You don’t have to wait till spring to give your house a makeover. In fact, attacking dirt early on will make things easier once the next season rolls around. Here are five things you can do in advance to make the real spring cleaning a much more bearable task:
1. Clean under and behind large pieces of furniture. Move the bookcases and wardrobes and sweep underneath. Clear the cobwebs from the corner and behind the fridge or stove.
2. Clean the inside of your refrigerator using a wet cleaning cloth and vinegar. This will kill any bacteria present. Put an open box of baking soda inside the fridge to absorb future odors.
3. Throw away or donate any clothes that no longer fit. Anything you don’t love or wear regularly should go too. The same goes for exercise equipment, old books and magazines and anything that is taking space in your garage or basement.
4. Attack the stains in your microwave. Mix one part vinegar and two parts water into a spray bottle. Spray the inside of the microwave, making sure all areas are covered. Heat on high for 15-20 seconds and then let stand for a few hours. Use a wet cleaning cloth to wipe off any remaining stains (they should be lose and easy to clean by then).
5. Set aside anything that requires fixing or mending. This could be a lamp that requires a bulb change or a table that needs to have the hinges or screws adjusted. Fix everything you can and decide what happens with the rest. You either pay somebody to fix it or you throw it away. Unless it’s serving a purpose, it has to go.
