6 More Spring Cleaning Tips
Last week, we gave you 5 spring cleaning tips. This week, we’ve got 6 more for you. Spring cleaning is definitely not an all at once kind of job. You have to break it up into chunks unless, of course, you hire us to do the spring cleaning for you.
- Clean ceiling fixtures. You should dust and clean your ceiling lights and fans. If you have the fans running for winter usage, turn them back to the summertime setting (counterclockwise) so that the cool air can settle in the room. Be careful to turn off the fixtures before cleaning them so you don’t get overheated or blow dust all over the room. You can also take this time to remove dust from air conditioners. A cloth and a vacuum with a soft nozzle attachment will get the job done.
- Update your bed linens. Spring is a great time to replace your bed linens. You can bring out the pretty, flowery comforter and sheets for a spring time rejuvenation of your sleeping space. Make sure to wash your used bed linens and put them away safely and securely for next winter. You may want to wash the new bed linens first for that crisp, clean feel.
- Protect your wooden floors. You can easily guard against scratches on wooden floors. Make sure that there are surface protectors on the underside of furniture legs. Replace any protectors that are worn or dirty with new ones. You can get them at home improvement stores. You’ll want to use the thick, padded self-adhesive disks. Remember, a build-up of grit can scratch your wooden floor.
- Clean your refrigerator. You may find this task a little daunting so we suggest you break it down into pieces. First things first – wipe up spills so surfaces don’t become stained. Throw out old food once a week, preferably on trash day. Every few months, you should wash the fridge’s interior. Wash removable shelves and drawers. You can loosen hardened spills by wetting the area with a cleaning solution and allow the residue to soften. A toothbrush can be used to scrub nooks and crannies. Twice a year, vacuum or brush dust from the condenser coils. This will keep your system from overheating.
- Reorganize your book shelves. You should consider sorting your books by size and subject. It’s easier and neater than just alphabetically by author or title. You’ll want to remove and discard any ripped dust jackets. For a quirky twist, line some of the books vertically and some horizontally. This will break up the monotony of the rows.
- Restock home cleaning supplies. Make sure you have all the cleaning supplies you need. You’ll want to have a glass cleaner and an all-purpose cleaner. You’ll also want specific products for problem spots like tile and grout. You may want natural cleansers like vinegar and baking soda. You’ll also want to stock up on sponges, rags, scrub brushes and rubber gloves.
With these six tips, we finish our basic spring cleaning tips for you. If you need help with any of this, feel free to call Garcia Green Cleaners. We’re experts at spring cleaning and we can be reached in Austin at 512-705-2812.
5 Spring Cleaning Tips
It’s spring time. That means it’s time for spring cleaning. We’ve got 5 great spring cleaning tips for you in this article. We hope they help you make your house beautiful for spring.
- Organize your closets. Some say that organizing your closet is the first step to organizing your home. You should go through all your clothes and accessories and get rid of what you are no longer using or what doesn’t fit for whatever reason. A good suggestion is to organize what you currently wear by how you get dressed in the morning and by color. Not only will your closet look appealing but your everyday routine will be easier.
- Make your welcome mat truly welcoming. Shake it, wash it and swat it with a broom. Give the mat a thorough cleaning, the toughest it can take. Remember, the welcome mat is your home’s front line of defense against tracked-in dirt. You should always keep the mat clean enough to operate at peak efficiency.
- Clean your windows. Dirty panes of glass present no problem when you use rubber-edged squeegees. They are quicker and more effective than cloth or newspaper. They come in a variety of sizes and a screw-on extension will allow you to reach high spots without a problem. To begin, dip a sponge into a bucket of warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Wet window and rub dirt away. Dampen the squeegee, starting at an upper corner, then take it down the pane from top to bottom. Repeat and overlap strokes while wiping the rubber edge with a sponge after each stroke. Dry the windowsills with a cloth.
- Wash walls, cabinets, baseboards and woodwork. Use a sponge and a dish-washing detergent on these areas. Be careful not to mess with the paint. Wash the surface in sections. A sponge mop will make it easy to reach high spots. You should use two buckets to accomplish this task – one with the dish-washing solution and the other for wringing out you sponge. Dry the walls and other woodwork with a clean cloth.
- Wipe your blinds if you have them. Wipe wooden blinds with a few drops of gentle wood cleaner and an almost dry sponge. Aluminum blinds can be washed outside. Place them on a sheet on a slanted surface. Scrub with water and non-corrosive cleaner. You can use a hose to rinse well and then you should dry the blinds with a towel to prevent rust.
Of course, these are just a few spring cleaning tips that we can provide you with. We will have more in our blog next week. Until then, happy spring cleaning. Remember, you can call Garcia Green Cleaners to do your spring cleaning for you. Give us a call in Austin at 512-705-2812.
How do I Clean a Toilet?
In this article, we’ll teach you how to clean the toilet. No one likes to clean toilets, but it’s necessary. A clean toilet doesn’t smell bad and it prevents bacteria from spreading. To correctly clean the toilet you’ll need both a toilet cleaner and a disinfectant. In fact, we recommend the following materials:
- Gloves,
- Toilet brush,
- Toilet bowl cleaner,
- And disinfectant spray.
First, you should take everything on the toilet off. If you have pictures or books or tissue boxes on the top, take them off so you can clean the toilet. You can clean these items later before you put them back on. Keep them somewhere safe where they won’t get sprayed with the toilet cleaner and disinfectant or water while you’re cleaning the toilet.
Take the clean gloves and put them on. We suggest that you use a dedicated pair of gloves for the job. You don’t want the bacteria from the toilet being spread to other household cleaning tasks. If you must, buy your toilet-cleaning gloves in a different color than your other rubber gloves so they don’t get confused.
Next, you should wipe down the toilet with a damp sponge. Give it a once-over with hot water. You should wet with water and wipe around the tank, lid, seat, base and exterior of the bowl. This might be enough to remove the dirt without specialty cleaning products. If not, you can clean with a disinfectant or toilet bowl cleaner later on.
Now you can apply with a toilet cleaner to the inside of the bowl. Toilet cleaners help eliminate stains, rings and mineral deposits in your toilet. Squirt the cleaner on the inside rim of the toilet bowl, allowing it to drip down the sides of the bowl and in the water. Read the instructions on the cleaner because some cleaners require time to sit for maximum cleaning effect. If so, take a short break and then continue.
It’s time to scrub the bowl with a toilet brush. You should use a brush with firm bristles. Scrub the bowl thoroughly and pay attention to any mineral stains that have accumulated at water level or the back of the bowl. The more thoroughly and firmly you scrub the bowl, the cleaner it will get. To get the most out of your toilet bowl cleaner, dip the brush in the toilet water and grab some suds to clean the bowl. It will give you extra cleaning power.
Once the bowl is scrubbed and clean, you should flush. This rinses the bowl. You should continue to scrub as water drains from the toilet because the motion of the water alone might not be enough to rinse the dirt away. If you have persistent stains, repeat the process of applying toilet cleaner through rinsing the bowl. Do it as many times as you need to to clean the toilet bowl.
Now that the bowl is clean, you can clean the rest of the apparatus with disinfectant. Clean the bottom, the top and all around the toilet. Don’t forget the handle because it has bacteria on it too. Once it’s sparkling, wipe up the residue with a dry cloth and then you’re done.
All you need to do is clean the items that were on the toilet before you started cleaning and then put them back where they belong.
If you need help cleaning your toilet or don’t feel like doing it yourself, Garcia Green Cleaners can help. Give us a call in Austin at 512-705-2812. We’re happy to take care of this for you!