Spring into SPRING

You've probably read about spring cleaning every time the season comes around. It seems like the more you read, the more the to-do list grows. Well here are a few things to add to your list! We'll skip over the obvious items. You already know you have to do the floors and the laundry. Here are a few reminders to give some love to some spots around the house that are often forgotten. 

Do you know how many types of filters are in your home? Here's a hint: a lot! Spring is a great time to either replace filters with new ones or remove them and give them a really good clean. Your dryer has a filter that catches lint; this should be emptied after every load but there usually also another removable compartment that catches debris from your loads. Speaking of load debris, don't forget your dishwasher. Even if you pre-rinse your dishes, it is almost impossible to avoid food bits in the dishwasher. Empty and clean the debris catcher so your dishwasher can keep doing what it does best.

Hood fans also have removable filters. These will have to be soaked and scrubbed because they'll be covered in grease from the cooking all year round. Think of the bacon, soup, and stir fry goodness... your hood fan is working hard while you cook up a storm so remember to give it some love. 

Your furnace is the heart of your property. Replace the air filter in your furnace throughout the year. Generally, filters that are 3-4" can be replaced every 6-9 months. Smaller filters should be replaced after 3 months. If you forget throughout the year then it's a good idea to put this on the to-do list when you are spring cleaning everything else around the house.

Calgary is one the sunniest cities in Canada so your window curtains are working all year long to give your home some shade during the daytime. Spring is a great time to give them a quick refresh. Many textile curtains and drapes can be machine washed. But be careful! The constant sun exposure can make the textile weak so make sure you use a gentle cycle in lukewarm water. If your machine has a handwash cycle that would be even better. If not, you could also do a soak and strip in your tub. GoCleanCo has a great laundry stripping recipe you can find it here. 

Shower curtains are often overlooked. We shower and keep our bodies clean and yet ironically, the shower curtain only gets dirtier. These are even easier to wash. Toss them in the wash with a few towels to keep wrinkles to a minimum.

The outside of your home needs some TLC after 7+ months of Calgary harsh, dry winter season. Take advantage of the melt-off to clean out the gutters and eavestroughs of your house. Take a look at your drainage pipe to make sure there are no blockages. The warmer weather means snow and ice will be melting quickly so clear the drainage pipes for the messy melty stuff can be directed away from your home.

Spring is the beginning of barbeques and hanging in the sun. Time to tidy up your outdoor space for you & your family to enjoy the warm weather coming up. Give your backyard patio, front porch a good scrub. If you are in an apartment sweep up dust and debris from your balcony. Time to set up the patio furniture that you put into storage for winter. What does your outdoor space look like? Do you have a sectional to host friends & family? Or maybe a small dinner table for dinners in the sunset? Maybe you have a fire pit for roasting marshmallows. Or maybe you have a hammock to kick back and enjoy a good book in the sun. 

There are many nooks & crannies around your home that often slip through the cracks when you are doing regular cleaning throughout the year. Your baseboards collect a lot of dust and hair over time. It may be hard to notice throughout the year but baseboards get very dirty - especially around doorways. If you've never cleaned your baseboards before then be prepared to put some elbow grease into giving them a good scrub. Throughout the year, dust them off regularly and it will make the springtime scrub much easier.

Personally, I open my refrigerator about 284 times a day - don't judge me, I like to eat a lot. It is where a lot of my favourite foods live (fruits, yogurt, prepped meals, BACON, CHEESE... the list goes on). All the more reason to keep this treasure chest clean! Take everything out of the fridge and freezer. Bring the vacuum to suck up all the crumbs and flakes from old food and wipe down all the shelves & drawers. Are there any expired items? Time to get rid of that can of questionable brown stuff. We talked about purging last week it's time to apply what we learned to the kitchen as well.

Let's talk about the washing machine. For a machine that is supposed to clean your clothes, it gets surprisingly dirty. Front-load washers tend to collect debris inside the flaps of the rubber seals. Clean this out! The machine washes your clothes and whatever "stuff" comes off your clothes + all the moisture in there is just a recipe for an ecosystem of mould and bacteria. You do not want to be "washing" your clothes in this gunk.

These cleaning reminders are definitely not the only partS of your home that need attention. They are just less talked about compared to their larger counterparts like floors, carpets, bathrooms, and so on. Once you've tackled everything else on your spring cleaning list, there is one final box to check off: clean your cleaning tools! Wash or replace all the cleaning rags, sponges, and brushes. You want to keep cleaning with clean supplies. No point in cleaning with dirty towels and spreading bacteria all over the place. For example, the plunger and the toilet brush have to be cleaned. You & I both know what's on there... 

Spring cleaning is definitely no small feat. I never said it would be easy but I promise it is worth it. How do you feel about cleaning: chore or therapy? For me, I do not enjoy cleaning but I love the feeling of a clean home so I will bite the bullet and push through the tasks on a regular basis. So I guess for me it is a chore that leads to therapy.