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Spring Cleaning Checklist: Top 3 Most Overlooked Areas

May 12, 2017 5:57:00 PM

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Spring is here! This means that it is time to create your spring cleaning checklist for your home. Become inspired as you and your home say goodbye to the cold weather and hello to the bright sunshine and spring flowers that adorn Northern Virginia during the spring and summer months. 

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Spring cleaning is a task that many homeowners approach with a rigor until it is time to approach harder cleaning tasks. The thought of cleaning dirty gutters, or the garage, is one that often makes homeowners wish that they could fast-forward the process. Before you focus all of your energy on cleaning the rugs, power washing the home, or scrubbing the couch cushions, be sure to spend some time cleaning these three overlooked areas. 

Electronics and Appliances

When was the last time that you cleaned your keyboard or mouse with a disinfecting wipe? Have you ever cleaned your computer bag or cell phone case? What about the interiors or exteriors of your appliances? When it comes to spring cleaning, all too often homeowners focus on those big item tickets. For example, cleaning the rugs or conducting a deep clean on the upstairs carpets. However, this spring, you should take a moment to clean those items that you use every day without thinking about the number of germs that are transformed to their surfaces.

Use a disinfecting wipe to clean your keyboards and electronic devices. Be careful not to get any water or cleaning products inside of the electronics. If you are worried about using a disinfecting wipe, at the very least you can use a can of compressed air to remove dust and small debris from the keys of your laptop or desktop.

You should also set your washing machine, oven, and dishwasher to a deep cleaning or self-cleaning cycle. These cycles are designed to clean the appliances, while simultaneously improving their performance levels. If your devices don't have a self-cleaning or deep cleaning cycle, then you can use a combination of baking soda and vinegar to safely remove dirt, grime, and germs. 

Door Frames and Ceiling Fans

You walk through doors every day in your home, but how often do you remember to wipe them down? During the warm spring days in Southern Maryland and Northern Virginia you might forego the air conditioner in favor of the ceiling fan. Do you look at the top of the ceiling fan before you turn it on? Dust and other unwanted particles can settle onto the fan's blades, and onto the edges of your door frame, as well as onto its handles and hinges.

During your spring clean, take the time needed to wipe down the door frames with a disinfecting wipe. Next, wipe down the doors with a dry rag to remove any of the remaining particles. Finally, you can spray wooden doors and frames with a conditioning product, such as Pledge. Your ceiling fan can be cleaned in a similar fashion by using a disinfecting wipe, followed by a dry rag, and the application of a reconditioning product if the blades are made from bamboo or another type of wood. 

Trash Cans

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Do you dump your trash once a week? Do you instantly line the trash can with a new bag? Whether you answered yes to both of these questions or prefer to forego the use of a trash bag, chances are you haven't used bleach in your trash cans in a long time. Trash cans are notorious for collecting unwanted germs, as well as lingering odors.

During your spring cleaning make sure that you clean all of the trash cans in your home. Take the cans outside of the house. Spray the plastic and metal cans down with water from your garden hose. Spray the interiors with a home cleaning product that contains bleach. Using a scrub brush, thoroughly clean the interior and exterior. Finish by rinsing out the cans and placing them in the sunshine to dry. 

The Bottom Line: Look For Those Hard To Remember Places That Need Extra Cleaning

With these spring cleaning tips at the ready, you will soon discover that your home is once more sparkling. As you complete your spring cleaning checklist, you might discover that areas of your home need to be repaired. Whether it is replacing shingles on the roof or adding new stones to the patio, be sure to contact us for help completing your home improvement projects.

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