Spring Cleaning DON'Ts

It's Spring Cleaning Time

and there are definitely some things you should NOT do as part of your cleaning routine. Let's make the job easier, not harder!

DON'T make yourself sick. Literally. Do not mix bleach with toilet bowl cleaners, vinegar, or ammonia. These mixtures can result in toxic, potentially deadly fumes.

DON'T skimp on tools. Have plenty of microfiber cloths (while other cloths push dust around, microfiber grabs and removes dust) and change out when they get dirty. Have an extension wand to help you reach high ceilings and hanging light fixtures, and a vacuum with attachments that allows you to clean upholstery and tight spaces

DON'T work harder than you have to. Start from the top and work your way down. This is just the law of gravity - clean from the top of the ceiling to the floor. Knock all the dusty cobwebs from the corner, wash the curtains, clean the windows, dust the furniture, vacuum the furniture and finally vacuum the floor.
In the kitchen, circle your way around: Always begin on the right side of your stove, then move clockwise around the room. The stove is typically the dirtiest part of the kitchen, so ending with it keeps you from spreading dirt and grease. (First, soak drip pans and knobs in warm soapy water. By the time you've worked your way around, they'll be easier to clean.)

DON'T ruin your hardwood floors! We spoke with a client today who had her hardwood floors ruined by a cleaning person using a "hardwood floor finish." She is going to have to refinish the floors to remove this product, at a cost of $3000. There are many products that say "for hardwood floors" that you should NOT use!

Please read the labels carefully before you use a product on your hard surface floors. Words and phrases to watch out for are:

~Polish ~Finish ~Glo or Glow ~Fills in scratches
~Shine ~Protects from water damage ~Refresher, Rejuvenator
~Leaves a long-lasting brilliant shine ~Oil soap ~Wax

These words and phrases are telling you the product is more than a cleaner. There is some type of wax or dressing in the product which will almost certainly cause problems. Either it will not adhere (will peel or flake off) or there will be an unattractive residue on the surface of the floor. Please only use cleaners made by wood flooring manufacturers like Armstrong, Bona, or Mohawk

DON'T think that do-it-yourself carpet cleaning is the same as a professional cleaning. And if you have relatively new carpet, the manufacturer warranty requires hot water extraction cleaning by a professional at least every 18 months.

DON'T use the wrong products on your granite countertops. Do not use bleach, glass cleaner, degreaser, vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange cleaners. You can cause damage (etching) to the stone with these acid or alkali cleaners. Use neutral cleaners made specifically for granite and stone. Now is also a good time to see if water beads up on the stone. If it doesn't, that means it is time to seal the stone.

DON'T ruin your wood or vinyl floor when you move the refrigerator out to clean behind it. First lay down a sheet of plywood and roll the refrigerator onto the plywood.

DON'T forget your trash cans: Remove the bag and sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the can before adding about two inches of water. Allow the mixture to sit and then swish it with clean water. Wipe down the sides and rinse. Dry it with an old towel or let air dry.

DON'T forget the pantry. Spring is the perfect time to get rid of perishables and expired foods that have been in the pantry for too long. Check the less obvious stuff, like spices that have been around awhile or the cereal you haven't eaten since 2003. Even canned goods don't last forever.


BONUS ~ BONUS ~ BONUS ~ BONUS

The average income tax refund in the U.S. is $2900. We want to do our part to help you spend your refund wisely. Check out our current series on Facebook of home improvement projects you can complete for less than $2900. See pictures and prices of actual installations we have recently completed and get inspired!