Spring Cleaning!

Spring Cleaning!

You probably have heard the term “spring cleaning” before and with good reason. The changing of the season offers an opportunity to declutter our homes and start fresh. In Florida, the weather is warming up and flowers are starting to bloom. It is time to store away the winter blues and embrace the new growth happening all around us.

It is time to deep clean the floors, windows, pantry, closets, and refrigerators, and time to throw out or donate items collecting dust in the house. It can be overwhelming to start thinking about cleaning everything in the house, so make it manageable by prioritizing what needs to be done first.  You could start by cleaning out the pantry and refrigerator. Toss the expired food away and donate those items you haven’t used in months that have not expired. Chances are, if you have not used them in months, you probably won’t any time soon. Look at your spice cabinet and take inventory of what is good to use and what is not. Yoss the expired spices away. Wipe down your cabinets and appliances.

Declutter your pantry by discarding expired products or donating still-good foods to a food pantry. (Photo credit: Tyler Jones)

Open your curtains or lift your blinds and start cleaning your windows and wash your curtains. It is amazing how much dust can build up on blinds and curtains. Take out a dust rag and dust those spaces that aren’t commonly used. Take down the photos on the wall and give them a nice wipe down as well. While you are at it with the dust rag or duster, get those ceiling fans and other hard-to-reach places. Don’t forget to clean the baseboards. There are a variety of ways you can clean them: wipe with a rag, mop, vacuum, or sweep them. Go ahead and wash that shower curtain and replace the curtain liner if it has been a while. Vacuum or wipe down your furniture to remove dust, hair, and crumbs. Take inventory of your closets and donate what you do not use or haven’t used in a long time. You could also have a yard sale to get rid of excess items in your house that you no longer want or need (and make a little cash at the same time!). Sweep or vacuum the floors, clean the rugs by washing or spot-cleaning them, and finish off the inside cleaning by mopping if you have hard floors.

Clearing your yard of fall and winter debris can help make it cozy for spring and summer fun. (Photo Credit: Melanie Southerland)

Now is a good time to do any DIY projects or hire someone to come in and touch up things that need to be done. You may need to touch up some paint, or re-caulk your tile or windows. Also, be sure to change your air filter on a regular basis to ensure proper air filtration and to help extend the life of your unit. Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Fixing small things around your house can have a huge impact on the overall condition of your house. Small changes make a huge difference.

Cleaning and decluttering can be a daunting task, but making a list and tackling items on that list one at a time can help get your house ready for the Spring season. Play music or an audiobook aloud to give you some motivation or encouragement while cleaning. You can even add a dance move in while you’re at it for a little extra exercise!

Finally, don’t forget the outdoors. You may have some projects you would like to do outside, and spring is a great time to mark those items off the list because the weather is typically enjoyable. Pressure or soft wash the exterior of the house to remove built up dirt and debris. Weed the garden, plant those flowers, put out that bird feeder, and enjoy your outdoor space. Create your own sanctuary by decluttering and cleaning your living areas, inside and out. Now you are ready to enjoy the spring season and all it has to offer!

Get a Jump Start on Your Spring Cleaning

Get a Jump Start on Your Spring Cleaning

I love spring cleaning. Well, I love spring. I wish someone else would do the cleaning. It does feel nice to have everything clean and sparkling for those sunny spring days. According to a 2018 survey by the American Cleaning Institute, nearly 76% of households engage in spring cleaning each year. These spring cleaners report deep cleaning and clearing clutter as the top two reasons for this annual springtime spruce up.

If you want to join the springtime cleaning craze but aren’t sure how to start, here are a few ideas:

Clear the Clutter

basket of cleaning supplies

Get ready for the springtime spruce up. Photo credit: Kendra Zamojski

Personal belongings hold a host of memories and other emotional attachments. This means stuff can accumulate in closets, drawers, cabinets, and other places. In my own life, I try to get rid of items I haven’t used in the last year. Others may use different criteria. Pick a closet, cabinet, or other area to de-clutter and start by sorting. Separate items into boxes or baskets labeled: Keep, Donate/Sell, Recycle, Trash. This is also a great way to help children make decisions about their stuff. It always makes me feel better to clear the clutter and organize a messy cabinet or closet.

Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning involves going through each room and cleaning it to a higher standard or reaching dirt that might get missed in a regular cleaning routine. On deep cleaning days, wash window and shower curtains, wash windows and mirrors, scrub floors, wash or wipe down walls, baseboards, and doors. Dust or wipe down light fixtures, ceiling fans, furniture, and shelves. Other tasks might include vacuuming under furniture, cleaning the carpets and rugs, and cleaning under and behind appliances.

Spring cleaning takes a little extra elbow grease compared to the regular cleaning routine.  If you find this overwhelming, start small by choosing a room or even smaller by choosing a closet or cabinet. Once you see the difference, it will motivate you to tackle the next job.

References:

Healthy Homes: Dealing with Household Clutter.  2015.
Available at: https://secure.caes.uga.edu/extension/publications/files/pdf/C%201067_1.PDF

Spring Cleaning Tips
Available at: https://lancaster.unl.edu/home/articles/2005/springcleaning.shtml

 

 

Spring Clean Your Way to a Safer Home!

clean 

Spring cleaning of one’s home is a tradition dating back centuries that is tied to the vernal equinox – the first day of spring.   At the spring equinox, days are approximately 12 hours long with day length increasing as the season progresses. In many cultures this longer, lighter, warmer day is often a cause for celebration! And who could even think about celebrating a longer, lovelier day without a clean home?

The kitchen is a great place to start! You can protect yourself by preventing the spread of germs where food is prepared. However, the terms clean, sanitize and disinfect are often used interchangeably which can cause confusion. Best practices based upon current research state that cleaning and sanitizing is multi-step process. And even though surfaces look visibly clean, they may still be contaminated with microorganisms (infectious fungi, bacteria and viruses).

Cleaning is the removal of dirt from food preparation surfaces. These can be counters, cutting boards, dishes knives, utensils pots and pans – even your refrigerator.

  1. Wash surface with soap and warm water
  2. Rinse with clean water
  3. Air dry or dry with a clean disposable towel

Sanitizing reduces germs on inanimate – nonliving surfaces.

  1. Wash surface with soap and warm water using appropriate cleaning agents and equipment. Detergents can penetrate soil quickly whereas solvent, acid or abrasive cleaners may be needed for deep cleaning. The friction of cleaning — often with soap and water — removes most surface germs, which is adequate for most household surfaces.
  2. Rinse with clean water
  3. Air dry or dry with a clean disposable towel

Disinfecting destroys or inactivates most germs on inanimate surfaces.

  1. Wash surface with soap and warm water
  2. Rinse with clean water
  3. Disinfecting is not appropriate in all cases. However, it’s a good idea to get in the routine of disinfecting countertops, door and cabinet handles, and sink and sink faucets as these places are used frequently- think where dirt and guck can collect!
  4. Air dry or dry with a clean disposable towel

Also remember to disinfect dishcloths – often. Launder dishcloths frequently using the hot water cycle of the washing machine. Be sure to dry cloths thoroughly. These items can harbor bacteria and when wet, promote bacterial growth. Also, consider using disposable towels to clean up surfaces.

And don’t forget your kitchen sink drain and disposal. Once or twice a week clean, sanitize and disinfect.

Bathroom surfaces can be of critical concern. Surfaces closest to the toilet bowl – seat, cistern and nearby walls and shelving are most affected. When cleaning and disinfecting bathroom surfaces it is important to understand fecal matter is especially a huge matter of concern!

Then there are our general housekeeping surfaces, floors, walls, and furniture, which are low–touch surfaces that require low-level of disinfections. Cleaning these surfaces frequently with a bit of detergent or a low-level disinfectant designed for general housekeeping can decrease the level of contamination. General procedures should be followed. Remove dirt form surfaces (dust, vacuum or sweep) sanitize or disinfect, allow surfaces to air dry.

Thorough cleaning of all surfaces is important to reduce the spread of pathogens. High-touch surfaces, surfaces that are handled frequently, throughout the day, by numerous people, need cleaning and disinfecting. These surfaces can include doorknobs, light switches, phones, keyboards etc. that can become contaminated by objects such an inadequately cleaned rag, sponges or even improperly washed hands.

Cleaning regularly prevents the build-up of materials that can carry pathogens and support their growth. Some pathogens, viruses especially, can have a long shelf life and can stay on surfaces if they are not properly cleaned, sanitized or disinfected.

Take a look at The University of Florida IFAS EDIS publication explaining the use of common household products to use effectively as sanitizers. Also remember, it is critical to read and follow the safety instructions on any product you use.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY128000.pdf

http://www2.epa.gov/saferchoice

Heidi Copeland Extension Agent II Family and Consumer Sciences

615 Paul Russell Road Tallahassee, FL 32301-7060 850/606-5203

Spring into Cleaning

Photo credit: Dorothy C. Lee

Photo credit: Dorothy C. Lee

Spring is officially upon us.  There are few rites of Spring more familiar than the annual Spring Cleaning.  It is easier and healthier to live in a clean, well-organized home.  Spring Cleaning doesn’t have to be synonymous with drudgery, though.

The key to cleaning is being organized and familiar with the uses of different cleaning products.  Today’s cleaning methods and equipment make it more efficient and economical to clean.  Be an informed consumer when selecting household cleaning supplies.  Selecting a few all-purpose cleaners is more economical and requires less storage space.

Make it easy:  Get organized.  Gather cleaning supplies.  Select a few all-purpose cleaners. Put all of your cleaning supplies, brushes, gloves, rags, etc. into one basket and take it with you as you move from room to room.

Clean with ease.  Here are some tips that can help you:

  • Clean as you go. For example, make your bed as you get out of it.
  • Perform preventive measures to avoid big cleaning jobs later.  For example, change filters in heating and cooling equipment regularly.
  • Plan ahead.  Make a list and check off items as you complete the chore. Establish a flexible cleaning schedule.
  • Make sure to follow manufacturers’ directions for use and care of items.
  • Incentivize by establishing a goal and rewarding yourself when you’ve accomplished it.
  • Get in a cleaning mindset.  Put on an exercise DVD and think of cleaning as a workout instead of a chore, or put on music you like to move to and let it energize you.

Consider making your own household cleaning supplies…Granny did!  Try baking soda, vinegar, and ammonia for cleaning.  These old-fashioned cleaners still work today.  Making your own cleaners can cost less and be environmentally safe.

Safety considerations should always be followed when making household cleaning supplies.  Never mix chlorine bleach with any other cleaning agents, especially ammonia or vinegar.  The combination can create toxic fumes.  Do not store cleaning supplies in containers that once held food or beverages – this can lead to mistaken identity and accidental poisoning.  Clearly label each container.  Store all cleaning supplies out of reach of children.  Mix cleaning solutions in a well-ventilated area and clean up after using toxic substances.  Store containers tightly closed.

Many household cleaners can be made from inexpensive household ingredients.  Following are a few DIY cleaning solutions you can prepare yourself:

Multi-purpose Cleaner

1/2 cup ammonia

1 cup baking soda

2 cups warm water

Mix ingredients in a one-gallon container until baking soda is dissolved, and then add enough water to fill the gallon container.  Use ½ cup of mixture in a bucket of water to clean floors, walls, woodwork.

Window Cleaner

Mix together 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 quart water in a spray container.  Spray windows and use crumpled newspaper, if desired, to shine windows.

Mildew Cleaner

3/4 cup chlorine bleach

1 gallon water

Mix and put into spray container.  Apply to mildewed area; let stand for five minutes; rinse with water.

Disinfecting Solution

3/4 cup chlorine bleach

1 tablespoon liquid soap

1 gallon water

Mix ingredients together.  Wipe surface and let stand for two minutes.  Rinse and wipe dry or air dry.

Aluminum Cleaner

1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 quart water or

2 teaspoons cream of tartar to 1 quart water

Add solution to pan and bring to a boil. Boil until discoloration disappears. Empty solution, let pan cool, and rinse.

Consider making your own cleaners before you buy.  They cost less and are eco-friendly.  Be an informed consumer and spring into cleaning!

For further information, visit the University of Florida/IFAS Solutions for Your Life website.

References:

EDIS publication FCS 3149 Hazardous Household Substances:  Alternatives That are Relatively Free of Toxic Effects

“Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Commercial Cleaners and Other Household Products,” Environmental Media Services, www.ems.org

“Safe Substitutes at Home:  Non-Toxic Household Products,” EnviroSense, www.epa.gov