Don't Overlook These Spring Cleaning Essentials

Rid your home of dust and irritants with a healthy spring cleaning. Work from top to bottom to avoid spreading dust and dirt to areas you've already cleaned.

If you have allergies, wear a mask when you clean. You may also consider having someone else do the cleaning.

Spring cleaning checklist

• Dust ceilings
• Wipe off ceiling fans and light fixtures
• Dust light bulbs
• Wash walls and light switches
• Wipe down doors, cabinets and knobs/handles
• Wash windows
• Clean window treatments (see tips below)
• Clean air vents
• Wipe down furniture
• Clean behind appliances
• Flip and rotate mattresses
• Wash all bedding (use hot water if you have a dust mite allergy) or have it dry-cleaned
• Scrub baseboards
• Wash or dry-clean rugs
• Clean floors
• Change furnace filter

If you want to avoid using harsh chemicals, most items on your spring cleaning list can be accomplished with a squirt of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of warm water. Scrub your toilets with baking soda. Vinegar and water also is a great natural cleaner, especially if you have mold allergies.

Window treatments

• Wipe wooden blinds with a few drops of gentle wood cleaner on a nearly dry sponge.
• Wash aluminum blinds outside. Place them on an old sheet on a slanted surface and scrub with water and a noncorrosive cleaner. Use a hose to rinse well and then dry the blinds thoroughly with a towel to prevent rust.
• Wash your curtains.
• Vacuum drapes or run them through the air-fluff cycle in the dryer along with a wet towel (to draw off the dust) for 15 minutes.

Often overlooked

Every couple of months, remove your sink faucet aerator by twisting it counter-clockwise. Soak it in vinegar for at least 15 minutes. (The aerator is actually an assembly made up of a few pieces including a screen, so take note of how they fit together.) Gently brush all parts with a toothbrush to remove any remaining residue, then screw the aerator back on.

Lost-and-Found

Use a vintage lunch box, music box or lidded container to stash lost game pieces, stray screws, buttons and other small items. So you'll know right where to look when you need them.