Deep Cleaning: Don't Miss a Single Step!

We're all up to our elbows in cleanser as we're working on spring-cleaning the house in preparation for the warm weather that's fast approaching. Cleaning the house from top to bottom is as necessary as it is satisfying, but don't overlook a few areas that need attention. By adding these easily forgotten tasks to your spring-cleaning checklist, you'll certainly cover all the bases.

Spring-cleaning almost always involves deep cleaning in the kitchen. It's the time of year that we clean the fridge, freezer and oven from top to bottom, but don't forget the underside of these common household appliances. Dust, crumbs and stray Cheerios, along with a great deal of dust, often collects underneath causing appliances to run less efficiently. By moving the appliances out, you can easily remove any dust and grime from under them. Don't forget to vacuum the coils behind your refrigerator!

Another set of appliances we often overlook is the washing machine and clothes dryer. Most newer model washing machines have a "Self-Clean" cycle, but if yours doesn't, you can simply run a regular wash cycle without clothes and add a cupful of vinegar OR bleach and let the cycle run through as normal. To clean your dryer, remove any lint from the trap, rinse and thoroughly dry the filter. Then vacuum behind the machine, making sure to get into the vent areas to remove any lint of dust that's caught there. Both machines will operate better after a nice, deep cleaning.

Edges are another often overlooked area when spring-cleaning because we often focus more on what people see when they look around our home. Be sure to take an extra minute to dust the tops of frames, prints and other wall decorations. Also, be sure to clean the edges of your doorways and doors with a damp cloth to loosen any dirt that's accumulated along there.

Be sure to clean your trashcans as well. The bottoms can often collect old food, spills and dirt and it's important to soak them (either outside or in the bathtub) with bleach OR vinegar. Wipe the sides down with a damp cloth and an all-purpose cleaner. To keep trashcans smelling fresh, simply add a dash of baking soda to the can before replacing the trash bag each time.

We always wipe the inside surfaces of our cabinets when we spring clean, but be sure not to overlook the tops and sides on the inside either, this is where dust and cobwebs can develop. Another area to remember is to the silverware tray. It'll always be a mystery to me that clean silverware can make the tray dirty but nonetheless, it still needs attention every now and then and spring-cleaning is the perfect time to tackle that task!

Lastly, it's important to remember to change the batteries in your smoke alarms when you spring clean. Another good idea is to replace all of the batteries in your flashlights to prepare for those raging summer thunderstorms that are headed our way!