Submitted by Merry Maids of Prince WIlliam, Culpeper and Fauquier Counties
Some people look forward to spring training. At Merry Maids of Prince William, Culpeper and Fauquier Counties, we are all about spring cleaning!
And we’re not the only ones. According to a 2013 survey, nearly 72% of adults participate in some form of annual spring cleaning.
Here are the top five things people choose to give some special spring attention to and how best to clean them.
- Windows: Most people make the mistake of too much elbow grease. All that rubbing creates a static charge on the glass which, in fact, attracts more dirt and dust once the window is dry. Instead, soap the window with a handheld brush and some warm water and dishwashing liquid, then use a squeegee in a reverse S pattern, starting at the top left if you are right-handed (top right for southpaws) and take care to dry off any drips with a chamois or soft cloth as you go. If you’re cleaning a multi-pane window, cut the squeegee down to size.
- Blinds and curtains: The vacuum cleaner attachment is your friend here. Use it to freshen up curtains and also do a first sweep of each individual slat on blinds. Next, go over each slat with a sudsy microfiber cloth, then dry with a soft cloth. Drying is key because wet blinds attract dust and particles much more quickly.
- Clothing, closets and drawers: Everyone knows the rule about the “getting rid of anything you haven’t worn in one year,” but there’s more to having a well-organized closet than that. Make a small investment in a cohesive hanger collection (we recommend the ultra-slim velvet-covered ones because they don’t take up much room and are gentle on your clothing), and organize clothes by color and type. Being able to easily see and access every single piece in your wardrobe is the only way you will be able to keep it all tidy.
- Carpets and rugs: It’s actually recommended that you get your carpets professionally cleaned every 12-18 months to remove dirt and grime. For spot cleaning, be sure to keep the soap mild and minimal. A big sudsy mess of soap will wind up getting trapped in the fibers of your rug and actually attract more gunk.
- Ceiling fans: Turn off the fan and unscrew the light fixtures if there are any. Soak the fixtures in a sudsy solution of warm water and liquid dish soap. Open the little door on the fan’s motor compartment and use your vacuum’s hose attachment to suck dirt from the motor compartment (a can of compressed air works for this, too), then close the door. Wipe the motor compartment and both sides of each blade with a feather duster, then go over each piece again with a damp microfiber cloth. Wipe any residual dirt off the fixtures and thoroughly dry them before returning to their sockets. While you’re cleaning the fan, look around the tops of the walls and the ceilings for cobwebs that need clearing.
What the study didn’t say is what people would rather be doing if they didn’t have to spend their time spring cleaning. For more information, please contact us at 703.260.1660 in Woodbridge or 540.369.3931 in Warrenton, visit our website or Like us on Facebook.
