Five Tips for Spring Cleaning

So, spring has sprung!

You know what that means. Spring, as the poet said, is the time when all people’s fancies turn lightly to thoughts of … spring cleaning?

OK, that’s not what Tennyson said. But spring is the time of the year to engage in big cleaning projects in and around our homes where we try to work out what to declutter and how to clean ovens properly.

And if you’re going to do it, you might as well do the most thorough and effective job you can. Spring cleaning in schools and offices are beneficial too. You can always look into commercial cleaners, who’s job it is to get your schools, offices and other work environment looking it’s absolute best.

So here’s five tips (and links to help you) to have the best spring cleaning ever.

Recycle: Getting rid of stuff is a huge part of any successful spring cleaning. But remember, not everything belongs in the landfill – which is exactly where it’s headed if you toss it in the regular trash. Fortunately, almost all of us have trash haulers who will help us recycle right at the curb, to make sure things like hard plastics, glass, cardboard, cans and even green waste are properly recycled. But if you have any questions about recycling, or need help to figure out how to do it, here’s a great County website with lots of info and links to helpful sites.
Household Hazardous Wastes: We’ve all got them – from old household cleaners, to paints, pesticides, batteries, unused medications and more. Not only is it illegal to dispose of these in landfills or down storm drains, they also need special recycling attention. Never fear, here’s a link to our Household Hazardous Waste Web page with more information about it and links to places where you can safely recycle it.
Wet Cleaning: Spring cleaning is often the time we’re tidying up that shed in the backyard, the garage, or maybe even a cabin – places where critters can get inside. Remember, wild mice can carry hantavirus, a potentially dangerous virus that can be inhaled through contaminated dust, feces and urine. If you have to clean up an area where rodents have nested, be safe: DO NOT SWEEP OR VACUUM. Use “wet cleaning” methods: ventilate areas, spray them with bleach solutions or disinfectants, and use sponges and mops! If you find that your garage, barn, shed, etc. has been infested and you think cleaning it would be futile, it might be best to look at some Barns For Sale and see what they can do for you to keep your things safe.
Mosquito Protection: Speaking of wet-cleaning, spring cleaning is a perfect time to patrol the inside and outside of your home to get rid of any standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Last year, 11 San Diego County residents were diagnosed with the mosquito-driven West Nile virus and tragically, two people died – making it the first time in five years that our county has had any human cases of the disease and the first time since 2007 a local resident died. In addition, we also found another mosquito that can potentially carry dangerous disease for the first time ever in our county last year – the Aedes aegypti mosquito that can breed inside your home. So help protect yourself and everyone else by dumping out standing water. Here are some County links to get more information about West Nile virus,the Aedes aeqypti mosquito and things you can do to protect yourself from mosquitoes.
Defensible Space: As we’ve found out over the last decade or so, San Diego County is fire country. So help protect yourself, your family and your property, and give firefighters a safe area where they can potentially defend your home from fire if necessary by creating 100 feet of “defensible space.” Remove debris, including dry leaves, firewood stacks and trash (including on the roof and in rain gutters), if you don’t want to do this by yourself then you can easily get someone else to do it for you such as this gutter cleaning company in Toronto; trim away tree branches that overhang your home and cut low branches on trees; prune or remove dried-out bushes and plants; and properly dispose of tree and shrub clippings in a bin. For more information about wildfire preparedness, go to ReadySanDiego.org.