It's Spring! Time to Clean Again!

It's spring again, and now we can finally open our windows and let the fresh air into our homes. Its time to pack away our heavy blankets, quilts and comforters, and tall those winter coats and sweaters. Many of us have grimy windows from the wintry weather. These can be daunting tasks, but with a little teamwork it can be done quickly and efficiently. There are many things we can do to freshen our homes more easily, and to streamline all of the packing and unpacking of seasonal clothing and bedding.

Many of us are already packing away our winter clothing and all those blankets and quilts. But how do we keep them from getting musty while packed away until winter? There is a simple method that will keep them fresh smelling until they are unpacked for the winter. This works especially well for heavy blankets, quilts and comforters that really should not be washed in a conventional washing machine.

Take a regular bath towel, and dip it into a solution of your favorite fabric softener. Wring it out, and put it into your dryer. Set the dryer to low heat, on the gentle or permanent press cycle. Add your blankets or coats, and let them tumble in the dryer until the towel is dry. You an usually add three to four coats, five to six sweaters, or two to three blankets, depending on the size and bulkiness of the materials, and the capacity of your dryer. While the items are still warm, pack them into a plastic garment bag, or a lawn and garden size bag will do, and seal it. Pack bag and all into a box, label the box for with its contents, and you are ready to move it to your storage area.

For those grimy windows, there is a simple trick as well. Fill your mop bucket with warm water and windshield washer fluid. Use a sponge mop to scour each window thoroughly, then hose down with the water hose. This is an excellent family project. Split the job into two teams, scourers and sprayers, and the job should be finished in one weekend afternoon,

Maybe the hardest job is freshening your home after being closed up all winter. An easy way to clear out all the mustiness is to pull down your drapes or curtains, and follow the same procedure as blankets and winter garments. Of course, this method is not suitable for all drapes, but will work for most. All the dust and mustiness will end up on the towel, and your home will be much fresher. This works really well if you allow the windows to stay open and let the wonderful spring breeze circulate throughout your home.

One last thing you can do to freshen and brighten your home after the long winter is to place potted bedding plants throughout your home. Buy a few different types and place them in every room of your house. Even those that you plan to plant in your yard can brighten your home for a few days while you prepare your beds for their placement. It also may be a good idea to purchase some indoor flowers and plants, so you can enjoy them year round. Not only will your home have a fresh new look, but the air will be naturally freshened while the plants produce new oxygen.

These few tips can do a lot to make your spring cleaning chores easier and maybe even a little bit of fun.