Spring Cleaning in Orange County

Spring has sprung and it's time to get your house into tip top shape. Open the windows, let the light shine in and take a good look at your home. It's easy to avoid and put off the spring cleaning as sometimes it feels like a daunting task, but take it a little at a time and when it's done you'll see a major difference. Wipe away the winter cobwebs and you're house will be squeaky clean in no time. Balboa Realty, the leaders in Orange County Property Management, has 5 cleaning tips to get your house ready for springtime!

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1. Ceiling Fans

Look up. Dust and allergens accumulate over time and ceiling fan blades are a perfect place for them to hang out. To clean the fans, start by safely setting up a ladder and use a damp cloth to wipe the blades clean. When you're done with one blade, turn the fan and start on the next blade. When you do turn on the ceiling fan you will feel an amazingly cool and clean breeze all thanks to you!

2. Baseboards

Look down. This might be one of the most tedious tasks, but this one can make a world of difference in your home. If the baseboards are dusty use a vacuum with an attachment to remove the dust and then wipe down the baseboards with a damp cloth. Use a Q-tip to get into the corners and hard to reach places. If there are visible scuff marks a Magic Eraser can be truly magical and make your baseboards look like they were freshly painted.

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3. Dishwasher

Cleaning the dishwasher is one of the many tasks that usually gets pushed to the bottom of the list. Soap scum and food residue builds up over time and it's important to get rid of it for cleanliness and functionality. To give your dishwasher a deep clean, empty it completely and place distilled white vinegar in a bowl on the top rack and run a hot water cycle. For an even deeper clean pour a small amount of baking soda on the bottom of the machine and run a short hot water cycle. 

4.  Shower Heads

The shower head is one of the most used appliance in the house and it's very common for minerals to build up. A quick and easy fix is to fill a baggie with distilled white vinegar and attach it over the shower head with a rubber band. After a few hours remove the baggie and scrub the scum and residue off of the shower head. It will look like new!

5. Pillows

We spend approximately a third of our lives in our bedrooms and it's important to inspect the quality of your sheets and pillows. It's best practice to wash your sheets and pillow cases once a week, but you should also wash the actual pillow itself at least once a year. Pillows accumulate dust mites, sweat, drool, and dead skin cells which is why you need to wash them. Most synthetic pillows can be washed in your washing machine on gentle and feather stuffed pillows can be washed in the bathtub with detergent. After washing, wring the water out of your pillow with a towel and put it in the dryer on low heat for about an hour. Double check the care instructions for your pillows before washing and drying. If your pillows cannot be washed, consider buying new ones and remember that it's an investment for your health and well being.

Published on Friday, March 24, 2017