After a long winter, every homeowner wishes to spring into action, clean out the clutter and bring some much needed order to their homes before enjoying the start of spring. To whip homeowners into tip-top shape, your local Merry Maids office developed an easy-to-follow “Spring Cleaning Boot Camp” with expert-tested tips for spring cleaning one room at a time.

According to a recent survey, more than two-thirds (68 percent) of consumers consider spring cleaning an overwhelming chore. And while the vast majority of consumers (88 percent) believe their homes could always be a little cleaner, more than a third (35 percent) avoid cleaning the messiest rooms in their homes altogether.

“The most common cleaning challenge homeowners face is figuring out where to start,” says Bob Cunningham, local Merry Maids owner. “Having a set cleaning plan and breaking it up room-by-room makes tasks more manageable and may even help you clean areas you often ignore. Start with the Merry Maids Spring Cleaning Boot Camp checklist and customize a cleaning plan that fits your lifestyle, then prioritize the most important rooms and tasks to match your cleaning preferences.”

<b>Bedroom</b>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• Sprinkle baking soda on carpets and vacuum slowly.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• Wash bedspreads, mattress covers and duvets and flip your mattress before making the bed with fresh, clean linens, and don’t forget to dust behind headboards.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• Sort closets and create a “keep” and “donate” pile for your clothes.</p>
<b>Living Room</b>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• Start by removing all knick-knacks from tables and shelves, and then thoroughly dust with a microfiber cloth.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• Launder or dry clean curtains, then dust windows, window sills, coffee tables and shelves.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• Wash or dry clean pillows and steam clean the remaining upholstery and carpeting. If steam cleaning seems daunting, a professional can help with that.</p>
<b>Kitchen</b>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• Empty the refrigerator and wash shelves with warm, soapy water.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• Use dishwashing liquid and warm water to clean cabinet fronts, and de-grease appliances with an all-purpose cleaner. Deodorize the garbage disposal with a half cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar mixed with hot water.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• De-grease the microwave by heating up half a lemon in hot water for 10 minutes, and then wipe the grime away.</p>
<b>Bathroom</b>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• Use a non-abrasive cleaning detergent to scrub the inside of the tub, toilet and sink.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• Wipe inside of cabinets, clean the mirror and toss old cosmetics and expired medicines.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• Steam clean or other floor cleaner to scrub the floor, restoring the true color of your bathroom tiles.</p>
Use these tips to check each room off your spring cleaning checklist, so you can really start enjoying the season. Homeowners who don’t have time to tackle their own spring cleaning, however, are not alone. In fact, nearly a third of consumers (30 percent) say hiring someone to help clean their home is more of a necessity than a luxury. If you fall into this category, count on your local Merry Maids team to create a customized cleaning plan for you and ensure a consistent, reliable and thorough cleaning process every time. For information or any questions you may have, please call the local Merry Maids Beaufort office at 522-2777 or visit merrymaidsbeaufort.com.