10 Places You Always Forget During Spring Cleaning

Spring is in the air – and so is spring cleaning. There’s nothing like a thorough scrub-down to get rid of the remaining winter muck hanging around your house. However, that’s usually when you realize how many corners you’ve been cutting for the sake of watching “The Good Wife”… which in my opinion is still totally worth it, but that’s beside the point.
Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to catch up on the nooks and crannies of your home. Below are 10 places you’d probably forget without a gentle reminder. (You’re welcome.)

1. Shower curtain liners

My shower curtain liner is always the thing I’ll get to later – but you know, never do. Next laundry day, make a mental note to run it through the wash.

2. Blinds

Get into the habit of vacuuming your blinds on a weekly basis to save yourself the hassle later. Trust me.

3. Ceilings

The ceiling is a super easy area of your home to forget. Meanwhile, there’s a lot going on up there. Check for cobwebs and dust on your ceiling fans and light fixtures, and in the corners.

4. Plant leaves

It’s important for your plants to have good hygiene too! Carefully wipe leaves with a damp cloth.

5. Baseboards

Depending on how long you’ve neglected your baseboards, spring cleaning is the perfect time to go at them with a damp cloth. Afterward, you can maintain them every few weeks with a duster.

6. Door handles/knobs

Considering how often we touch handles and knobs, I’m surprised at how easy it is to forget them during cleaning sessions!

7. The front door

It gets pretty mucky outside – especially this time of year – and when guests are waiting for you to let them in, they’re staring at your equally mucky door.

8. Light switches

Go and check out your light switches: Are they still their original color?

9. Chair legs

We’re so focused on wiping off seats that the legs end up a little worse for wear.

10. Curtains

Vacuum your curtains during your everyday cleaning sessions, but when spring cleaning rolls around take them down to be washed.

Courtesy of: Organic Authority

Before You Spring Clean: Clean the Four Cleaners

Before you get started with your spring cleaning checklist, make sure your cleaning tools are actually clean themselves:

1.) Dishwasher:

Without a proper monthly cleanse, your “self-cleaning” dishwasher can become a cesspool of bacteria, fungi, black yeast, and even mold. Not to mention it can also emit a foul odor, thanks to leftover food particles.

To kill germs, erase soap scum and cut through films of grease. Start by picking up debris from the bottom of the drain with a rag or paper towel. Then, pour white vinegar into a cup, place it on the top rack of an empty dishwasher, and run a full cycle on the hottest water setting.To deodorize, sprinkle a cup of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher and run a hot cycle. If you find that the dishwasher interior often turns a rusty-brown color, the iron in your water is the culprit. Reverse the discoloration with a dishwasher cleaner.

2.) Washing Machine:

Like with the dishwasher, the first telling sign of a dirty machine is its smell.The odor could be from a variety of things: detergent or fabric softener buildup, bacteria from clothes, or the tendency to leave damp clothes for long periods of time.That dampness in an enclosed area can breed mold and mildew.Simply running a load of hot water won’t zap all the germs, especially strains of bacteria, like E. coli and salmonella, from underwear or kitchen cloths, which can live on washing machine walls and spread to other garments.

3.) Vacuum Cleaner:

Without maintenance, a vacuum is only good for moving around dirt. A vacuum can get so bogged down with dust and allergens that it becomes 20 percent less effective each time you don’t clean it properly.You can clean a vacuum without having to take it apart. For bag less vacuums, empty the canister after each use. For ones with bags, replace when it’s one-third full. Clean the filter by shaking out dust or removing buildup with fingers; or, replace it altogether every six months to a year. Finally, make sure the rotating brush is free of hair. If you can’t pull it out, use scissors to cut through the sheet of strands.

4.) Disinfecting Your Sponges:

You already know that a ton of bacteria live in sponges — 7 billion germs. But, you can cut down the gross factor by disinfecting your sponge every couple of days, if not every day, and replace it monthly.To disinfect, soak a sponge in water, place it in a microwavable dish, and nuke it on high for a minute.

              

Courtesy of: msn living