Equipment matters
Tim Denno, owner of Tidy Tim’s, a Brookfield cleaning firm, said when deep cleaning homes, he starts at one end of the house and works “from left to right in each room so we’re not recleaning areas.”
He estimated that it takes a team of two 31⁄2 to 4 hours to do a thorough cleaning to a 1,500-squarefoot house. That does not include cleaning out cabinets, shelves and drawers.
“You want to move slowly through the house and do areas at the top first so you don’t have to redust,” he said. “You want to move out all the furniture and vacuum and wipe everything down.
“You should also take a tote along with you, as you are always going to find stuff people lost.”
When vacuuming, Denno said a consumer’s “best weapon is a good solid vacuum cleaner with a good HEPA air filtration system.
“We have a lot of customers with asthma and allergies, and when you clean, you start to stir things up and you end up breathing it all in and can end up with breathing problems.”
For this reason, he also suggests cleaning your cleaning equipment.
“The No. 1 thing that people forget to clean is the equipment to be used,” he said. “Your cleaning is only as clean as the equipment used. Check vacuum filters, wipe out and disinfect cleaning totes and wipe down bottles,” he said,
Denno said that for a thorough cleaning, consumers should also remember to work at eye level.
“It’s important to get down to eye level when you clean,” he said. “When you’re at eye level, you can literally look across and see all the dirt, dust and cobwebs you missed.”
But also look up to check on high spots in your home. Denno said one spot people often miss — or avoid cleaning — is the tops of their kitchen cabinets because they are difficult to get to.
“A good way to keep them clean is to lay pieces of contact paper on them,” he said. “You don’t stick it on, your just lay it down, and you remove it once a year and then you can put on new pieces” rather than having to scrub off grease and grime.
He said another area that is often forgotten is under large area rugs.
“Roll up your rugs. Sometimes particles get underneath the edges of the rug. It’s also important to vacuum the bottom side of your rugs, as they can get really dirty. You should also wash the floor before you roll your rug back out.”
Dormie Roberts, spokeswoman for Blain’s Farm and Fleet, which has 14 stores in Wisconsin, said doing a deep cleaning in spring helps keep cleaning more manageable throughout the year. It also keeps your home more organized because as you clean, you can easily get rid of items you no longer use.
“Spring cleaning definitely goes hand in hand with minimizing your belongings,” she said. “If you don’t use it, you should get rid of it. Give unwanted items to a local library or a family member.”
Roberts based her advice on information she collected from employees who work with the many cleaning products the store sells.
While it’s nice to get it all done in a day, Roberts suggests consumers do this kind of deep cleaning one room at a time.
“Or do all the windows or all the bathrooms in one day. Pace yourself.”
Kitchen challenges
No matter what pace you set, she said the room that typically needs the most attention is the kitchen, as it’s the family gathering spot.
Here she suggests turning on your self-cleaning
oven (with windows open), then work on cleaning and organizing your refrigerator and pantry while your oven cleans.
“In the refrigerator, do one area at a time. For instance, take out your meat drawer, clean it and put it back, then clean out another area. That way you’re not leaving your refrigerator open.
“Also look at all the products in your refrigerator and check expiration dates to make sure they are still safe to eat. If they’re safe, wipe them down. If you have frosting that’s from a year ago, it’s time to get rid of it,” she said.
For the pantry, she suggests removing everything from the shelves, cleaning the shelves and any glassware not regularly used, then checking expiration dates on food to be sure they are still safe to eat.
And when returning items to the shelves, place the most commonly used items in front.
“Have all your baking items in the pantry on the same shelf, and all the noodles on the same shelf. That way it’s easier to look in and see what you need,” she said.
Denno said as you clean out kitchen cabinets, be careful to remove all glass items before wiping them out.
“If you have glass doors on your cabinets, you have to clean them from the back and the front,” he said. “The backs get a lot of grease, so you may have to use a strong degreaser to clean them.”
And don’t forget…
Denno added that when cleaning areas in the kitchen, homeowners should also look for signs of bugs or rodents — especially if your home is in a rural area.
Roberts said other spots that shouldn’t be missed are in the bathroom.
“Remove your toilet seat and clean the area under where it’s attached with bleach. Also deep-clean your shower with a product that has a mildew-resistance ingredient to get rid of the tough-to-clean stains and buildup,” she said.
For shower glass, she suggests using a product that has a water-repellent component, as this will help prevent soap scum buildup and leave your shower doors streak-free longer.
She said other commonly missed area in homes are window treatments.
“This is a task that is regularly low on the housekeeping list, and they can really collect dust,” she said.
Cloth window treatments should be washed or dry
cleaned, depending on the product. Blinds need cleaning too, but the product you use will depends on what your blinds are made of. All pins and hooks connected to window treatments should also be removed and cleaned by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Safety checks
Roberts said in addition to cleaning, organizing and uncluttering your home, spring is also a good time to do a few safety checks so you don’t have problems down the road.
“Be sure to check the grout or caulking around sinks and tubs to prevent against any leaks” and check faucets to be sure none are dripping.
“Also do a walk-through of your house and make sure all the smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers are working and that they all have good batteries. It’s also a good time to be sure you have extra batteries for clocks and flashlights on hand,” she said.
She added that if it’s time to replace any of these items, consider buying new products that are kidfriendly.
Nitty-gritty cleaning tips
Here are more tips on places in your home to clean from Tim Denno and Dormie Roberts.
Both say that the cleaning products you use depend on your preferences. They range widely, from heavyduty cleaners to those that are labeled natural. Consumers can also make their own cleaning products, Denno pointed out; formulas for them can be found on the Internet. For dusting, Denno uses micro-fiber and terry cloths.
THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE
Rachel Denno, of Tidy Tim’s cleaning service, wipes down a door frame, something many homeowners forget to clean, at a home in Hartland. Doors and doorframes: Wipe down from top to bottom. Clean any
recessed panels.
Fans: Remove dust from both sides (especially the tops) of ceiling fans using a long-handled cleaning attachment.
Wall-to-wall carpeting: Use a good steam carpet cleaner to keep it looking fresh and to remove stains.
Throw rugs: Vacuum them or leave them outside to air out. Use a good spot cleaner on stains. Some rugs also can be put in the washer, but don’t put them in the dryer if they have a rubber-like backing, as it will damage them. Hang them outside to dry.
Windows: Use a good-quality window cleaner and newspaper. Newspaper works well, as it doesn’t leave streaks. Also wipe down tops of windows and sills.
TVs: Wipe down backs and base of TVs where dust frequently collects. Clean screens with wipes or products made for them.
Lampshades: Remove shades and use a vacuum cleaner for cloth shades; clean glass shades with an appropriate cleaner.
Wood floors: Clean floors with a product that cleans and polishes. The moisture from the polish keeps wood looking rich and glossy, and the wax keeps the wood sealed and protected from dirt and scratches.
Wood furniture: Clean tops and bases with a product that cleans and polishes to keep the wood from drying out. A good quality polish also will protect from scratches.
Upholstered furniture: Vacuum upholstered furniture, making sure you remove cushions and clean underneath. Leather furniture should be treated and cleaned following manufacturer’s instructions. Remember to wipe down legs on furniture, too. Tim Denno
dusts a ceiling fan
using a long-handled
vacuum attachment.
Pictures: Use glass cleaner to clean glass, and wipe down frames front and back. Check behind pictures for dust bunnies.
Wastebaskets: Clean inside and outside with all-purpose cleaner and a disinfectant.
Radiators: If possible, remove radiator covers and clean inside and outside. The radiator should be cleaned too. And don’t forget to clean the walls behind them as dust collects there. Baseboard radiators should be vacuumed. Use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down electrical faceplates.
Artificial plants: Vacuum with an attachment or wipe down, depending on what they are made of. Don’t forget to wipe down the vases or pots they are in. The brush attachment of your vacuum can be used to clean vents.
KITCHENS
Knobs and electrical faceplates: Wipe down with an
all-purpose cleaner.
Vents: Remove vent covers if possible and clean. Also vacuum and then wipe insides of vents. Here, vacuum cleaners with longhandled attachments are helpful. Refrigerators: Pull out and remove dust and pet hair from back and sides. Not only will this make your kitchen cleaner, it also will improve the efficiency of your refrigerator. Also wipe down floor under refrigerator and wipe off the top. Tim Denno reminds homeowners to clean the top of their refrigerators, too.
doorknobs.
Stoves: Clean underneath and remove knobs and grates so you can thoroughly remove grease.
Dishwashers: Clean with a product specifically made for cleaning and sanitizing. This will help get rid of lime scale and will disinfect your machine, which will let it run more efficiently.
Garbage disposals: Add a purchased or homemade product and run the disposal. Any product with citric acid is a good choice.
Cabinets: In addition to cleaning them inside, wipe down outsides with appropriate cleaning products. Don’t forget to clean all drawer pulls and
Cutting boards/knife blocks: Sanitize cutting boards, and clean knife blocks well.
BATHROOMS
Medicine cabinets: Remove all items and clean shelves. Properly discard of old medication as well as make up, skin care and hair-care products.
Toilets and sinks: Don’t forget to wipe down the undersides of your fixtures as well as their bases or cabinets.
Shower heads: Clean well on all sides with a product made for shower heads to remove any buildup.
Shower curtains: Remove and wash or replace. Remove plastic or metal rings and clean them as well as the bar that holds the curtain.
BEDROOMS
Mattresses/bedding: Flip your mattress if possible and vacuum both sides. Strip of all bedding and wash.
Bed: Move it out and wipe down the entire bed frame. Remove any items stored under your bed and go through them to see if there are things that you no longer need, then clean the area under the bed, including the floor.
Closets: Pull everything out and wipe down floors and baseboards. Go through clothing and get rid of anything that does not fit or that you haven’t worn in a year. For items you can’t seem to let go of, put them in a storage box to free up space. Use a clear box so you can easily see inside.
OFFICES
Bookshelves: Remove everything from shelves, and dust the shelves as well as the books and any other Items before returning.
Desks: Remove all the items and wipe down. Use appropriate cleaners for computers and printers. Polish if the desk is made of wood. This is also a good time to go through drawers and file cabinets and toss items no longer needed.
LAUNDRY ROOMS
Washing machine: Use a homemade mix of half vinegar and half baking soda and run your machine on hot water. There are also products you can buy for standard and high-efficiency washers. It’s recommended to do this monthly.
Hampers: Clean inside and out with an all-purpose cleaner.