Jennifer Hunt cleans a Lookout Mountain home.
Jazmin Sneed cleans a Lookout Mountain home.
Cleaning supplies sit in the floor of a Lookout Mountain home.What the pros suggest
* Stainless steel: Use a light mist of wax-based aerosol spray once or twice a week. Don’t use too much. Wipe with a clean, lint-free cloth. Don’t use cleaners with bleach after waxing or it will dry out and lose some of the luster. Don’t use anything abrasive, not even mild products. * Tiles: Use a cleaner with “neutral pH” on the label or make a cleaner by pouring 1/2 cup baking soda into 2 gallons of water and mixing well. * Countertop stains: To remove rust, soap scum or mildew, use a solution of 1/2 cup ammonia in a gallon of water. For coffee and juice stains, mix hydrogen peroxide in water, plus a few drops of ammonia. Buff away small scratches with dry steel wool (superfine grade 0000). If your countertops are new, have them sealed several times, then again a year later. * Painted walls: Dip a clean cloth or sponge into water mixed with a little dishwashing liquid. If the stain persists, add a few drops of the dishwashing liquid directly on the cloth or sponge or directly on the surface. Rinse surface with water. Anything stronger than dishwashing liquid may damage paint. * Stain/odor on cushion: Quickly blot up as much of the stain as possible. Place a plastic liner (garbage bag) between the cushion and fabric so you don’t push a contaminant into the cushion. Flush the area with cold water. You can also use a portable spot cleaner or wet/dry vac. If there’s residual odor, use a half-vinegar, half-water solution and rinse again. * Carpet: Take off your shoes but leave on your socks. Walking around in bare feet leaves natural oils that attract dirt. Try to vacuum daily using HEPA filters and a top-load vacuum so the dirt falls inward. * Closets: Get rid of unused clothes and accessories, and organize the rest by color and by how you get dressed in the morning. * Bookshelves: Reorganize as you clean. Sort books by size and subject. Remove and discard ripped dust jackets. Place books, some vertically, some horizontally, in a rhythmic pattern. Source: House Beautiful
It’s a task most folks don’t exactly get giddy about when it looms before them this time of year — spring cleaning.
From packing and storing winter clothing to washing windows, dusting ceiling fans and cleaning out gutters, it’s an American tradition to come clean in spring.
Hixson resident Katie Benson, owner of cleaning company Good Life Services, says most of her clients see spring cleaning as shedding unwanted clutter, ridding the home of dirt and dust that has built up over the winter and getting the home freshened and ready for warm weather. Each is important for a fresh start, Benson says.
“I want all projects — like a room painted or a bathroom updated — taken care of before I get my deep clean going. A deep clean would be [projects] I could not get done on a average day, such as cleaning baseboards, moving furniture, steaming the sofa, pet beds and my daughter’s toys.”