Fall Cleaning 2013
Did you know fall starts next week? It just snuck of up on us, too. But it’s not too late to get your fall cleaning chores in order. We’ve got some great tips for you, courtesy of Laura Dellutri, Home and Lifestyle Expert.
Rethink Your Old School Methods
- Old school: Have you been using newspaper and paper towels to clean your windows? It’s time to change your method. They do nothing but lead to streaky smears. New school: The best tool for you to use today is a squeegee. It’s the easiest thing to use and you’ll have a crystal clear because there won’t be any debris left over from the paper towel or ink transfer from the newspaper.
- Old school: Are you using the same products to clean as your mother and grandmother? New school: You can solve a lot of the same cleaning issues by using… guess what? Hydrogen peroxide! That’s right. This super-affordable, readily available solution is great for killing mold in your kitchen or bathroom. Just spray the hydrogen peroxide on the surface you are cleaning, leave it for 3-5 minutes and wipe away with warm water and a cleaning towel. Hydrogen peroxide can be used for a variety of other cleaning tasks, too. It even works in the laundry as a bleach alternative. Just add it as you would bleach to your next load.
Work Smarter, Not Harder!
- One way to “work smarter, not harder” is to work the room you are cleaning in a circle. Start from the middle and work your way out. For instance, in a living room, start with your coffee table, then work around to your side tables, sofa, pictures and knick-knacks. And remember to vacuum BEFORE you dust! The dust that the vacuum kicks up will land on your surfaces and you can dust them away as your last step.
Here are some cleaning tips:
- Use vinegar for glass cleaning, especially for those glasses on display in your china cabinet. You won’t believe your eyes!
- Throw away those scouring pads when cleaning your microwave. Instead, fill a two-cup glass measuring cup to the top with water. Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes until boiling. Carefully remove the cup, then wipe surfaces clean. The resulting steam makes hard-baked foods come off easily.
- Once you clean your refrigerator, dry shelves and line them with washable liners (you can find these at Bed, Bath Beyond). No more jar rings and spills to clean! Then, next time you clean the fridge you can just throw the liners in your dishwasher and wipe down the shelves with baking soda and water.
Remember to reward yourself when you’re done. With these great cleaning tips and tricks, and Ragtime Cleaning's professional help, you’ll be relaxing with your favorite book in no time!
