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Spring Cleaning Longer days, budding flowers, a little extra sunshine to brighten our days — there is much to love about spring. Spring cleaning, however, is not one of the season’s most joyous hallmarks. Here are some tips to make the work go by quickly.
■ Get the family involved. They might not be enthusiastic, but extra hands will make short work of the chores, and your children will have a vested interested in maintaining the clean if they helped get it there. ■ Buy good rubber or vinyl gloves to protect your skin and nails. ■ Turn up your favorite upbeat music as you clean the house. It’ll take your mind off the project at hand and keep you in a great mood.
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■ Work from the top down, inside to outside, to avoid getting what you just cleaned dirty again. ■ Bring boxes or bins to each room labeled “Trash,” “Storage,” “Recycle,” and “Donate.” Start cleaning out the closets or cabinets first. Move on to cleaning the light fixtures, windows, counters and other surfaces. Finish with window coverings, baseboards and floors. Don’t forget wiping out the refrigerator and oven cleaning in the kitchen. ■ When tidying, reduce trips around the house by temporarily depositing items in one spot en route to but not at their final destination.
COME IN TODAY AND IN ANTICIPATION OF SPRING CHOOSE FROM A VARIETY OF EXQUISITE DISCOUNTED TRIBAL,CUSTOM MADE AND TEA WASH RUGS. 15-50% OFF! HURRY! SALE ENDS MARCH 6TH! 1329 Marine Drive, (778) 279 3879
■ A seasonal closet overhaul is a great way to keep closets from overflowing with junk. Go through closets and pantry to remove clutter and organize. Ensure seasonal clothing is being stored properly. ■ Do two things at once. While laundry is going, scrub the shower stall.
■ Wipe wooden blinds with a few drops of gentle wood cleaner on a nearly dry sponge. Aluminum blinds can be washed outdoors with water and a noncorrosive cleaner. Use a hose to rinse well and then dry the blinds thoroughly with a towel to prevent rust. ■ To clean windows, use rubber-edged squeegees, which are quicker and more effective than cloth or newspaper. They come in a variety of sizes and a screw-on extension will let you reach high spots. To start, dip a sponge into a bucket of warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap. Wet window; rub dirt away. Dampen squeegee; starting at an upper corner, draw it down pane from top to bottom. Repeat, overlapping strokes and wiping rubber edge with sponge after each stroke. For large windows, “snake” squeegee back and forth; then touch up edges. Dry windowsills with a cloth. ■ Dust before vacuuming or cleaning the floor. Try feather or lambswool dusters, especially extendable ones for reaching above window and door casings and into corners. Household rags are invaluable for jobs requiring a damp cloth – natural fibres work best. ■ Buy mops with a squeeze mechanism (great for vinyl, linoleum or ceramic tile floors) and a decent-size heavy-duty pail – one with a measuring scale helps get soap-to-water ratios correct. ■ Use a Swiffer for light dusting, or your favourite broom or vacuum attachment to clean hardwood floors. Then damp-mop with a mild cleaner such as Murphy Oil Soap. DEANA LANCASTER
PHOTOS DREAMSTIME.COM
A20 - North Shore News - Sunday, February 27, 2011
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