Tips for Spring Cleaning: The Stay At Home Mom's Guide to Cleaning Made Easy - And Fast!

Let's face it, dirt happens. The kids track it all over the clean kitchen and the dog runs through the house right after you're done cleaning carpets. I think we can all agree - dirt sucks! Now that we have the 'dirt sucks' out of the way, we can get to the good stuff, Tips for Spring Cleaning! To start, the purpose of the tips for spring cleaning is to help you conquer the dust, dirt, and grime that has accumulated under the couch, under the fridge, and under the bed over the last year (or more!). Using these tips for spring cleaning does not have to wait until the spring. There are a few specific areas to pay attention to - along with a few secrets - like the miracle cleaning product that you already have in your house! Finally, nobody likes spending all day cleaning. Find out why 'speed cleaning' any room in your house works like a charm, and you get it done FAST! The first of the tips for spring cleaning: deep cleaning. (If you have a child cleaning, have them read this!!!) It isn't just sweeping, it is sweeping and mopping. It isn't just vacuuming, it is vacuuming and steam cleaning the carpets. From the top of the fridge to behind the toilet your house is going to be spotless! The next of the tips for spring cleaning, use a checklist as a starting point and add things particular to each room. A list of the entire house can be overwhelming - start with one room. Once you have your checklist complete for the first room, on to the next! A few areas of the home need of special attention. Keeping a clean kitchen is a task that should not be taken lightly. The burner drip pans can be extremely difficult to clean - consider replacing them, they're inexpensive and make the stove top sparkle! Toilets are always a burden - use Coke to scrub, weird but it works. Clean carpets are great, but keeping them smelling fresh isn't easy. Sprinkle baking soda (make sure it isn't chunky) lightly over your carpet - a bit more in heavy traffic areas - followed by a spray bottle of vinegar, bringing a foam to the carpet. Let your solution foam for a few minutes, until it stops bubbling. Finally, vacuum well and let dry - dry time will depend on amount of vinegar used. *** The best of tips for spring cleaning: What cleaning solution to use? Hint: you can use it with baking soda to clean carpets... That's right, vinegar! It's my secret weapon (and it should be yours too), it works great for most cleaning, and it is super cheap. Add water and you can clean almost anything with newspaper (windows/glass), a sponge (counter tops/surfaces), or a brush (carpet/rugs) - make sure to test first on carpet and rugs. Use disinfectant on food prep surfaces and other potentially contaminated areas. You can even clean your coffee maker! Prepare a 4 to 1 water to vinegar mixture and run it through as normal followed by plain water, then hand wash and rinse (DO NOT use soap), and voila, clean! Using vinegar as your main cleaning solution will save you time, money, and keep the environment safe - and we all like that! Now on to the frustration of cleaning all day long. Another one of the best tips for spring cleaning here - DON'T DO IT! Using your spring cleaning checklist as mentioned above will help, but the real answer is speed cleaning - it is okay to work fast! Get out your mp3 player (Simon & Garfunkel on your record player works too), turn it up, and work up a sweat - you might even want to put Richard Simmons on the tv... All joking aside, you can work faster with a plan, and it only takes a few minutes to put one together. Now write it down on the back of your spring cleaning checklist. A plan is useless unless it is written down! Armed with these tips for spring cleaning, your checklist, a plan, your 'secret weapon', and speed cleaning, you are ready to get your house clean FAST - one room at a time!