Winter is almost over—time to have a sigh of relief and enjoy not seeing your breath in the air. If you hope to spend the coming nice days outside instead of stuck indoors doing seasonal chores, start sprucing up your house early! As things thaw out, here are a few easy to-dos to knock off your list now…and avoid a spring cleaning meltdown later.
ON-TRACK WINDOWS Northeast Ohioans know better than to put in screens on the first warm spring day. But when reliably balmy temperatures finally arrive, enjoy the weather while maintaining your windows. To ensure easy up-and-down sliding action, clean out window tracks with a vacuum attachment and/or narrow wood strip to remove accumulated dust and dirt. Follow up by spraying the inside of each track with a non-oily silicone lubricant to maintain your efforts.
MINIMAL MUD April showers bring May flowers, but before that everyone just tracks in a lot of brown goop. If kids, pets, or whoever end up getting mud on clothes or furniture, these tips can help get rid of it: First, sometimes it helps to fight the urge to immediately scrub wet splotches—you can end up spreading the mess around instead. If mud is a thick layer, let it dry into dirt if you can. Then scrape it off with a flat knife until you get to the base of the stain. Give garments a soak in detergent mixed with water before proceeding with normal wash instructions; in the case of furniture, blot with a small amount of upholstery cleaner, then rinse, until the stain lifts.
FANS AND REGISTERS Clean up these two crucial summertime appliances before the hot months hit. Ceiling fan blades collect hard- to-see layers of buildup…it becomes easier to notice when the fan is on high and stuff flies all over the room. Specialized pole dusters are available, but if you don’t have one of those, try sliding a pillowcase over each blade to contain the fallout. For deeper cleaning, moisten a cloth in vinegar solution and wipe to gently remove grime (just remember to dry blades afterwards). Another frequently unnoticed dusty spot – look up – exhaust fans in your bathroom or registers. Most can be easily removed to wash or use vacuum with attachments.
NO SPRING IN YOUR STEP YET? PetalSweet Cleaning makes seasonal or everyday cleaning a breeze! Call 330-635-2294 today to schedule a free quote—we’ll help you give Old Man Winter the brushoff and keep your home fresh all year!
