KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – LET’S DO SOME FALL CLEANING TO GET READY FOR WINTER

KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – LET’S DO SOME FALL CLEANING TO GET READY FOR WINTER

To me fall cleaning is as or more important than spring cleaning. The house is going to be closed up for a long winter and it helps to have the house fresh and clean. We’ve been lucky in the Midwest and especially the Chicago area with the weather. Unseasonably warm temperatures will make cleaning easier and more pleasant.

It’s possible to pretty much clean the entire house using natural and biodegradable products. Baking soda salt and vinegar will get you through many cleaning chores. Two or three tables spoons of vinegar in a gallon of water will make your windows sparkle. Use a squeegee for streak free glass wiping frequently.

Mix baking soda with water to form a paste. This is a gentle scouring agent to use a ceramic and countertops. It also deodorizes and cleans the refrigerator without scratching. Mix 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water to dissolve soap scum. For tougher bathroom stains try CLR it’s completely biodegradable and is tough on rust and other stains.

Flax soap also called Murphy’s oil soap is a gentle soap to use on anything wood floors and woodwork. Works great on walls too! Start from the bottom to prevent streaks. Us a large porous sponge and change the water often.

I invested in a long handled rug brush that makes spot carpet cleaning a breeze. Spot treat with carpet cleaner and scrub the spots. Do a light spray over the rest of the carpet and brush. Let dry and vacuum. This will refresh the carpet between deep cleanings.

a can do wonders. I spray each spot or traffic area. Scrub each spot with a stiff brush dampened with clean water. Let dry and vacuum. You’ll be surprised at how good it looks!

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO