Spring is Rught Around the Corner

Before you know it, Spring will be here. In South Georgia, where I live, winter has been very mild, even a bit warm, and, in the rest of the Country the weather has just been weird. Cheer up. Spring is at hand.

I never have understood the idea of Spring cleaning. I much prefer it do a heavy, late Winter cleaning. Why waste that nice spring weather stuck inside cleaning? Why not take advantage of that yucky, can't go out weather to clean your house from top to bottom. Put on some good, rowdy music; play it nice and loud; and tear the house apart, cleaning every nook and cranny. It's great exercise and it's good to give things a thorough job every once and a while.

If you do your own yard work, go through your tools. Make sure all motors are properly serviced and all blades are ultra-sharp. If you have a bench grinder, sharpening is easy. If not, simply use a good file. It's a bit more work, but what's your hurry; you can't go out a lot anyway.

Then when all is done, down to a nice meal. Maybe have a drink or two, if so inclined and congratulate yourself because when Spring arrives, you can enjoy things.

Cheap Healthy Cleaning

Cleaning products are not cheap and, often are harsh and generally unhealthy to use. Now, every now and then you do need to use things like degreasers. But, for a lot of your cleaning, try two safe, effective chemicals; vinegar and baking soda.

Baking soda is a fine scouring powder. Just mix with a little water into a paste, and it will clean very effectively. It is also a great de-odorizer. Most people know to put a little in your refrigerator, but it is also a good idea to put some, from time to time, in a microwave. Actually, is excellent for general cleaning of your microwave. It is also perfectly good as a toilet bowl cleaner and to, occasionally wipe out your washing machine.

Vinegar is a mild acid. It will cut light grease and is effective as a whitener, like bleach, only much safer.

If you have drain clogs, try this. Dump a cup or so of baking soda in the drain. add about a cup of vinegar, just plain white vinegar. If will foam immediately, so have a drain plug handy. As soon as it starts foaming, plug the drain and let it sit until you hear no more fizzing. Them unplug and rinse with warm water. It is almost as effective as any harsh drain cleaner and much safer.

These cheap, safe cleaners are most effective when used often. Don't let dirt build up and you will seldom have to use harsh, dangerous chemicals.

Make Life Easy - Clean As You Go

I don't mind working. Actually, I pretty much enjoy it, but I hate cleaning after. But, clean up isn't too bad, if you clean as you go.

Whether you're cooking, painting, working on your car or building something, you are going to make a mess. It can't be helped. Little is mote discouraging than finishing a project only to look around and realize that you have an hour's worth of cleaning. The secret is, take little breaks and straighten up then.

Say you are making dinner. After getting the basics started, stop and clean up the very little mess you have made. Then, say after you season and stir, do a bit more. Keep doing that  and when you are ready to serve, you have only the pots and pans you cooked in left to clean. Then, while the food rests (you must let meat rest a bit or it will be dry) wash those pots and pans. Then, when dinner is finished, you only have a few plates and bowls to wash. That is a lot better than realizing, after a nice meal, that you have a mountain of dishes. Also, when you spill while cooking, wipe it right then and keep your garbage can handy, don't let trash pile up. As a bonus, you will have a much safer kitchen. Trying to move hot pans and chopping vegetables in the midst of clutter and spills is a sure way to have accidents.

This same procedure applies to any job you are doing. For many years I did building maintenance and was always shocked to see people struggling to work in the mess they created. There are very few tasks that will not let you take a minute here and there to get your workplace in order and safe.

Even when I began working in kitchens I was surprised to find trained cooks trying to work in sloppy conditions. They should have known better.

Make your life easier and a lot safer. Take the time to clean as you go.

Cleaning

Everyone, everywhere, has to clean. Well, there are some of us who do so sparingly, but most of us like a clean home. Okay, simple enough, but what is the best way to go about it?

First, use chemicals sparingly and make sure you use the right cleaners. Also, use the simplest, safest chemicals that will do the job.

Ammonia. Stay away from ammonia unless you are stripping wax or paint, or grimy ovens. The stuff is hard on your lungs and seldom needed. If you must use it, make sure you have the windows open and fans on, then, when finished, go outside for a few hours. Really, the stuff is nasty. Do not ever, ever, ever, mix it with bleach. I have known folks who did this and, yes, it did clean, and yes, they ended up hospitalized, with bleeding lungs. In essence, they made mustartd gas, something used only in chemical warfare.

Bleach. One thing I want to make clear. Bleach does not clean. It whitens and it sanitizes. It works great to sanitize cutting boards and if you have mildew in your bathroom, it will kill it. Other than that, avoid bleach.

Baking Soda is a fantastic cleaner. A paste made with baking soda and water is a great scouring powder, cheap, safe and effective. Also, it removes foul odors.

Vinegar is a mild acid and will clean up stains quite nicely. Also, if you have clogged drains, try this before you buy harsh drain cleaners; pour baking soda in the drain, add vinegar and immediately plug the drain; it will fizz like crazy and, when it stops, rinse with cold water and your drain should work fine and smell much better.

All purpose cleaners. Most are some sort of solution involving a degreaser. Fine, if in fact, you are cleaning up grease, but, be careful. These chemicals are harsh. Don't use them on wood, they will damage it. Never use them without gloves. They will pull the fats out of your fingers and leave them dry, sore, and if over exposed, bleeding. Don't be fooled by labels saying 'all natural'. Many of those use substances like orange oil or pine oil, they are natural, but just as harsh.

It is true that with simpler, safer chemicals, you may have to scrub a bit harder, well, okay, a lot harder, but think of it this way. A lot of folks pay a lot of money to go to gyms and work out. Working around your house/apartment can give you a great workout for free.