Little Black Guidebook

Who loves to do lists? I do, I do! I know, its a sickness. Feels so good to check things off of it. These spring cleaning lists make my heart sing. Ok, enough weirding you out. I’m going to go have fun with a can of compressed air now.

Living Room Spring Cleaning List via Simply Stated:

1. Move furniture, vacuum or sweep where furniture had been placed, and vacuum the underside of large furniture items with the help of a strong buddy.
2. Wash or dry clean furniture slip covers and steam clean upholstered furniture.
3. Polish wood legs on furniture and tables.
4. Pull items out of storage drawers and off shelves, wipe down the drawers/shelves, and replace organization units if worn.
5. Pull books off of shelves, dust with a clean, dry rag, dust bookshelves, and replace books.

Bonus overachiever tasks:

1. Dust light fixtures, photographs and artwork.
2. Window coverings: take down and launder all window coverings
3. DVD/VCR: dust the outsides, use a DVD or tape cleaner on the insides, spray the inside and outside with compressed air to dust
4. iPod Dock: Unplug the dock and wipe it down with a damp soft, lint-free cloth. Don’t use liquid cleaners.
5. Remote Controls: Wipe the entire surface of the remote control.
6. Stereo and Speakers: Dust the entire surface of the stereo. Wipe everything, including the knobs, with an electrostatic dust-mop cloth that has been slightly dampened with water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid, then wrung out. Dust the inside with compressed air.
7. Television: Wipe down the screen with horizontal strokes beginning at the top of the screen, with a dry electrostatic dust-mop cloth or a dry-cleaning sponge. (Shorter strokes cause smudging.)

As promised here is a shot of our bedroom after Spring Cleaning and purging. No my husband’s teddy bear was not even considered for purging. It may go live at his Mom’s house for awhile if we ever move, but it will never be thrown away. Some things are like that.

I love my floating bamboo night tables, they make the room look bigger without such a heavy furniture feel. Poladroid effect makes the green carpet look better. (future project?)

Bedroom was definitely the easiest to Spring Clean. Clothes used to be the biggest trouble for me, but now I regularly flip my hangers around to keep tabs on what I am actually using.  So today I just grabbed all the hangers that were still backwards that were still winter clothes and put them in the house outbox. Done. Change the bedding, flip the mattress, throw the laundry in the wash, wash the window, dust and vacuum, done done done. Next? Ok, ok, tomorrow I’ll post an after photo.  For now I’ll leave you with these more attractive inspiration photos.

Bedroom Spring Cleaning List via Simply Stated:

1. Flip your mattress if recommended by the manufacturer.
2. Wash mattress pad and bed skirt. Dry clean or launder comforter and pillow shams.
3. Wash heavy winter blankets and store until fall.
4. Wash or dry clean heavy sweaters and put in storage.
5. Swap out cooler weather clothing with warmer weather clothing in closet and drawers. Wipe down closet and dressers while clothes are in transition.
6. Polish leather shoes and send those worth repairing out to a cobbler.
7. Polish and/or dust jewelry per manufacturer’s instructions. Have damaged items professionally repaired. If applicable, have wedding band and ring steam cleaned at a jewelry store.

Moving Overseas Purge – Bedroom Edition

1. Use the hanger flipping technique to reevaluate clothes seasonally – Took a look through all of the hangers that are still backwards in the closet. Anything that is winter clothes that still hasn’t been flipped around hasn’t been used since last fall and regardless of any excuses has to go. I have had business, formal, funeral, wedding, and every other conceivable “occasion” during that time so if the hanger isn’t facing the right way it hasn’t been used.
2. Evaluate condition and fit of remaining clothes – Some things get worn beyond their fit and condition. I’ve told myself to repair something for over a year and it hasn’t happened? Its going to the sewing room or the purge pile. And those size 12 clothes? Do I really want to mentally hold onto them, just in case? NO. Donate clothing that is ill-fitting, and repair clothing that needs tailoring work.
3. Do I need this many? – Ok it fits, and I’ve used it in the last 8 months. But I’m talking about items that don’t add anything, 32 pairs of socks, 20 bras, how many t-shirts? It really only adds up to being able to do laundry less often and letting things pile up more. This is where the Moving Overseas game really works! I would never have room to take all of that with me so I really don’t NEED all of it. I will be putting some of it
4. Would I buy this again? – Or do I have this t-shirt because it was free and might be useful at the gym? Do I love this?
5. Why is this in my bedroom? – Our house is large enough that things other than regularly used clothes, a book on the night stand and jewelry really don’t belong there.  Hiking boots, wedding dress, 15 books I plan to read soon, Legos? (we don’t even have kids, where did those come from!) etc. etc. etc. probably belong elsewhere.
6. If I was really moving – Total reevaluation of whether something is climate and culturaly appropriate. Everything else: in fashion, prime condition, needed, etc. is done already.

Now that the Kitchen is cleaned and purged for the Move Overseas its time to move on to the Bathroom. A cold, but sunny Saturday is the perfect day to work on the bathroom, because it just looks so shiny when you’re done. The inspiration photo above is like 10 times bigger than my bathroom, but no matter. It’s simple, clean , white and inspiring.

Spring Cleaning Bathroom List: via Simply Stated

1. Clean medicine chest, disposing of medicines properly.
2. Launder shower curtain and replace liner if mildewy.
3. Inspect grout, caulk, and seals on sink, shower, bathtub, and floors. Replace/repair as necessary.
4. Soak shower head for one to two hours in a zip-top bag filled with white vinegar. Attach zip-top bag to shower head with rubber band or binder clip. Flush with water afterward.
5. Toss expired makeup and toiletries.
6. Wipe down the shower rods and rings.

+ This list seemed a little light on actual cleaning and seemed to be more geared towards periodic maintenance so here is a bonus overachiever list because I’m cool/an obsessive list maker.

1. Clean the tub and shower.
2. Shine the mirror.
3. Scrub the sink.
4. Disinfect the toilet.
5. Mop the floor.
6. Clean the wastebasket
7. Wipe the faucet and fixtures.

Purge

The bathroom purge wasn’t nearly as dramatic as the Kitchen one. I didn’t make a list this time. Instead I went with a, “Would I mail this to myself to make sure it was available where I move?” approach. Then I looked at what was left and my waste not want not nature took over. This called for further action.

1. Expired or never used, but open products. – Tossed.
2. Almost empty products – Placed prominently so that I am reminded to use up these products.
3. Travel size products – Right now I can live for quite awhile on hotel bar soap without buying any more body-wash, so some of this is going to the local women’s shelter and the rest is being put somewhere it will get used.
4. Linens – Two people don’t need 12 bath towels and 5 sets of Queen sheets, its just a side affect of getting married and still having wedding present linens 5 years later. Repurpose, toss, donate.