key. You also don’t want to be half doing anything, especially when you intend to have a clean, healthy home.
- Avoiding The Deep Clean: Have the expectation you will be getting your hands dirty for the duration of your spring cleaning. The trick is not to avoid hard-to-reach places like ceiling fans and under the fridge. Tackling these areas will make you feel more accomplished than you thought.
- Starting To Scrub Right Away: You just bought all those expensive cleaning products and owe it to yourself to use them as directed. With all that dirt, grime, mold, and mineral deposits, the solutions need time to fight them off. Use the old saying, “Spray and walk away.”
- Cleaning Your Windows On A Sunny Day: When it is a hot and sunny day, window cleaner dries quicker, resulting in streak marks, no matter how hard you clean them. Pick a time a day when the weather is 65 degrees or below.
Now You’re Ready To Clean
Since you are fully prepared and know what to avoid, it’s time to Clean! Below is a full list of items to clean for each room. Remember to take it step by step, and having a break is okay when needed.
Kitchen:
- Remove the contents of every cabinet and drawer. Wipe down both the inside and outside each space with detergent and a warm cloth. Organize and replace items back in their designated spaces.
- Sharpen knives.
- Deep clean cutting boards.
- Remove crumbs from the toaster.
- Clean microwave and stove.
- Shine silverware
- Dust any displayed china.
- Dust light fixtures, blinds, ceiling fans, and window sills.
- Scrub the stove.
- Sweep and mop floors.
- Wipe down counters
- De-grease backsplash
- Shine the faucet, sink, and clean the drain.
- Reseal grout if necessary.
Bathrooms:
- Scrub the mirror with glass cleaner.
- Remove all items from the vanity and scrub the insides with detergent.
- Replace items back in the vanity in an organized fashion and discard expired medicines and products.
- Clean toilet bowl
- Remove the lid and set it from the toilet to scrub around the seat bolts.
- Spray anti-mold cleaning agent on shower doors and walls.
- Wax bathtub.
- Shine faucets.
- Dust vent covers.
- Clear sink and shower drain.
- Clean window sills.
- Sweep and mop floors.
- Wash towels and bath mat in hot water.
Bedrooms:
- For each drawer: remove items, dust, replace drawer liner, organize items, and return nicely to their dedicated spaces.
- Donate items you no longer use.
- Launder bedding in hot water.
- Sprinkle baking soda on the uncovered mattress, wait, and vacuum.
- Air out mattress pad.
- Vacuum under the bed and behind dressers.
- Clean out closets.
All the other areas:
- Open windows
- Vacuum dust from baseboards and scrub trim.
- Vacuum spider webs from corners.
- Deep clean carpets and rugs, refinish hardwood floors and shine tile or linoleum surfaces.
- Dust window screens.
- Vacuum, sweep, and mop (In that order).
- Spot clean walls.
- Dust art and light fixtures.
- Sweep porch.
- Replace the welcome mat.
- Clean upholstered furnishings.
- Ensure fire safety by changing the batteries in smoke detectors.
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If you’re interested in learning about buying or selling in Brooklyn, download our free Buying Into Brooklyn Ebook or our Seller’s Guide. We share a ton of valuable resources to demystify the buying and selling process.