Spring into Spring with Some Spring Cleaning

Spring into Spring with Some Spring Cleaning

      It's spring cleaning time, and just because you haven't been buttoned inside like Boston doesn't mean Florida homes are exempt from this annual ritual. The days are longer, and the weather is perfect for wide open windows prior to the onset of heat, bugs and humidity.

      The best place to start is with a roll-off Bin There Dump That dumpster rental for anything that has gathered dust and cluttered your yard, garage, closets or carports or blown onto your property in the last storm. It's so easy to lay open a few large trash bags and sort through stuff with a garbage bag, recycle bag and thrift store bag. The trash bags need not accumulate in a corner or stink up your own vehicle. Just toss them into the Bin There Dump That  dumpster, one by one.

      Spring cleaning began as a seasonal event to air out a house stifled with wood smoke, coal fumes and stale air from winter. It has morphed into an annual event of de-cluttering, organizing and getting rid of junk, trash and rubbish, even little bits in the gutters and nestled against the foundation outside.

      With a little planning and a little more cajoling, you can make spring cleaning a family affair with a Bin There Dump That dumpster rental. Those who don't cotton to sorting, teenagers, for example, can be assigned dumpster duty -- carting stuff to the big bin and hoisting it over and inside.

      Spring maintenance can be aligned with changing the clocks ahead, like ~

·       checking smoke alarms

·       flipping mattresses

·       changing air filters

·       waxing or oiling wood to prevent dryness

·       dusting and reversing ceiling fans

·       cleaning gutters

·       looking for roof leaks

·       oiling things that move.

   
Pressure washing is a wonderful spring cleaning task, and all those icky things you wash down, along with yard debris like branches or a rotting planter, can go right in the Bin There Dump That dumpster.

      Another big spring event is baseball training, and there are several teams around  Tampa:

Pittsburgh Pirates

                      Philadelphia Phillies                  

Toronto Blue Jays

Baltimore Orioles

  New York Yankees

      For a great spring cleaning job behind you and Bin There Dump That taking away your junk and trash, gather the family for some ballpark fun. Add hot dogs and ice cream, then head back to your immaculate, sparkling, orderly home.

Natural Cleaning

For great results without harsh chemicals and the high cost of commercial cleansers, try some of these natural alternatives.

Vinegar ~ Vinegar is a natural, antibacterial and disinfecting liquid effective against viruses, mold and bacteria.

Baking soda ~ This ubiquitous natural mineral is most often used to neutralize odors by keeping an open box in the refrigerator. Make a paste of baking soda and water for most cleaning jobs.

Lemon ~ Citric acid in lemons make it another good, natural degreaser, and it has brightening properties. To enhance its power, mix juice from a couple of lemons with half a cup of vinegar in a spray bottle.

Washing soda ~ This is similar to baking soda, but stronger, and is most often used to enhance the power of laundry detergents to remove tough stains and neutralize odors. Wear gloves, and read the box for instructions.

Castile soap ~ Made from 100 percent plant oils, including olive oil, castile soap is totally environmentally friendly and performs well as a laundry detergent, cleanser, shampoo (including dog shampoo), tub scrub (mixed with baking soda), dish soap, body wash and carpet cleaner. Do not mix with vinegar.

Salt ~ Coarse or regular salt serves as an abrasive added to natural cleaning mixes for tough cleaning jobs.

Eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, pine ~ All add antibacterial and antifungal properties as well as fragrance.

General Cleanser

1 cup vinegar

1-3 cups water

12 drops lemon juice or essential oil

Mix in a spray bottle, shake before using

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~