Spring Into Action

Spring-Cleaning Tips for the Home

• As spring cleaning begins, try not to do more than one task at a time. This enables you to work more efficiently and with fewer distractions. When items are found that belong in an area other than the one being cleaned, place them in a basket and take the time later to return each item to its proper place. This is a chore all by it itself!

• To really clean garbage cans, spray them with a hose and dump out the water. Next, spray the inside with a disinfectant spray, scrub with a handled brush and rinse. Leave them upside down to dry.

• To clean spots on upholstery, apply shaving cream with a sponge to the stained area, let it dry and then remove with another damp sponge.

• Use a dry sponge to clean delicate furniture fabrics--take care to never get this sponge wet.

• To revive drab drapes, take them down, remove hooks and run them through an air-fluff cycle in the dryer with a damp towel (to attract the dust) for 15 minutes. Rehang immediately.

• As children get ready for spring sports, contain their sports equipment in one canvas or nylon bag (figure C). Keep the various equipment bags in one area of the home or garage--ready to be grabbed for the next game.

• Take the time to de-clutter the closet. Any heavy, warm-weather clothing or items not worn in the past few months may be ready to go into the donation box. Keep that box handy in the closet until it fills. Maximize closet space by rotating out or moving to the back and sides the heavier-weight clothing. Move forward the items to wear over the next few months.

• Always label any items stored out of season, so they can be easily retrieved when needed.

• By springtime a lot of art and schoolwork from children has probably accumulated. Combine it into one box and sort through it with your children, helping them choose which ones are the best.

• To store all the information related to the family's summer activities, use an accordion file with labeled sections for summer camps, family vacations, recreation programs and classes.

• A great way to spend time with the family in the springtime is to build a kite together, and it's easier than it appears (figure D). Take two wooden dowels (one 30 inches and the other 24 inches), form a cross and tie them together with some string. Cut notches into the ends of each dowel and run a string around the outside of the dowels, through the notches, to form the frame for the kite. Then simply glue or tape on a covering, which can be cloth, cellophane or even a garbage bag, cut to the size of the frame. Add a tail and a guide string (tie to crosspieces) to complete the project.

• Scavenger hunts are always a fun way to spend time with children. On a Saturday write a list of things to find and divide into teams. The first team to find all of the items wins. The winning team gets to pick a rental movie or a restaurant to eat dinner.

• To rid a deck of tree sap, try rubbing affected spots with mineral spirits and an old rag. Then wash the area with an all-purpose cleaner.

• To keep flies and bees at bay, hang a piece of raw bacon away from the picnic area. The flies and bees will be more attracted to the bacon than the goodies at the picnic. Flies are repelled by the smell of basil, so setting a pot of basil close to the table also gets rid of the pests. Crumbling some of the basil leaves releases more fragrance.

• Add a delicious flavor to barbecue by sprinkling the coals with fresh herbs that have been soaked in water first.

• Worried about undercooked chicken while barbecuing? One easy trick is to microwave the chicken for just a few minutes after removing from the grill because the microwave cooks the juicy areas near the bone first.

• Spray plastic chairs with a solution of half liquid bleach and half water, wait five minutes, then wipe dry. This takes care of any mildew problems.

• Instead of treating an entire piece of wooden outdoor furniture with a preservative, just brush the product from the bottoms of the feet up about three inches on the legs. This will keep the furniture from absorbing water from the ground.

• The cushions for the furniture will also need to be cleaned before people sit on them. Even if they have been covered all winter, they will be filled with dust and will need freshening. A great way to do this is to take them to a do-it-yourself car wash and spray them with the pressure washer.

• Outdoor furniture may have acquired a few rust spots as it sat in the garage all winter. To fix this problem, rub the rusted areas with turpentine to make the furniture look as good as new. After removing the rust, apply liquid car wax to metal outdoor furniture. This will protect the furniture from rusting over the season. It is a good idea to give it another coat before putting it away for the winter.

Sources:

Today at Home, Episodes 152 and 473

TIPical Mary Ellen, Episodes 166 and 167