Tag Archives: Complete Spring Cleaning Checklist

Welcome Spring with These Easy Tips to Clean & Freshen Your Kitchen Food Storage Areas

Flowers on white kitchen bench

Just like other areas of our homes, our pantries, cupboards and fridges can feel disorganized and cluttered after a long, harsh winter. If this is the case in your home, don’t despair! All you need is a little time and these quick tips from Mopfrog of Danbury to free your kitchen food storage areas from clutter and make them look and feel springtime fresh!

Start with The Pantry

Pantries tend to be the place where we stash all types of stray items that we think we might need or want later. Everything from grocery sacks to a stock pile of extra household items seems to end up in there, keeping us from getting the best use from the space.

Regaining control of your pantry space will provide much needed storage for items that are currently cluttering up your counters, drawers and cabinets and help make your entire kitchen look cleaner. These fast and easy steps will help you power clean your pantry in a flash.

  • Sort and organize the current contents of you pantry, making sure to discard outdated foods and spices and recycle or throw out any unneeded, broken or unwanted items.
  • Wipe down pantry shelves, containers and storage areas thoroughly as you work.
  • If you are not already doing so, try to organize your pantry to include a space for small appliances such as crockpots and blenders that take up precious counter space and make your kitchen look cluttered.

Drawers & Cupboards

Sort, organize and wipe down each drawer and cupboard just as you did the pantry. Rid these spaces of all those stray items that tend to accumulate in them, especially that junk drawer!

Once the inside is neat, clean and organized, take a moment to thoroughly clean fingerprints and food residue from the exterior of the doors and drawers to help clean and freshen the entire space. Remember to pay special attention to the drawer handles and cabinet knobs when cleaning as they can harbor germs.

The Interior of the Fridge

Much like the pantry, the refrigerator in most homes can benefit from a spring cleaning scouring in order to get rid of outdated condiments and forgotten leftovers that have turned into scary science experiments. The easiest way to do this is first remove the contents and place them inside an insulated cooler to keep them fresh while cleaning.

Wipe down the interior with an absorbent microfiber cloth to remove spills, crumbs and foodborne illnesses, such as from raw meat and poultry juices. If the shelves are removable, place them carefully on your kitchen counter and clean them thoroughly with a vinegar and water solution to freshen and sanitize before placing them back into the fridge.

Once your fridge is clean and fresh, restock it with only the foods that are still within their freshness dates, even if they are unopened. For a natural deodorizing solution, place a fresh, open box of baking soda near the back to help keep your newly cleaned fridge smelling fresher longer.

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Top Ten Tips for the Best Spring Cleaning Experience

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There is something wonderfully fresh about a home that has just been given a thorough seasonal cleaning. In addition to making our homes look more organized and welcoming, this type of cleaning also makes them healthier by removing accumulated dust, dirt and bacteria. If you want your family to enjoy all the benefits of spring cleaning but worry about the amount of time it will take, these ten tips will help you have the best spring cleaning experience ever!

One: Assemble Durable, Functional Supplies

Avoid frustration during cleaning by gathering the supplies you will need before you begin. Remember to choose basic, multi-purpose supplies to make the entire cleaning process fast and easy. You will need:

  • A supply of microfiber cloths and mop pads. These tools are absorbent and able to attract and hold dirt, instead of just pushing it around
  • A good HEPA filtration vacuum with attachments for upholstery, crevices, drapes and an extender wand
  • Vinegar solution, baking soda or a non-abrasive and natural cleanser, like Bon Ami
  • Steam mop for hard surface flooring and tile
  • Lemon oil for polishing wood

Two: Plan For Efficient Cleaning

Avoid creating extra work by cleaning from top-to-bottom, so that any dust and dirt that falls from walls or furnishings will be picked up with the final vacuuming. Likewise, always begin vacuuming or mopping floors opposite to the doorway where you will exit so that dirt is not tracked over freshly cleaned areas.

Three: Use Tools Effectively

Make short work of wiping down walls and ceilings by swiping them clean with a microfiber mop. The long handle and wide mop head will allow the microfiber pad to quickly wipe away cobwebs from those high corners while you stand safely and comfortably on the floor. In addition, you can use it to easily dust behind heavy furnishings, instead of dragging them about.

Four: Window & Window Treatments

Remove curtains and put them into the dryer on a cool setting to freshen them and remove dust. While the curtains are in the dryer, make the windows sparkle by washing the glass, sills and frames with vinegar and water and using a clean microfiber cloth to buff them dry. Don’t forget to wipe the blinds with a damp cloth to remove accumulated dust and grime.

Five: Lampshades and Decorative Items

Use your vacuum’s upholstery attachment to easily remove dust from lampshades and soft decorative items.

Remove wall art, framed pictures and mirrors from the wall. Wipe them clean with a dry microfiber cleaning cloth and then wipe the wall down, too, before rehanging them. It is important to never spritz any type of cleaner directly on framed pictures, mirrors and wall art, because the moisture can seep through the frame and ruin the photo or artwork behind the glass.

Six: Cleaning Floors

Clean the floors of your home quickly and completely with these tips:

  • Vacuum carpets thoroughly using the edger attachment to clean the seam where the carpet meets the baseboard.
  • For large area rugs, remove the furniture on one half, then roll that section of rug up out of the way, vacuum thoroughly beneath it and then unroll and vacuum the surface. Repeat with the other side.
  • Use a steam mop to clean hard surface floors, like tile, hardwood, vinyl and laminate.

Seven: Mattresses & Upholstery

Working from the top down, vacuum mattresses, box springs and upholstered furnishings with the bristled, upholstery attachment, taking extra care near seams, welting, tufts and pleats.

Eight: Furnishings

Using your microfiber cleaning cloths, wipe down all furnishings as you clean each room. Fine woods will look lustrous and smell wonderful when buffed with a bit of lemon oil after cleaning.

Nine: Appliances

Spritz your vinegar solution onto a microfiber cloth to clean the exteriors and tops of kitchen and laundry appliances, then buff to a shine with a second, dry microfiber cloth.

Use the microfiber mop to dust behind appliances like the stove, washer and dryer. If possible, pull the fridge away from the wall and vacuum the back of the appliance thoroughly to remove dust and dirt.

Ten: Opt for A Pro

If your work schedule or family commitments prevent you from giving your home a thorough spring cleaning, opt to hire the eco-friendly cleaning professionals, instead. In just one Deep Clean Service Visit, Mopfrog’s team of cleaning experts can take your home from winter blah to springtime fresh. Call today and then relax knowing that our locations, like Mopfrog of Brooklyn, have all your home cleaning needs covered!

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Ready Your Home for Spring With These Rejuvenation Tips

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Our ancestors knew a thing or two about the importance of freshening the family home after a long, hard winter. Although scrubbing the surfaces of the home was an important part of their spring cleaning ritual, they knew that the act of clearing away the clutter of a long winter would also help improve the quality of life for everyone in the family and this concept remains true today. With an exceptionally long, hard winter finally drawing to a close, these simple steps will help you freshen and rejuvenate your home for spring.

Purging the Clutter

Staying cooped up inside the home during the winter often translates into more clutter, making homes feel dreary and cramped. Just clearing away this excess will immediately make your home fresher and more welcoming for spring.

In the Kitchen

Kitchens get a lot of wear and tear, especially as families tend to gather there more often to cook, bake and enjoy comforting winter meals. To rejuvenate this area for spring:

  • Start by thoroughly cleaning the refrigerator, freezer and range, inside and out, to remove crumbs, grime and cooking residues.
  • For even more freshening power, opt for cleaners that freshen safely and naturally, such as white vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda, instead of harsh, smelly commercial cleaners.
  • Clean and organize counter tops, drawers and cupboards, removing those extra pieces of cookware, gadgets and appliances that never seem to get used. Box up these items and donate them to a local shelter, church or community organization where they will be used.

In the Bedrooms and Closets

Bulky winter wear takes up a lot of closet space and makes bedrooms feel more cluttered. Pack away items that won’t be needed again until next year, and box up outgrown items for donation. As you sort through clothing, watch for ripped and stained items and remove them to add more usable space.

Add Natural Freshening Power

Add large pots of green plants throughout the home to add a spring time feeling and freshen the air. Choose plants that have energizing scents, such as mints and aromatic herbs in the kitchen and restful ones like lavender for bedrooms and living areas. Just seeing and smelling the freshness of a growing plant in the entry way will automatically lift the spirits of your family and friends as they enter.

Pass the Towel to the Pros

Clear away winter’s stagnant energy and easily make room for spring by hiring the eco-friendly cleaning professionals from Mopfrog to help you purge, organize and deep clean your home. Their all-natural cleaning solutions and techniques will have your home looking and feeling fresh and clean for spring!

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