topic Re: Spring Clean 2023 in Home

Spring Clean 2023

Twins Mom — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 15:31:44 GMT

As a deviation from my decluttering in basement I wanted to see the sunshine so I took the opportunity to wipe down my kitchen blinds as a first step into spring cleaning. It felt good to get laundry room ones too since they get the most grime on them. Nothing huge, but felt like an accomplishment.

Any special cleaning that you like to tackle this time of year?

Re: Spring Clean 2023

amyb — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 11:09:59 GMT

A week ago I cleaned my bedroom windows that had a "winter elements film" on them that was bugging me.

They are much better, but when sunlight hit them I noticed still some streakiness. This is due to I don't have a good window cleaner currently, but a "non-toxic" one I tried a long time ago. Alas, I'm going back to Windex...works much better.

That's it for spring cleaning for now...but I am in the midst right now (this is my break, lol) of switching over my upstairs closet from fall/winter to spring/summer. FEELS SO GOOD!!

And, of course, while doing this I've tried on and let go of some clothes I no longer want too. I'm in "that mood" where I can LET GO...so I'm making the most of it!

Happy almost Spring~🌷🌸🌱🧹

Re: Spring Clean 2023

Mz iMac — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 18:27:00 GMT

Re: Spring Clean 2023

gidgetgh — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 19:02:28 GMT

Add me to the nope column.

Re: Spring Clean 2023

KathyM23 — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 19:33:11 GMT

@amyb I am also in the process of switching over Winter/Spring Summer clothes also. One of my favorite things to do is the season changover and the large purge that goes with it. At the end of summer, I am starting to look forward to wearing my winter clothes and at the end of winter looking forward to wearing my spring, summer weights (no coats yay) and colors.

I do enjoy our Declutter 2023 thread. See you there and recommend other purger/declutters to checkout that thread.

As far as spring cleaning goes, there is no such thing at my house. Cleaning get takes care of as needed throughout the year. By DH and cleaning lady. I would like to enjoy participating but due to back issues do not. My cleaning consists of organizing and decluttering.

Re: Spring Clean 2023

Twins Mom — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 19:41:41 GMT

@KathyM23

Organizing and decluttering greatly help with cleaning process. 🙂

Re: Spring Clean 2023

AuntG — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 03:16:50 GMT

Will start in March. One room a day. After Easter I'll shampoo the carpeting.

Re: Spring Clean 2023

Judaline — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 14:09:45 GMT

I just started-doing the soffits in the kitchen (they don't get much action-dusty), the top of my armoire that has a few things on top, and the tops of my bookcases. All things I neglect because I hate to do them. Next I'll tackle the baseboards.

@AuntG I used to do one room a day for my Spring cleaning. The heck with that. I clean well enough every two weeks. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Re: Spring Clean 2023

FastDogWalker2 — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 18:39:16 GMT

@Judaline - that is my theory too!

Re: Spring Clean 2023

Mominohio — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 23:14:49 GMT

I 'spring' clean this time every year, and I am 'one of those people' who could not live in my home if I didn't do it annually.

All walls washed, all curtains down, washed, starched and ironed (windows washed in and out), all beds stripped to the mattresses, all upholstered furniture steam cleaned, all carpets steam cleaned (although now that part often takes place more in the summer time). Every light fixture and ceiling fan dismantled and cleaned, all doors and baseboards washed, all things that sit about, be it a lamp or a knick knack etc washed and cleaned.....Not a surface left unwashed!

Some rooms are dirtier than others. And since we are empty nesters, some rooms get a more quick clean (we have one bedroom that no one ever goes into or uses, so I'm relaxing the tear down in there to every other year for now).

I start late January by going through every cupboard, closet and drawer and purging first, then move on to the real cleaning.

I will say I'm getting slower and slower at it. But it needs done, it's a very satisfying feeling when it is all done. Takes me about a month or so from beginning to end these days. I'm amazed that I used to get it done in about a week back in the day when my body still worked (LOL).

We have way too much outdoor work come spring, summer and fall, so I take advantage of the Ohio winter to get everything inside up to par.

Re: Spring Clean 2023

Twins Mom — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 00:05:51 GMT

@Mominohio

How do you wash your walls?

You really tackle this time of year! I agree, it is a good feeling to get done.

Re: Spring Clean 2023

ninjawife — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 14:08:04 GMT

I have a cleaning crew come in every other week so I don't do much of my own cleaning. DH and I are tacking the shower in the main bathroom. The cleaning crew has been removing a build up of soap scum that is creating mildew. Our previous crew who we let go in September wasn't maintaining the shower very well. DH and I are helping the current crew to get it up to par by tackling some it ourselves.

When the weather gets warmer DH will powerwash the deck and re-stain it. He may also wash the exterior windows. This depends on when we have the stucco removed from our exterior and replaced with siding. All the homes were stuccoed in our neighborhood when it was bulit 20+ years ago but it was not done correctly. Several home have had to replace it with siding as it is falling off their houses and letting water in. Ours is starting to fail in the back of the house.

Re: Spring Clean 2023

Snoopp — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 23:09:24 GMT

I started steaming carpets and rugs. I have a pretty good steamer and am working my way through the house, slowly. It’s more manageable for me to take it slowly.

Re: Spring Clean 2023

RedTop — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 18:04:58 GMT

@Twins Mom

My mother washed walls by hand with a rag and on a ladder. I wash my walls using a sponge mop and a bucket of water with Mr Clean; get as much water out as possible as you do not want water running down the wall which will leave visible marks.

Re: Spring Clean 2023

wilma — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 18:46:44 GMT

No major cleaning planned here for most rooms in my house. I keep living spaces clean all year. I usually give the garage and unfinished side of the basement a good spring cleaning and declutter both spaces. I have windows that tilt inside so I can clean those easily.

Re: Spring Clean 2023

Nataliesgramma — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 21:13:50 GMT

I am organizing and decuttering...

I will wash walls and steam the carpets when I can open the windows..

It takes me longer than it used to....but it feels so good when I'm done...

Re: Spring Clean 2023

AuntG — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:19:45 GMT

Love your process @Mominohio. We always get up on a ladder to do light fixtures. Taking the bathroom exhaust fan apart really opened my eyes, and not in a good way! So far, we've deep cleaned the upstairs bathroom, guest room and den. Yes, there is dirt but with just two of us, nothing too disgusting.

Bravo @RedTop for washing walls. I confess to only dusting ours with a long handled duster.

Re: Spring Clean 2023

Mominohio — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 21:53:36 GMT

@Twins Mom wrote:
@Mominohio

How do you wash your walls?
You really tackle this time of year! I agree, it is a good feeling to get done.

@Twins Mom

I think when a lot of people hear "washing walls" they picture the high school football team car wash in the grocery store parking lot, suds and water flying everywhere! lol

I personally used Murphy's Oil Soap, or just plain water on mine.

I carry a bucket of water with me, use an old wash cloth or a microfiber towel, rinse it out in the bucket often and wring it out till as dry as I can get it. Most of my walls just need a wipe off, a little more work on some doors and baseboards. There isn't really any heavy scrubbing needed or excess elbow grease needed as we are empty nesters now.

I only paint with semi gloss on walls doors and baseboards, so they clean very easily. I don't have kiddos with finger prints, misdirected crayon art work etc. I don't fry foods usually so I don't get the greasy build up I remember in kitchens from my childhood.

Re: Spring Clean 2023

Mominohio — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 21:58:03 GMT

@wilma wrote:
No major cleaning planned here for most rooms in my house. I keep living spaces clean all year. I usually give the garage and unfinished side of the basement a good spring cleaning and declutter both spaces. I have windows that tilt inside so I can clean those easily.

@wilma

Aren't those tilt in windows a life saver?

I waited until I was in my mid to late 50's before I could get new tilt in windows installed. What a game changer! I can wash my windows any time I want, all by myself now. I used to have to wait for my husband to get on a ladder and help by doing the outsides as I removed the storms and moved them up and down. He was never very enthusiastic about helping (and I certainly don't blame him!!!!) so our second story windows only ever got done once a year, which is so not enough.

I love my tilt in windows!!!

Re: Spring Clean 2023

Twins Mom — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 01:32:36 GMT

Also love those til-in windows. Makes life so much easier.