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Spring Cleaning

What’s the first thing to come to mind when you think of SPRING?  Okay, maybe not the first thing, but after you start thinking of green grass, flowers, taxes and baseball… cleaning pops up somewhere on your list.

This is the perfect time of the year to give both inside and outside a good once over.  We’re going to give you a few tips on some of the most daunting spring cleaning tasks.

 

Windows

Now that the spring sun is shining through those windows you’ll want them to be nice and clean.  And, who doesn’t love cleaning windows?  (that was a joke folks)

The worst part of doing the windows is when you’re done and all the supplies are put away and the sun hits just right and you see… water spots.  It’s so frustrating after you’ve spent hours scrubbing.  

There are some cleaners for water spots but there are also DIY cleaners that work really well.

  • Equal parts warm water and white distilled vinegar with a drop or two of dish soap
  • Use a sponge or microfiber cloth to thoroughly wet the windows
  • Let sit for a few minutes (rewetting so it doesn’t dry)
  • Dry with a soft cloth
  • Still have spots?  Repeat the above steps.

Extra tips:

  • For high to reach windows you can buy a squeegee/sponge on a long pole.
  • If you have a pressure washer you can fill one bottle with the solution and then use the cloth or squeegee to dry.
  • Have a lemon tree in the yard?  You can rub the windows with lemons.  The acidity will help remove the water spots.  Wipe off the lemon juice and then clean the window normally.
  • For hard to get water spots you can make a paste of baking soda and water.  Apply it to the window and scrub vigorously.  Thoroughly rinse the windows with water and then clean normally.

How to clean hard water spots off windows

 

Toilets

Toilets are no doubt part of your weekly cleaning routine, but sometimes they need a little extra attention.  Here are a few tips for a deep cleaning.

Gather your supplies

  • Cleaning/disinfecting spray
  • Toilet bowl cleaner
  • Toilet brush
  • Paper towels
  • Rubber gloves
  • Pumice stone

Start from the outside… 

  • Spray the entire exterior with a disinfectant spray.  Make sure you get the hard to reach area around the back.
  • Don’t forget the surrounding area–walls, floor, side of cabinet and tub.  Any surface that is close has potentially been hit with microscopic splatter during every flush.
  • Give the disinfectant time to work and then dry with paper towels.  

 

…and work your way in.  

 

  • Cleaners tend to get diluted in the water so you can maximize their effects by emptying the bowl first. 
  • Spray cleaner liberally inside the bowl.  
    • Store bought or your own DIY mix 
      • (1 cup table salt, 1 cup baking soda, and one cup bleach)
      • (1 cup baking soda and 1 cup white vinegar)
  • Don’t forget under the rim.
  • Let stand for 5-10 minutes and then scrub with a toilet brush.
  • For hard to get water rings you can use the pumice stone.
  • Turn the water back on and flush to rinse the cleaner.

For added sanitation you can hold the brush over the toilet and rinse it with bleach and then clean water.  Let it dry before putting it away.

 

Drains

Most of the time you know if your drains need cleaned because the water just isn’t going down.  But,even if the water is still flowing, but slowed, it can create problems such as offensive odors and standing water can attract bugs so here are some tips to get those drains clean and flowing again.

Generally when the water stops flowing you reach for the plunger to help clear the clog. Often times the clog is in the P-trap so if that is accessible then you can remove and clean that out.  If the clog is too far down you may need to send down the snake.   

Once you get the drain cleared of any blockages then you can start cleaning and deodorizing it.  Store bought cleaners are often tough on pipes so an easy home remedy is to pour a half cup of baking soda followed by a half cup of vinegar.  After the fizz dies down you can rinse with hot water.  And then clean the sink.

If you notice bugs (such as fruit flies) lingering around your kitchen you’ll want to take extra care to not let food particles collect in the disposal.  One tip for the disposal is to grind a few lemon or orange slices and then run through with the baking soda/vinegar mixture.

Once the Fayetteville, North Carolina weather gets really great outside the last thing you’ll want to do is stay in and clean.  So get your spring cleaning done early and let the summer fun begin.