Spring Cleaning: It's a Dirty Job, but You've Got to Do It

So, you've finally got a few days off. Before you settle on the sofa with Lucky Charms and a Seinfeld marathon, consider a pending adult responsibility. Sounds daunting, doesn't it? You've finally mastered picking up after yourself, taking good care of the designer duds you've scrimped for, and generally keeping a hospitable place. Now it's time to advance to deep cleaning. Create a good foundation so all of the weekly chores become simple maintenance. While it's still chilly out, take this opportunity to stay indoors and be productive. It's not thrilling, but you will have some soulful satisfaction when the work is through. Before you step in the shower, or power up the X Box, start spring cleaning.

Put a few favorite CDs in the changer - nothing to mellow, maybe mid-nineties Seattle sound. Later, you can put in a funny movie that you've seen a million times. This keeps you entertained by dialogue from the next room, but not tempted to crash and watch it through. If your place is pretty large, you might want to break this project into two days: one for cleaning, one for organizing. Start with cleaning, though, lest you get too involved sorting the junk drawer. Use the carrot and the stick approach. "If I finish cleaning the bathroom, I can stop for a lunch break." Just don't lose momentum.

The dishwasher and washing machine can cycle constantly while you're working on other things. Load laundry which needs to air dry first, so you can keep it going. Strip the bed and was the duvet or comforter on delicate first. Don't forget to flip the mattress while you're in there.) In subsequent loads, wash kitchen and bath towels, throw rugs and blankets, and tablecloths and napkins. Keep the lint screen emptied! Load the dishwasher with all of those small accessories which usually get forgotten about: the glass microwave platter, sink dish rack, bathroom cups and containers, ice trays, cutting boards, votive holders, etc. This also gives you more clear counter space for cleaning. Empty the washer after everything else is done.

Have a system: dust first, floors last. Don't create more work for yourself. Dust the high places, especially ceiling fan blades and over the kitchen range, which will get gungy if you don't regularly. It may need a good scrub. Dust before using other cleansers, otherwise it's just a muddy mess. Use the vacuum attachment to clear out the crud from windowsills and to capture the dust on trim molding. Also vacuum the cracker crumbs from underneath sofa seat cushions. You may find a couple bucks in change.

Blankets, drapes, and area rugs may need to be taken to the dry cleaners. This is pretty spendy, but better than ruining a favorite piece. If it's a warm afternoon, beat rugs outside. With winter sludge, you'll probably want to replace the doormat.

In the bathroom, throw out old meds and toiletries. Girls, clean out those nasty makeup drawers! Scrub the toilet. (It should be a weekly thing, you know.) Re-grout shower if needed. Check shower ceiling for mold spotting; you may need to paint a resistant undercoat. Talk to landlord if it's more an issue of overhead leaks.

Clean windows well, and expect the landlord to clean outside in spring. Use a fingered duster between dirty blinds, or spend a few bucks to replace cracked or yellowed mini-blinds. Use an all-purpose spray cleanser for fingerprints around doorknobs. Rent a carpet cleaner if necessary. Wax wood floors. Let dead plants go.

Dust the nooks of electronics and use CD or DVD cleaners. Switch outdated framed photos for more flattering ones. Create keep, dump, and repair piles for movies, books, and clothing. No waffling! Take the "dump" pile to a re-sale shop.

In the kitchen, clean and purge the fridge. Even with a self-cleaning oven, scrub the racks and broiler tray. Make a wish list of cleaning supplies and organizational tools to maintain your space.

Now sit down and relax… your sitcom is still on.