2021 Spring Home and Garden

2021 Spring Home & Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April 22, 2021 Page 11 their houses for a week leading up to Lent, in March or April. Regular cleaning is what most families do on a weekly basis. Many families make a task list together, so everyone is involved in the cleaning process. The cleaning list can be modified to fit the schedules of each family member. Spot cleaning once a week helps keep everyone from having more work to do the next week when it’s time to clean. Those who clean regularly have a few tricks up their sleeves that help keep things tidy and organized: • Make the bed each morning. Change the sheets each week. • Don’t wear shoes in the house. • Clean as they go. • Open the mail each day. • Vacuum/Mop the floors. • Put small kitchen appliances away in a cupboard or pantry. • Run the dishwasher every day. • Eliminate junk drawers. • Clean the bathroom Spring cleaning the extreme way reaches the grime and dirt in your home that is overlooked the rest of the year. It is important to approach spring cleaning with a positive attitude making sure you plan and have a schedule for when and what to do: • Vacuum and shampoo rugs. • Clean windows inside and out, including screens. • Clean curtains. • Dust bookshelves and donate old books that have already been read. • Clean upholstered furniture. • Polish door handles, kitchen cupboards, and baseboards. • Wipe down ceilings and ceiling fans. • Wipe down light fixtures and lamp shades. • Throw out expired food, clean out the refrigerator and defrost the freezer. • Clean out kitchen cupboards. • Give the microwave a deep clean. • Wipe down walls and backsplashes. • Deep clean bathtub, including faucets and drains. • Replace shower curtain liner. • Clean and disinfect toilet. • Clean mirrors. • Re-caulk the tub and re-seal tile and grout. • Flip the mattresses. • Wash blankets and comforters. • Donate toys and organize kids closets. Each home is different, and each family has their own way of taking on spring cleaning chores. Cleaning a home from top to bottom may never become effortless, but there is little more satisfying than the annual extreme spring cleaning. Don’t expect to get everything done in one day because extreme spring cleaning takes time and commitment. Giving your home an extreme spring cleaning can create more usable space and make it easier to keep living areas organized. CONTINUED u