Spring cleaning is a staple of the season, and perhaps there’s no better time to do it than right now! With social distancing orders in full effect nationwide, you’re likely spending more time at home than you did before. This makes NOW a great opportunity to:
- Stay home so you can stay safe
- Combat boredom and get active
- Be productive and enjoy your home
Spring Cleaning Tips 101
There are few things more satisfying than deep-cleaning the space you live in, eat in and sleep in every day. However, for a truly thorough deep clean, you’ll need to do more than just empty the dishwasher and make it to the bottom of your laundry basket.
Below, we’ll walk you room-by-room with spring cleaning tips to occupy some of your downtime and help you feel a sense of accomplishment.
The Kitchen:
- Discard all old, expired and unused food
- Wipe down refrigerator doors, shelves, handles
- Restore shine to counter tops and remove old stains
- Clean and wipe down microwave
- Clean your oven and stove top, removing food residue
- Clear burned residue from pots and pans
- Use the cut side of a lemon, salt and/or baking soda to remove food residue from cutting boards with marks you may have thought were permanent
- Dust the tops of high surfaces (fridge, cabinets, stove hood/range)
- Replace sponges, dish rags and kitchen towels
Psst… the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), Founder of Your Weight Matters, has a resource JUST for spring cleaning your kitchen! Refreshing this area of your house can make sticking to healthy food habits a lot easier. CLICK HERE to read a past article from OAC’s Weight Matters Magazine.
The Bathroom:
- Clean toilet bowl and toilet base
- Discard old, unused bath and makeup products
- Clean bathroom mirror and vanity
- Replace curtain liner
- Scrub tile grout and clean shower head
- Unclog/clean shower drain
The Office:
- Shred/recycle unnecessary paperwork/documents
- Dust and sanitize electronics (computer, mouse, keyboard)
- Organize desk, drawers, papers
The Garage:
- Wipe down garage door on both sides
- Sort/organize items, throwing out what’s unnecessary
- Open up garage door to air out space
- Sweep/clean floor, walls and windows
- Remove fuzz/lint from dryer filter
The Living Room:
- Dust/polish furniture (tables, bookshelves)
- Dust books, magazines, etc.
- Dust blinds and curtain rods
- Dust/clean decor (including curtains, lamp shades, etc.)
- Vacuum and shampoo rugs and carpets
- Wash blankets, pillows and slip covers
The Dining Room:
- Dust china/dishes in china cabinet; cabinets too
- Launder and press table linens
- Dust/clean windows (blinds, rods, curtains, sills)
The Bedroom(s):
- Wash bedding (sheets, pillows, comforter, duvets, bed skirts)
- Organize closets and donate unused clothing
- Shampoo rugs/carpets
- Flip mattress, clean if necessary
- Dust/clean windows (blinds, rods, curtains, sills)
Outside:
- Give your car a good wash and wax/polish
- Wipe down/clean patio furniture
- Carefully remove wasp nests on doors and walls
- Trim your hedges and shrubs
- Wipe down/dust door and window frames
- Clean your pool for the summer
- Pull weeds from lawn and garden
Misc. Places:
- Replace light bulbs as needed
- Replace/clean air vents and filters
- Clean all light fixtures
- Sanitize door handles, light switches, etc.
- Change batteries in smoke detectors
- Wipe down walls and ceilings
- Empty out and organize junk drawer
- Replace bag in vacuum, clean filters, etc.
Sources:
How Are You Tidying Up?
Share what you’re doing to stay busy and how you’re spring cleaning in the Obesity Action Coalition’s Community Discussion Forum. What else is keeping you occupied? What offers you a mental break? Share with others so we can stay connected and supported during these uncertain times.
