Tips for Spring Cleaning During Coronavirus

"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and – snap! – the job's a game." – Mary Poppins

Well, in truth it may take more than a spoonful of sugar to make scrubbing your toilet seem enticing, but these handy tips should help make spring cleaning tasks in the time of coronavirus quarantines less dread-inducing and more of a snap!

Living and Dining Rooms

· Clean your carpets. Vacuum all your carpets really well using the crevice tool to get in the corners. Since you likely tracked in a lot of snow and mud during the winter months, now is an excellent time to get your carpets professionally cleaned. Be on the lookout for spring specials!

· Dust thoroughly. This includes hard-to-reach places such as the tops of bookshelves, ceiling fans and picture frames. Take everything off the s­helves, and go over with a feather duster. Use the dust-brush or crevice tool on a vacuum to reach into tight spots. Wipe the spines of leather-bound books with a clean, soft cloth. Always work from the top of a room down, vacuuming the dust that settles on the floor.

· Clean upholstered furnishings. Take cushions outside and gently beat them by hand to remove dust. If there are stains, check the pieces for care labels. Use your vacuum’s upholstery tools to clean under seat cushions.

· Refresh your decor. Instead of completely redesigning your interior, consider little things, like putting new photos in your frames or adding a few new throw pillows.

Kitchen and Bathrooms

· Deep clean your bathrooms. Spray a generous amount of bathroom spray or pine cleaner to the shower or bathroom walls. Allow cleaners to stand while other work is being done. Then go back and start scrubbing. To remove hard-water scale or mildew on showerheads, faucet heads and drains, soak them in vinegar. If the head isn't removable, position a plastic bag filled with vinegar over it and tape it shut.

· Clean the kitchen sink. If there's lime buildup around the faucet, lay paper towels over the fixture and soak it with vinegar, letting it set for one hour. The deposits will soften and become easier to remove. To clean chrome, glass or stainless steel appliances, fill a spray bottle with a mixture of 50 percent rubbing alcohol and 50 percent water.

· Wash out trash cans. To deep clean garbage cans, spray them with a hose and dump out the water. Next, spray the inside with a disinfectant spray, scrub with a handled brush and rinse. Leave them upside down to dry.

Bedrooms

· Deep clean bedding. Launder bedding and pillows. If you change bedding for the season, air out the spring blankets for several hours before putting them on the bed. Store winter bedding in mildew-resistant containers once cleaned.

· Clean your light fixtures. A few minutes with a stepladder, a sponge, and some glass cleaner will brighten up your world. If your bedroom has skylights or tall ceilings, consider investing in a stepladder and extended-reach dust-and-dirt-removal tools, all of which are available at your local hardware store and at home supply stores.

· Refresh window coverings. To revive dusty drapes, take them down, remove hooks and run them through an air-fluff cycle in the dryer with a damp towel (to attract the dust) for 15 minutes. Re-hang immediately. Wipe blinds with a damp cloth.

Official Center for Disease Control guidelines on cleaning and disinfection can be found on the CDC website.