60-Minute Spring Cleaning

Though times have changed, the idea of spring cleaning is still as sound as ever. But it doesn't have to usurp your whole schedule. In fact, if you can block out just sixty minutes this season...you can make a significant inroad toward a fresher, cleaner, more attractive home. And we're here to tell you how.

The key to our 60-minute spring cleaning plan is organization. To help, our cleaning experts have compiled a set of the most fruitful tasks. Read through our time-saving tips; then start your timer. You'll be out on your lawn enjoying the sunshine before you know it!

Gather the team. Unless you live alone, family members can be called upon to lighten the work load. Parcel out tasks to each participant. Even the youngest can help dust or spend time putting away their things. Give them the same hope you have: it'll take only an hour!

Set a clear direction. Work your way from the outside of the house inward. Begin with exterior doors and windows and progress into the house, working your way from the front door to the back. This gives you a feeling of constant progress and focuses your first work on the parts visitors see most.

Protect your hands. Try rubbing a small amount of liquid hand soap onto your fingers and palms, allowing your skin to absorb it as if it were hand lotion. This will prevent dirt and grime from soaking into your skin and save you cleanup time later.

Make short work of exterior windows. Many spring cleaners get bogged down in the tedious task of window cleaning, an especially tough chore when second-story heights are involved. Here's a solution: use Windex® Outdoor Multi-Surface. This time-saver washes patio furniture, play sets and siding with a standard garden hose and allows them to air dry. Windows can be washed at the rate of one per minute, so the average home will require only 17 minutes.

Change the furnace filter. A clean filter takes accumulated dust out of circulation so indoor airflow cannot redeposit it on furniture. This means less dusting and fewer lingering winter odors. And don't forget that filters work when the central air conditioner runs as well.

Don't answer the phone. Let the answering machine pick up your calls until the spring cleaning hour is up. You're on a mission and there will be plenty of time to chat about your accomplishment after the house has been cleaned.

Spray and walk away. Cleaning products like Antibacterial fantastik® All Purpose Heavy Duty Cleaner clean better on really tough stains, when they have a few minutes of time to work. Apply and then spend a few minutes on another chore before wiping the area clean. Standing and waiting wastes time and you have only 60 minutes.

Open the windows. Even if the temperature seems a bit chilly, throw open all the windows and give the house a thorough airing. If the outdoor air is simply too cold, consider freshening with Glade® Tough Odor Solutions Air Sanitizers.

Give yourself a reward... and don't forget to reward each family member who helped. This leaves everyone with a pleasant memory of the experience and makes them more agreeable to repeating these important chores next spring.

Chances are, once you complete the hour's exercise, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much you've accomplished. In fact, you might find yourself in the mood for a second hour of spring freshening! Click to read unusual tips on how to tackle tough jobs.

Source: RightAtHome