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Contrast that with their neighbor Kimmy Gibbler: “We never clean at my house.
We move in, trash the place for five years, then move out.”
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The key is to make it fun for the whole family.
And of course, you don’thaveto clean every inch and take all of this on at once.
If spring and fall cleaning stresses you out, break it down into smaller, doable chunks.
“You could say, ‘January is my closet month, February is my light fixture month.’
Break it down across the calendar.”
The Must-Do List
Oven.Before you break out the barbecue, give your oven a once-over.
That’s because they get food and mildew buildup, which makes the seal less effective, explains Helms.
“The refrigerator becomes less efficient and wastes energy,” she says.
That’s especially bad if you have allergies.
“Pull the grates off and stick a vacuum down there,” says Helms.
We didn’t think so.
Take this opportunity to give your mattress a thorough cleaning.
To do that, take the mattress off the box-spring and run a handheld vacuum over both of them.
The Maybe-Do List
Ceilings.This is a really easy way to make your space feel brighter and airier.
Especially when there’s more natural sunlight, you want clean ceilings that reflect the light.
To reach that high, you don’t need any fancy tools.
Just tie a cloth around the brush of a broomstick and swipe it across the ceiling.
“Faucet heads tend to get hard water residue that can build up,” explains Helms.
Garage floor.During the messy winter months, your car tracks all kinds of salt and dirt into the garage.
“The easiest thing to do is to just sweep it out,” says Helms.
Windows.Let in the light by tackling grimy windows.
“I always make a run at take care of my windows in the spring,” says Helms.
“It makes such a big difference.”
“It makes the house feel new,” adds Helms.
The Bonus Points List
Bathroom cabinet.You know all those lipsticks you bought and didn’t like?
Or the toners and primers you swore you’d use but never did?
Time to clean out that overstuffed bathroom cabinet.
“If you didn’t use them the first time around, you probably won’t now.”
That’s especially true for bottles of medicine and sunblock lingering well past their due dates.
Would you really want to take expired cough syrup or apply expiredsunscreen?
MORE:Five Beauty Product Clean-Up To Do’s
Light fixtures.
“Light fixtures often get overlooked,” says Helms.
“We dust the outsides [of lamps], but don’t get up inside the light fixture.
Over time, that dust builds up.”
Washing machine.Yes, you do need to wash the washing machine.
Then you’ll be ready for another energy-saving year.
“The next step beyond cleaning is organizing,” says Helms.
“There’s a great sense of satisfaction when you’re complete.”
