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Spring is in full swing and now is the time to get your scrub on!  At Rosie Toes, we find that spring cleaning can be quite satisfying.  The pleasure usually comes after the work is finished.   However, there are many upsides of Spring cleaning to keep in mind during the process; airing out your rooms, washing clean your linens and sweeping away the dust bunnies can help you manage seasonal allergies and keep germs at bay plus burn a few extra calories!  We’ve put together a few tips and the ultimate Spring cleaning guide that can make your project more manageable and even a bit enjoyable.

To start off we’ve compiled some tips to keep in mind before tackling your spring cleaning project…

1.  Mini Projects
Work in sections, this allows you to break the project into different areas of focus.  This will alleviate that feeling of being overwhelmed by a giant monster.  At Rosie Toes, we like to prepare mini projects by room or task.  We either choose to focus on completely cleaning out a room or we pick a task like disinfecting toilets and showers throughout our abode.  These mini-projects will accumulate quickly and keeps you on top of things.

2.  Be Proactive  
Instead of letting junk mail, dishes and laundry pile up, tackle it right away.  Find a system that helps you tackle the little things right away.  For example toss out junk mail right away, clean dishes right after eating, put dirty clothes in the hamper and hang up clean ones. These  small tasks only take a few minutes and will alleviate feeling overwhelmed when you start tackling your mini projects. 

3.  Invest in Organizational Bins
Having cupboards and drawers that are overflowing can be unattractive and extremely inconvenient.  Investing a little money into purchasing  simple storage bins of assorted sizes can makes a big difference.  There are so many great options out there, from glass containers to plastic utensil organizers.  Incorporating these into your kitchen, and bathrooms will ensure that your essentials are organized and easy to locate.

4.  Get Inspired
We love putting on a great playlist for our cleaning days!  Another great way to stay motivated is by replacing winter items with spring items.  This will help keep you motivated throughout the process; try adding fun and bright spring colors and scents to your space.  We also love purchasing fresh flowers to brighten our space.  

Incorporating these simple tips will ensure that you stay motivated throughout your spring cleaning mini projects.  Now for our ultimate spring cleaning checklist.   This guide offers an overview of everything you need to know so you can breeze through the process and achieve a sparkling abode.

Every Room Projects

• disinfect door knobs and light switch plates
• dust crown molding and baseboards
• dust ceiling corners
• dust baseboards and clean scuff marks
• dust/wash light fixtures and lamps
• dust ceiling fans
• wash doors (look for scuff marks)
• wash walls
• touch up paint
• wash window blinds
• clean windows
• shampoo carpet
• remove rugs to shake out, then vacuum, then clean under them
• vacuum all flooring, including corners and edges
• clean air vents
• replace light bulbs
• change air/furnace filter
• replace batteries in smoke detector
• replace batteries in carbon monoxide detector
• check all electronics, make sure they are plugged in, chords are untangled and everything is plugged into a surge protector.
• check expiration date on fire extinguisher.
• store all winter items, clothes and decorations.

Kitchen 

• clean out kitchen pantry, drawers, and cupboards
• wash inside and outside of kitchen cabinets
• move refrigerator and dust and mop underneath it
• dust refrigerator coils (turn off power at circuit breaker or fuse box)
• defrost the freezer and empty freezer; wipe interior with a solution of 2 tablespoons baking soda per 1 quart hot water.  
• deep clean sink and run lemon peel through the garbage disposal
• clean oven and oven racks
• clean and disinfect the trash can
• clean the microwave
• deep clean the dishwasher
• replace refrigerator water filter

Living Room 

• remove and wash upholstered furniture, throw pillows and blankets
• polish wood furniture
• vacuum, shampoo or mop floors
• wash and dust all decorative items 
• swap heavy curtains, rugs, and throws For lightweight ones clean items then store.

Bedrooms

• rotate bed and change blankets, turn over mattress to distribute the wear evenly. replace cool-weather bedding with warm-weather bedding.
• clean pillows, most pillows can be machine-washed; this rids them of mold, bacteria, and odors.
• clean out underneath bed
• organize closets and replace winter clothes with spring clothes

Bathrooms

• discard expired cosmetics and beauty products.
•  organize the items your keeping in a plastic bin
• clean and distinct shower, and toilet
• wash bathmats and rugs
• wash or replace shower linens and curtains
• wipe down sink and counter
• clean and wash all the inside and outside of cabinets

Laundry Room 

• clean dryer vent
• clean inside washing machine
• empty washing machine drain pump
• dust behind and underneath washer and dryer
• clean and organize contents on shelving
• install organizers to hold cleaning products

Office

• organize files and review insurance policies, contracts, and household inventories
• clean computers:  scrub casings with a solution of 1 drop mild dishwashing liquid per 1 quart of water and a lint-free cloth; dust crevices in keyboards with cotton swabs or disposable mascara wands; wipe screens with a soft cloth or a dry screen-cleaning sponge.

Storage Room

• give away or discard unwanted items.  
• divide what is  left into two zones: 1.  for things you’ll use in the next couple months, such as clothes  2.  for objects that may be there for years, such as furniture.
• protect objects in basement by using concrete blocks to keep storage boxes off the ground.

Outdoor Space

• clean porch ceilings and walls sweep up cobwebs and debris with broom, and wash walls with a solution of all-purpose cleaner and water using a polyester sponge.
• scrub decks, patios, driveways, and walkways 
• treat mildew spots with a solution of 1 part oxygen bleach to 3 parts water using a deck brush.
• wash outdoor furniture most materials can handle a solution of mild dishwashing liquid and water and a soft-bristle brush
• replace light fixtures, wash covers, and check for damaged wires and connections.

Remember that keeping a routine for the small tasks on a regular basis can help keep things from getting out hand and overwhelming you.  Whistle while you work and enjoy your sparkling clean Spring oasis!

What are your Spring cleaning tips?

Hugs and Kisses,

Tiffany

At Rosie Toes, we delight in the warmth of Spring in the late afternoons.  The time when dusk slowly emerges while the sun melts into the horizon creating awe inspiring skies.  It is the time when we escape the busyness of society and soak in the quietness of creation.  It is a place where we enjoy the blossoms around us while discovering treasures within the pages of our favorite books.

These are the moments when you can take time to enjoy the beauty of creation while going on a book adventure.  We've selected some of the season's most delectable reads for you to enjoy this Spring.  Happy reading and exploring Rosebuds!

1. FUN READ

Book: Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic, #1)
Author:  Sophie Kinsella

This book is a ball of fun to read.  I actually watched the movie and then read the book.  I loved the movie!  The book was like listening to your best friend tell about her day!  Sophie Kinsella is such a rich and sassy writer.  If you’ve ever been tempted to purchase a cute dress in the window of an upscale department store that wasn't exactly in your budget, then you’ll love this book. It teaches you a thing or two about love and friendship and not to mention personal finances.

2. SPIRITUAL READ

Book: God's Whispers to a Woman's Heart 
Author: Cindi McMenamin

Every moment of every day, God is at your side, ready to speak to your heart. He knows exactly how you feel and longs to help--whether you are in need of wisdom, encouragement, or comfort. In God's Whispers to a Woman's Heart, author Cindi McMenamin shares what it means to experience the presence of God at all times, in all places. As you read of His many promises and assurances to you in the Bible, you'll come to realize how much He loves you. Every devotion in this book will enrich your communion with God, and fill your day with the inner joy that only He can give.

3. INTELLECTUAL READ 

Book: Mere Christianity
Author: C. S. Lewis

In 1941 England, when peace was threatened by the inhumanity of war, C. S. Lewis was invited to give a series of radio lectures addressing the central issues of Christianity. More than half a century later, these talks continue to retain their poignancy. First heard as informal radio broadcasts on the BBC, the lectures were published as three books and subsequently combined as Mere Christianity. C. S. Lewis proves that "at the center of each there is something, or a Somebody, who against all divergences of belief, all differences of temperament, all memories of mutual persecution, speaks with the same voice," rejecting the boundaries that divide Christianity's many denominations. This twentieth century masterpiece provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith.

4.  NOSTALGIC READ 

Book: Bernice Bob’s Her Hair Short and Other Short Stories
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald 

It was an age of miracles," declared F. Scott Fitzgerald of the 1920s, "it was an age of art, it was an age of excess, and it was an age of satire."  Fitzgerald masterfully portrays the manners and morals of the wealthy and glamorous during the Roaring Twenties in nostalgic read. 

5.  ADVENTUROUS READ 

Book: And the Mountains Echoed
Author: Khaled Hasseini 

Khaled Hosseini is a bestselling author and has written a new novel about how we love, how we take care of each other, and how the choices we make resonate through generations. In this tale revolving around not just parents and children but brothers and sisters, cousins and caretakers, Hosseini explores the many ways in which families nurture, wound, betray, honor, and sacrifice for each other; and how often we are surprised by the actions of those closest to us, at the times that matter most. Following its characters and the ramifications of their lives and choices and loves around the globe—from Kabul to Paris to San Francisco to the Greek island of Tinos—the story expands gradually outward, becoming more emotionally complex and powerful with each turning page.

What book is on your Spring reading list?

Hugs and Kisses,

Tiffany