Spring has arrived! It’s time to say goodbye to the cold weather and officially welcome the season of rebirth and re-energizing. And what better way to invite freshness into our homes than by embarking on a spring cleaning project? Here are a few tips to get you started.
Our houses can feel a bit overstuffed with the holiday gift-giving frenzy and post-holiday clearance sales so you might want to start by going through your closet, storing, donating or pitching excess items. The entire cleaning process will get a lot easier if there’s less stuff to organize, arrange or move around when dusting or vacuuming. You can give your unwanted clothes a new life by donating them to a charity program; or re-purpose old items and turn them into unique accessories or décor pieces for your home. For a singular feel, you can make pillow cases out of an abandoned window drape or upcycle an old sweater into a gorgeous bag.
It’s often hard to remember the environment when you’re in the midst of a major cleaning spree, yet there are some simple things you can do to keep your carbon footprint at a minimum. Even the biggest messes can be effectively attacked with eco-friendly cleaners such as baking soda, borax, vinegar, or lemon juice. White vinegar has got acetic acid which can remove tough stains while sanitizing surfaces. It eliminates foul smells and can dissolve mineral deposits from glass and stainless steel. It works brilliantly on coffee makers, refrigerators or other smooth surfaces and can be used for refreshing both fabric and leather sofas.
Instead of using store-bought aerosol fresheners to cover up odors around your house, which may contain formaldehyde and benzene, both toxic to humans, try making your own all-natural alternatives. Mixing a few drops of vanilla with almond extract and a cup of water and spritzing it around the house will infuse your quarters with an enticing aroma. To tackle smells in your garbage can, sprinkle baking soda under your trash bag and keep your windows open as much as you can during the day.
In addition, to keep your belongings protected, it’s often a good idea to purchase renter’s insurance. Although your landlord is probably insured against property damage, the landlord’s policy does not usually cover the tenant’s personal possessions. Resident Shield renters insurance provides coverage both for the policyholder’s belongings and for liability that may result from an accident occurred at the rented residence.
