Spring Cleaning 101

Brought to you by  

The days are getting longer and the air is getting warmer, but with these perks comes a friendly reminder: The season of spring-cleaning is upon us. If clutter has been piling up since last spring, give your house a fresh start by getting back to basics. It helps to divide tasks by those you can accomplish alone and projects for the whole family.

Tasks to Tackle on Your Own:

• Have your cleaning supplies on hand ahead of time, so you're not scrambling at the last minute to get to the store.
• If your refrigerator spring-cleaning consists strictly of wiping down the inside, it's time to give the summit a good scrub — and while you're at it, give underneath the fridge a cleaning as well.
• Sort clutter into three piles: Keep, trash and donate. Save the essential items and throw away anything you haven’t used in the past year.
• Take your unwanted but usable items to the Salvation Army® or another local donation center. You can clean up your surroundings and do something good for your community at the same time.
• In every top-floor room, check the seam where the walls and ceiling meet for signs of water damage caused by snow melting in your gutters (your homeowner's insurance may cover the cost of those repairs).
• Inspect under sinks for leaky pipes and fixtures. Repair them immediately, and thoroughly clean and dry any areas that have gotten wet.
• Check for any musty odors, as they usually signal a moisture problem. You may have leaking pipes or too much humidity built up in your house. It's generally recommended that humidity levels in your home stay in the range of 35 to 40 percent.

How to Get the Whole Family Involved:

• Go from room to room, assigning job tasks for each family member.
• Flipping and rotating the mattress can improve your sleep — and extend the life of your mattress.
• Divide your family into teams and turn the day into a friendly competition. Offer prizes for the team that finishes its room the fastest — and most efficiently, of course.
• Don't forget to have all the essentials present: music, munchies and motivation! Play upbeat tunes to keep your team members pumped and ready to work.

By taking care of tough jobs on your own and working toward a common goal with your family, you're likely to accomplish more work in less time. Not only will you reach your spring-cleaning milestone, but you might just have fun doing it.

Visit www.pgeverydaysolutions.com for more information.