Spring Cleaning 101

Here it is!!! My Spring Cleaning 101.

All the how-tos put together in one place and

grouped by room for you to easily access.

1. I always start with The kitchen- it is the heart of the home.
Here's how to Spring Clean the Kitchen

2. Then it's on to the next dirtiest room- The Bathroom.
Here's how to Spring Clean the Bathroom

3. Then it's onto the Linen Closet.
Here's how to Spring Clean the Linen Closet

4. Next it in onto The Bedrooms.
Here's how to Spring Clean the Bedroom Closets
How to Clean Curtains
Spring Clean the Bedrooms
How to Dust
How to Clean Your Pillows

5. Now we move on to cleaning the Windows.
Here's how to clean your windows from inside

6. Then we move to the Living Room and/or Den.
Here's how to Clean the Living Room and Den

7. Now we clean The Dining Room
Here's how to clean that dining room

8. Now we attack The Laundry Room and or Mud Room.
How to Clean your Dyson Vacuum
How to Clean Your Washing Machine
How to Clean your Dryer
Enjoy having a clean house!!

How to Clean your Dryer

OK so we just cleaned our washing machine. Now it is on to the other important machine in our laundry room. The dryer.
A few weeks back I made a post about how to get the musty smell out of your towels because I was having a smell issue with my dryer that I thought was the towels. Fast forward to last week and I was hid with a rancid smell when I walked into my laundry room. Now I had not done laundry in a few days and it had not smelt when I had removed my last load, so what was the problem?

1. First I cleaned the inside with my trusty vinegar. Now if you don't have a smell, you should still do this every so often to clean the machine. Simply spray the inside and wipe dry.

2. Then I emptied the lint tray. Here is where I noticed the smell getting stronger. So I unscrewed the trap and vacuumed it out well. Also a good idea to do twice a year even if there is no smell. Lint can collect over time and cause the machine to catch fire so maintenance is key.

3. Then I unscrewed the tubing at the back of the machine that vents out the wall to outside. BINGO! The smell was very bad there. We had found the source of the smell!!! So we ended up replacing that tubing as it reeked. Now we had some major storms pass through the week before and we are not sure if water came inside the vent and went down the tubing from outside or if the lint collected in the tubing and got moldy. You don't need to replace your tubing if there is no smell, but occasional vacuuming of the tubing will help with the lint from backing up.

 

Happy Laundering!!

How to Clean Your Washing Machine

OK, say what? Clean my washing machine? But... isn't that what it does? Isn't a washing machine's whole purpose to clean things? Well.... yes and no. Yes it cleans our clothes, but to keep it smelling fresh and doing its job properly and prolong its life- you really should clean it periodically.

Now depending on whether you have a top loader (which I have) or a front loader will depend on HOW OFTEN you need to do this. Front loaders can get moldy around the door and in all the rubber seals around the doors (I know, I had a front loader that I replaced because of mold- YUCK). Front loaders should be checked and washed more regularly and also try to leave the doors open (if you can) or at least dry the rubber seals with a towel or paper towel when you are done using the machine.

Now first step is to open the washing machine, spray the inside with your favorite cleaner. Vinegar works fine for this, but my favorite cleaner to use is my Organic Basic H just spray well and scrub. Then pour 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into the washing machine and run a load on HOT on the longest setting. If you do this regularly say like 2-4 times a year you should only have to just run it, if this is your first time washing your washing machine or you have not done this in a while I suggest let it fill up and then let it sit for an hour before letting it finish the cycle. Once done wipe the inside down again to make sure you get any grime off and happy laundering!


I use the Shaklee Get Clean Laundry Line and it helps keep my washing machine cleaner longer.
Anyone who’s struggled with sudsy buildup in their high-efficiency, energy- and water-saving washer will love the fresh thinking found in the New Fresh Laundry Concentrate HE Compatible formula. Its suds-controlling formula is kind on your washer. Its triple-concentrated formula saves money, water, energy, and space in your laundry room. Its formula is kind on your skin. Plus it’s a two-in-one cleaner: an incomparable pre-spotter and laundry cleaner.

When used as a stain remover, 46% more effective than OxiClean® Versatile Stain Remover and 33% better than Resolve® Max Laundry Stain Remover, and when used as a liquid laundry concentrate comparable to Method® 8X Laundry Detergent, all® small & mighty® free clear, Tide® Free & Gentle, and Whole Foods 2X Concentrated Laundry Detergent.*

• HE Compatible Formula!
• Also ideal for use in standard washers
• Available in Regular Scent or Fragrance Free
• Superconcentrated – one small bottle cleans 32 medium loads, the same number as a 100 ounce bottle of conventional liquid laundry detergent.
• Super performance in a small package – enzyme-activated natural cleaners deliver a powerful clean that rivals leading brands.
• Two-in-1 product.
• Small bottle is easy to carry, pour, and store – small size fits on your shelf.
• Extra natural enzyme power boosters for color-safe whitening.
• Formulated to help prevent dyes in colored clothes from transferring from one garment to another during wash.

Clean Credentials

• Biodegradable Surfactants
• Concentrated
• Hypoallergenic
• No phosphates
• No chlorine

How to Clean Your Dyson

Hi All! Just Cleaning out my laundry room and got my vacuum particularly dirty (post on spring cleaning laundry room coming soon) and had to clean it before I would even think of using in on the rest of my house, so I thought I would share how I clean my Dyson.

First of all, let me say, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new Dyson. I had one previously but after having allergies and asthma diagnosis in the house I wanted to get a HEPA filter vacuum. The old Dysons are not HEPA (and that is the ONLY reason I decided to get a new one- old was was still working great after 5+ years), but they have new ones that are. Here is my Dyson.

As you can see from the picture above...pretty yucky! First I emptied the canister (outside) then I took  the filters out (there are two)and rinsed them in the sink.

Next I took all the attachments and canister and rinsed them out in the sink with warm water. Then I sprayed those with my favorite new cleaning product, by trusty Organic Basic H and rinsed them again.

Yuck!! See all that gunk!

 

 

Then I cleaned the vacuum itself by spraying with my Basic H and wiping down with a cloth.

 

 

 

Just in case you aren't grossed out enough.. here's more yucky pics.

 

I turned the vacuum upside down and attacked all the hair that was caught up in the brushes.

 





I let all the parts dry for like 48 hours and then I put in back together. All ready to do some more cleaning!!!!

Spring Clean: The Dining Room

Moving onto the Dining Room. OK I will be honest- this is my least favorite room to clean! Mainly because it it rarely used and therefore when I do clean it- it takes a long time!!!! So I try to do this cleaning twice a year and I will time it to go along with a major holiday like Thanksgiving and Easter. Because if you are hosting that holiday, let's face it...it needs to be done! So as you can tell, since I am cleaning in June, that I did not host Easter this year! LOL!
-First start by dusting from the top to bottom; ceiling, light fixtures, top of cabinets and/or hutches, walls and pictures.
-Empty out hutches and/or cabinets- take everything out and put on the table.
-What can go in the dishwasher gets put in and run through- this may take several loads as I don't overload it when I have expensive china in it. Speaking of china that is my pattern Charleston by Lenox (it's retired)
-Then hand wash the rest of the items (like glass and crystal).
-While this stuff is being washed/dried clean out cabinets/hutches with a damp rag.
-Reorganize what you have and decide if you need ALL those bowls, servers, etc.
-Make sure to clean your silverware.
-Dry everything well before putting it back in.
-Now that you can see your table top again clean it and throw any tablecloths and cloth napkins in the wash (or hand wash any delicate lace you have).
-If you are not hosting a holiday all linens can be stored, if you are hosting get out your iron and board and gets those linens ironed.
-Give the chairs a good dusting along with any other knick knacks on display.
-Give a good vacuum.

Now enjoy your clean dining room for like 5 minutes before you have to start cooking!