Spring Cleaning

Perhaps you have heard the well known idiom, “Cleanliness is next to godliness”. Many people quote it as a verse from the Bible, but it actually is nowhere to be found in God’s word. Even so, cleanliness is still very important to us mothers and maidens in training.

A well-kept and orderly home is essential year round, but spring is the perfect season to go a little deeper and tend to matters that have been put off during the busyness of the rest of the year. A clean home is extremely helpful in maximizing efficiency, allowing our life’s work to flow more smoothly, and to promote order, not to mention it being more aesthetically appealing.

I want to credit Reader’s Digest with some excellent tips for spring cleaning. If you are busy, don’t fret, I’m giving you the condensed version!

1.Welcome visitors with clean doormats. Beat them with a broom or even the old fashioned way…with a stick! Give them a thorough cleaning. They are sure protection against dirt that gets tracked into your house, so keep them clean enough to function the most efficiently.

2. Finish your floors. Apply wax or apply a sealer following label directions in order to protect the floors in your kitchen from another year of wear and tear. You can even use a combination wash-and-wax floor cleaner. There’s nothing wrong with saving time! If your floors are no-wax floors then they do not need a polishing treatment. Be sure to follow label directions depending on the product you are using. For wood floors, simply move furniture or rugs aside, apply a wood to polish, clean, and add a new wax coating.

3. Clean upholstery and carpets. These fabrics have absorbed a year’s worth of dirt, body oil, and germs will need a thorough cleaning. This will also extend the life of these important furnishings and flooring.

4. Vacuum the smart way. It is not necessary to move every piece of furniture to another room. Simply move bigger items a little to the left or to the right. Vacuum the area that was occupied by the furniture and then return it back to its rightful place.

5. Wash walls, cabinets, baseboards, and woodwork. Dirt, dust, and grease from the kitchen clings to vertical surfaces making it necessary to give a good cleaning. Use a sponge and dishwashing detergent as you wash the surface in sections. Tip: Use two separate buckets—one for your cleaning solution and the other for squeezing out your sponge. Dry washed areas with a clean cloth if necessary.

6. Clean your light fixtures. Just use a stepladder, all-purpose cleaner, a sponge, and a polish cloth in order to brighten your globes and fixtures.

7. Clean ceiling fixtures. Use a vacuum attachment with a soft attachment to remove dust and dirt from ceiling fans and air-conditioner vents.

8.Check your refrigerator coils and clothes dryer vent. Long handled brushes are now available or a special attachment to your vacuum cleaner can be used to clean built-up dust that can shut down units or cause fire by overheating due to dust.

This deep down cleaning can be a big undertaking. Break this heavy duty job into smaller parts. For example, take two of these tasks a week and in one month all your spring cleaning will be complete! I conclude with a gentle reminder, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men” (Col 3:23 KJV). Put on some praise music as you offer this service unto Him. Mothers, include your daughters. Daughters, join forces with your moms. Enjoy the fruit of your labor—a pristine, uncluttered, tranquil abode!

We’d like to also share some cleaning tips for the girls rooms!

1. Let’s begin with SHOES!- Most girls to have shoes that they rarely wear. Go through them and decide if you can give them away. Then reorganize the space in your closet where you keep your shoes.

2. Window Sills- Talk to your mom about what kind of cleaner you can use to clean around the tracks of your window sills. Many windows gather mold during the winter months and it’s time to get that cleaned out!

3. Curtains- Do you have curtains you can clean? Is it possible to sew some new curtains? Dress up your windows with some lighter fabric with pastel colors.

4. Shelves- Not only do you want to dust off your shelves, but clean off all your knick knacks as well.

5. Jackets- If you’re done wearing your heavy coats, wash them and store them for next year or donate them to a local shelter.

6. Carpets- Thoroughly vacuum your carpet and steam clean it for freshness.

7. Bathroom Cabinets- Go through all your shampoo bottles, drawers, and cabinets. See what you can toss and wipe the shelves down.

I hope this will help you get started on cleaning our your little space. You’ll feel great once you’re done!