It’s hard to think my friends up north are still battling winter conditions. Spring-cleaning is on tap this month and to be honest, I am not a fan of cleaning. It’s drudgery at times and less than fun. That being said, it still needs to be done. It’s like Mary Poppins always says, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. The trick is finding the sweet spot. So, here are my top ten tips to making cleaning a breeze.
- Cleaning is a work out in itself, so dress for it. Be comfortable and protect your hands and nails by wearing gloves. I like rubberized yard gloves. They don’t cover my whole arm, and feel more secure than the rubber dish washing gloves do.
- Tune in to your favorite music and get into the groove. Music helps make fun out of the drudgery of cleaning. Right now, I am into listening to old ‘80’s English bands. Yes, a Flock of Seagulls, Squeeze, and well vintage The Police all make the cut with a little Elvis Costello mixed in for good measure.
- Treat yourself to a pedicure as you clean. Slather on foot cream, cover with socks and lace up your favorite kicks. As you clean, treat your feet to a high intensity moisturizing. Flip flop weather is just around the corner, after all.
- Start in one room and move on to the next once you have finished. I tend to hop around and find I miss dust bunnies if I am not careful. So, start in a corner and move across the room from top to bottom. Dust, vacuum and de clutter as you go.
- Put together a basket, or bucket of cleaning products. Include paper towels, micro fiber dust cloths, and spray bottles with your favorite cleaning agents. I also keep Magic Erasers, and an extra sponge or two handy. An old toothbrush or two can be very useful too.
- Use cleaning products with a pleasant smell. Harsh chemicals only serve to annoy the sinuses and dilute the air with poisons. I like to use to Mrs. Myers All Purpose Cleaner. It mixes with distilled white vinegar and does wonders on everything. It also comes in an array of scents.
- Kill two birds with one stone. Start the laundry and while that is going, scrub down the woodwork in the laundry room or clean out the refrigerator.
- Some people devote each evening to cleaning one sector of the house. Frankly, I don’t enjoy cleaning that much, so I devote Saturdays to cleaning. One day a week, knock it all out and be done with it.
- Sort the pile of stuff that seems to have no home. If it doesn’t have a place, toss it, or donate it. In the end it’s less to have around.
- Afterward, treat yourself to a cup of tea and a sweet treat.
