It'll be summer before you know it! I'm already surveying the spring cleaning that needs to be done. After all, I am the Clean Freak. Besides, once it gets warm - I want to play! Here are some tips that will help you make sure you are ready to play once the temperatures get warm.

Use that spring optimism and make sure you are ready to play when the weather finally breaks! Forget waiting until spring to start spring cleaning. I mean, who wants to be cleaning when it's warm outside? Use the impending warm weather as motivation to get you moving during this frustrating time of year. Your house will be clean and you'll be free.

Pick one of these tasks anytime you have a little extra time.

Wash your figurines. I use dish soap. Just be careful that the paint on the figurine can stand up to being immersed in water.

Wash your silk plant arrangements.

Wipe down picture frames with a soft rag and Murphy Oil Soap.

Wash down your wood furniture with Weiman's Furniture Soap. Remember to wring rag out well. You don't want to get your wood furniture too wet! Follow up with Weiman's Furniture cream.

If the top of a wood piece of furniture is not looking as shiny as it used to, you can gently apply rubbing compound. Rinse well with a well wrung out rag and clean a second time before applying furniture cream. I've been using this technique on my dresser for almost 30 years. Same dresser. Still looks great.

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. Move the furniture and vacuum behind. Edge. Vacuum the furniture. Vacuum your blinds. Vacuum your mattresses.

Clean the range hood. Even if you just work at it 5 minutes at a time until it's clean. Something I call the wear away principle. I talk about it in Secret Confessions of a Clean Freak. (leave the oven until you can open the windows.)

Wash your window treatments.

If you have open space above the kitchen cabinets, get up there and clean it! If it's reall

y bad, you can use orange 409 and steel wool. If it's really, really bad, spray generously with orange 409 and let it sit for 15 minutes. Use a scraper to remove the tough layers of gunk. Then clean again with 409 and steel wool.

Wash the walls. Especially in the kitchen, bath and hallway. Do a little at a time. Don't kill yourself.

If you're not in the habit of wiping down your cabinets on a regular basis, you should get in the habit. It will keep your cabinets looking great a lot longer. Wipe wood cabinets down with Murphy Oil Soap. If it's gotten really bad, you may have to revert to the wear away principle. Don't get overzealous or you may scratch the cabinets!

Keep your animals brushed.

Some things just don't make sense to do now. Cleaning the carpet when we're coming into muddy season doesn't really make much sense. Won't hurt either. I love my Kirby! I can clean the carpets as often as I want.

Washing the blinds now is difficult then we can't hang them outside to dry. Darn. Mine really need it. How about yours? Oh well…

Just do a little here and there, and by the time April comes around- there won't be much left to do inside. You'll be able to get outside and feel that warm sunshine.

Besides, you'll get some exercise so you can look great when it's time to put on those skimpy clothes!

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