Next on the agenda for many of us will be spring cleaning. It will be time to open the windows, ventilate the house, shake the carpets and do those tasks that we do once a year so that our houses are fresh and clean.

I have to admit that they didn’t teach me how to clean at home. My grandmother visited me several times a year, and she spent a lot of time cleaning our house. I never really understood it until I got older and realized the house needed it.

My mother was an artist and cleaning was not her forte. When one of my older sisters got married, my grandmother came to visit her and taught her how to clean the house.

I remember how surprised my sister was when my grandmother climbed a ladder to clean the top of the molding above the doors. She asked him why the hell would he climb and clean a place that no one could see.

My grandmother’s response was “If you don’t do it, who will?”

I think that about sums up spring cleaning. If you get sick, someone can come and bring you food, but no one, but no one, will take out the fridge, clean behind it, and vacuum the coils, except you.

If you don’t take the sofa cushions outside and dust them, they will turn into puffs of dust. When you sit on them, the dust will rise like steam. It is both embarrassing and unhealthy.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s a lot of work, but it doesn’t involve a lot of money. You can make all your own cleaning solutions with just a few ingredients.

Some people use nothing more than ammonia. You can use it to clean walls, windows, floors, sinks, and tiles. You can use vinegar to remove mold, dirt, mildew, and grease. You can use bleach to sterilize, but NEVER mix it with ammonia, or toxic fumes will be produced.

A checklist is a helpful item for your spring cleaning. Cleaning has never been my forte either, but this year I’m determined to leave my house spotlessly clean.

We are all limited in the amount of time and energy we have. I am compiling a list of things to do. If you run out of steam, just pull over and pick it up another time.

start at the top

Start at the ceiling by getting rid of the cobwebs. Attach a cardboard tube to the vacuum hose to reach if necessary, or use a long stick with a piece of felt wrapped around it. Be sure to look at the top of the cabinets. Roof vents also collect a lot of dust. You may have to remove them to get it all.

Moldings and Carpentry

Dust molding, even above the doors. If you have wood-wrapped windows, get the tops of those trims as well. You’ll also find dust on top of picture frames, ceiling fan blades, and on top of cabinets.

If the wood trim and interior wood doors are in disrepair in your home, you can often restore them by using a product like Liquid Gold. If you have wooden casings under your windows, it’s a good idea to wax them once a year to prevent water damage. Use a paste wax.

Walls and Windows

Wash your walls. Start at the bottom to avoid streaks.

Many people do not have the energy to scrub all their walls. If you do, great. If not, just wipe them down where they need it most, which will likely be your kids’ bedrooms and the areas around light switches and doorknobs.

For crayon marks, try heating the crayon marks with a hair dryer to soften the marks before trying to remove them.

Clean the windows. Your windows will stay cleaner if you also clean the screens. You can take them apart and spray them with the garden hose, or you can dust them with a brush.

Clean your skylights.

kitchens

Clean and disinfect cabinets. If you want to change the role of the shelf, think about using wallpaper. Buy one roll and you’ll have enough to do your entire kitchen at one cheap price. Be sure and buy the pre-glued kind. After soaking in the water to activate the paste, let it sit for the required time before using. Many people rush and forget that you need to let the paper sit for a few minutes for the glue to activate.

Clean out the fridge. Take out the drawers and clean each part. Take it out and clean up behind it. Clean the exterior and vacuum the coils.

Wipe down small appliances, including the can opener, which often collects germs.

Clean the stove, oven, and microwave. Replace burner pads if necessary. Place a pan of ammonia in the oven overnight to loosen any grime, then wipe clean in the morning. Heat up some ammonia in the microwave to clean and refresh.

To freshen the drain, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda and then 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain. Wait 5 minutes and then rinse with hot water.

Bathrooms

Clean the caulk. If it is dry and brittle, replace it. Water is the biggest enemy in your home. It’s amazing how much damage it can do, and how far it can go, if left unchecked. Make sure that the water does not escape anywhere.

If your bathroom has an odor that you can’t get rid of, there’s probably fluid under the toilet or on the floor. You may be able to get rid of the smell by flushing the toilet and mopping the floor. If it’s bad, it won’t get rid of the smell until you remove the floor and replace it. You may also need to replace part of the subfloor if the water has reached it and it is damaged.

Clean or replace shower curtain. The shower curtain can be washed in the washing machine with a little bleach. Put it in the sun to dry.

Clean under cabinets.

Freshens drains just like cooking.

laundry

Check washer for scum buildup and remove. Run a wash cycle with bleach and rinse with vinegar.

Check the dryer exhaust to make sure there is no lint buildup.

Clean and refresh sinks and drains.

Table linen and upholstery

Shake out bedding and rugs, or broom them, and hang them in the sun to cool.

Take the sofa cushions outside and beat them with a broom to remove the dust.

Vacuum or clean the curtains.

Clean upholstery or spot clean. To remove stains, try shaving cream or hairspray.

Floors

Sweep floors, mop and vacuum. When vacuuming, get under the bed and move furniture to reach areas that would otherwise be neglected.

You can freshen up your carpet by sprinkling it with a mixture of baking soda and cornstarch. Use approximately 1 cup per room. Leave to act for 30 minutes and then vacuum.

Remove floor vents and vacuum or pick up debris that has fallen into them.

Several

Clean blinds and dust pleated shades with a soft brush. If the blinds are really dirty, put them in the tub to soak, or take them outside and spread them out on the grass and wipe them down, remembering to turn the handle and do it on both sides.

Clean and sterilize trash cans.

Clean phones, computer keyboards, and doorknobs.

Dust silk flowers by shaking them in a bag of salt, or buy one of the commercial spray cleaners.

Take fresh plants outside and hose off dust and trim any dead leaves.

Dust the bulbs carefully.

To wax your furniture, you can make your own polish by mixing 3 parts olive oil with 1 part vinegar or lemon juice.

Check the chimney for cretonne buildup, or have it professionally cleaned.

Turn mattresses over and change the batteries in your smoke detectors if you don’t have other hours for these tasks.

I hope many of you find this list helpful in making spring cleaning easier and cheaper.