Does Anyone Spring Clean Anymore?

Open Those Windows!

Running the furnace all winter leads to poor air circulation, colds and bacteria and what not is running through your home. Get those windows open and air out! The first sunny, airy day is ideal for this and if it's breezy out, that's even better. Old smells from cooking and odors need to be sent out into the open air. You'll find that you lived with all these odors and smells for so long that you become so accustomed to the odors, once you air out your home it will feel so fresh you won't be able to stop yourself from getting the whole house spring cleaned! Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but your end result will make you feel so much better. It's just getting there that I'm going to try to help you with.

if you want a window to a brighter world, get those windows cleaned next. You've gotten some of the old stink and odors out by putting fresh air in and now you want to be able to see out into that fresh sunny world.Readers from around the world swear by the following tips. The ones who swear by newspapers, say even if they use other products they always go back to the newspaper, which seems to give less streaking.

Here are some tips for clean, streak free windows:

• Mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle, then use a squeege for a streak free shine
• 1/3 amonia and 2/3 water in a bottle, spray and clean with towels or a squeege. (Most people claim that a squeege works 100% better than towels)
• Windex and newspapers
• A teaspoon of cornstarch in about 8 ozs of water in a spray bottle shake well.

 A fresh bouquet of lilacs, hyacinth, or even some fresh cut tulips put in a jar of water on your table just warrants spring freshness.Perhaps your finances won't allow you to get a flower shop bunch, but if you check at your local grocery store, nine chances out of ten they have some sales on cheaper cut flowers. I've found them for $1.99 at my local Weis Markets already. Lilac bushes are a favorite spring time flower and they make the whole house smell just delicious!

If fresh flowers aren't available for you, perhaps some scents to spray throughout your home like febreeze could help. Or, even lighting a delicious smelling candle with spring fresh scents. We keep our scent pot going a lot, especially in the spring evenings. I love the smell of fresh lavender so I burn melts in my electric burner. French vanilla is another favorite.

While your in the spring cleaning mode, you probably are cleaning sheets and pillows, curtains and other stuff that's been hanging around all winter collecting dust and grime. It's time to put all the winter stuff away and get out the fresh, springy stuff. You'll feel much better if you store away the heavy flannel sheets, thick comforters and even go through your closets full of winter clothes. 

De-clutter those closets too. It's time to put away all your heavy hitters like that thick winter robe hanging on your door that you hardly ever wore. Wash it and put it away, you won't need it until the fall. Boots, jackets, heavy socks can all get packed away until winter time. 

All in all you can get most of your spring cleaning done if you go in steps. Whether you grab the kids and spouse and do it all at once or do a little bit every day, you'll soon have a clean fresh house that smells wonderful. It's not that difficult to do spring cleaning, it just takes a bit of time, elbow grease and then you can be sitting on the patio or in the backyard enjoying those summer nights without worry.