A TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Junk Truck

Using junk removal services to boost your spring cleaning efforts

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We’re now cruising through the month of March, and the weather is finally starting to show positive signs of turning warmer in many places of the country.

Regardless of where you live, there’s one thing that is coming up for everyone: spring cleaning. It’s time to get the house cleaned up both inside and out to get organized and ready for the summer months. There are many ways to go about spring cleaning, but one option that could make the task a little easier is TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s junk removal service.

This service is great if you have items you are looking to part ways with but aren’t sure how to get rid of them. From old furniture and appliances, to any other knick knacks and junk lying around, we’ll come in and haul it away for you. Are you completing home renovations and need to get rid of your old cabinets or scrap pieces? We can help with that, too! Whatever your junk removal needs are, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is here and ready to help so you can really tackle your spring cleaning.

Our junk removal service features TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s professionally trained moving teams and specialized junk removal trucks to save you from doing the heavy lifting and hard work. We can lift, haul away, and dispose of any unwanted items or junk you might have around your home or business, and we will remove as little or as much as you need.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s junk removal service is great for removing the following:

  • Household furniture
  • Business furniture
  • Mattresses or box springs
  • Appliances
  • Carpeting
  • TVs
  • Exercise equipment
  • Electronics or appliances (please check with franchise to see if they are able)

Similarly, this works well for anyone who needs furniture disposal, office cleanout, garage cleanout, estate cleaning, business cleanout, or downsizing. Please note: junk removal services are only available at select franchise locations. Please contact the location in your area to see if this service is available.

For the rest of your spring cleaning tasks, we’ve developed a few other useful tips for you to follow below!

Develop a plan

Know what you want to get done around the house, and come up with a step-by-step plan to follow so you can stay on track and organized as you work through spring cleaning tasks. The checklist we’ve attached below will help with this step!

Take inventory of your cleaning supplies and materials

You can’t have spring cleaning without the proper spring cleaning materials and supplies, right? Before you get started, make sure you have enough of everything – from cleaning products to wipes, trash bags, rags, and more. Stock up in advance or pull out the supplies you probably already have in your home.

Purge unwanted items

A good idea during spring cleaning is to also work on decluttering your home and getting rid of those items that don’t serve a purpose anymore. Not using it? Toss it! You could also set these items aside for a garage sale at a later date.

Take your time

Spring cleaning probably won’t be finished in two hours – it’s going to take some time to work through your whole home, so pace yourself and take everything in stride. Chipping away with a few things at a time will make the whole process go a lot smoother.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

Use these 4 spring cleaning tips as we head into warmer months

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Thankfully – finally – there is light at the end of the tunnel for all of us suffering through the cold winter months, which means one thing: spring is right around the corner!

Spring months means summer months aren’t far behind, that means it’s time to get a jump on spring cleaning to get your home ready for the warmer months of the year. Cleaning and organizing are the name of the game when it comes to preparing your home for spring and summer, and we’ve put together a few tips to help you out.

Be sure to check out our infographic below to help serve as a “spring cleaning checklist” so you’re covering all the bases.

Develop a plan

Know what you want to get done around the house, and come up with a step-by-step plan to follow so you can stay on track and organized as you work through spring cleaning tasks. The checklist we’ve attached below will help with this step!

Take inventory of your cleaning supplies and materials

You can’t have spring cleaning without the proper spring cleaning materials and supplies, right? Before you get started, make sure you have enough of everything – from cleaning products to wipes, trash bags, rags, and more.

Purge unwanted items

A good idea during spring cleaning is to also work on decluttering your home and getting rid of those items that don’t serve a purpose anymore. Not using it? Toss it!

Take your time

Spring cleaning probably won’t be finished in two hours – it’s going to take some time to work through your whole home, so pace yourself and take everything in stride. Chipping away will make the whole process go a lot smoother.

Acting on these quick tips and taking the necessary steps as you go about spring cleaning will help you complete the job with high efficiency. Warm weather is the best time of year for most people, and you don’t want to be spending time indoor, cleaning and fixing things around the house that could have been taken care of before the beautiful weather hit!

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TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

 

The secret to successfully purging your belongings

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Downsizing

You never notice how much stuff you have until it’s time to move it. One of the best times to purge is when preparing for a move. Save yourself the trouble of packing and unpacking more than you need to and get rid of unnecessary items before you pack. Follow these guidelines for an easier move and purge of your home.

Setting up the purge

As you go to pack up each room, give yourself four piles: keep, donate, sell, and trash. Notice there is no “maybe” pile. The maybe pile tends to be clothes you can’t fit in, things you won’t fix, and stuff you won’t use or need to have. “Maybes” belong in the donate, sell, or trash pile.

Before you put anything into a box ask yourself, “When was the last time I used this?” If you haven’t used it in the last three months, ask yourself, “Is this a seasonal item?” If it’s not a seasonal item – think your favorite sweater you haven’t worn in three months because it’s 90 degrees outside or your artificial Christmas tree -then you probably don’t need it.

Bathroom

The bathroom is one room of the house where it is easy to build clutter without recognizing it. Those mini bottles of hotel shampoo, bottles of aspirin with one pill left, and nail polish that has hardened in the bottle can add up to a lot of clutter.
Most of the items in your medicine cabinet will belong in the keep or trash pile. First, throw out anything expired. Next, look at things that are nearly empty and merge them into one bottle to save space -think putting two bottles of lotion together or putting all those loose bobby pins into one bag.
As far as towels go, your need will depend on the amount of people in your home. Unclutterer.com recommends this formula for deciding how many towels to keep: (House residents + guest bedrooms) x 2 = Sets of bath towels and washcloths.

Kitchen

Tupperware containers you never returned to their owner, a drawer full of pens that don’t write, or the pile full of your kids’ old school papers … no matter which category you fall under, the kitchen is also a big junk magnet. The real problem with kitchen junk is a majority of the clutter tend to be items you need and use, but you just have too many!

While the standard kitchen items such as cutting boards, oven mitts, or plates do seem necessary, multiples of them probably aren’t. This includes crockpots, vegetable peelers, corkscrews, can openers, coffee makers, cast iron skillets, and cheese graters.

Meanwhile, a majority of junk-drawer trash is in the form of takeout menus and condiment packages. Most restaurants have their menus available online, so go ahead and put all those takeout menus in the recycling, throw away those packages of red peppers from your favorite pizza place, and the pens that don’t work – pitch them. Remember, you don’t want to move junk – if you refer to it as the “junk drawer” it’s probably best to put its contents in the trash.

Living room

Packing up areas like the living room or dining room tend to be easier because they normally have less storage space than other rooms. When packing up your living room most of the choices you’ll have to make will be based on entertainment items like books, magazines, DVDs, and CDs.

Put any magazines into recycling (you will get more). Look over your collection of movies, CDs, and books for things you can do without. You can decide which you might be able to sell and which of these you can donate. If it’s not entertaining you anymore, get rid of it and let it entertain someone else. Also look for any knick-knacks or decorations you don’t really love anymore. Let your new place have a fresh start.

Bedroom

Your bedroom is where you go to unwind and to find sanctuary. Nothing can ruin your relaxation time like a cluttered bedroom. When it comes to bedding you shouldn’t need more than two sets of bedding per bed. Apartment Therapy points out that you may need more than this if you have young children.

Many people find they like to read a good book to unwind from the day, but those books tend to pile up. When packing up your bedroom consider donating books you don’t intend on reading again. Be aware of the hidden things you should purge. A lot of the things stored under your bed are there because you’ve convinced yourself you need to have it, but it’s not something you actually use. If there are things you haven’t used or don’t need, save yourself the box space and donate, sell, or trash!

Closets

This space is the hardest to purge for many people and is the only room you are allowed to make a “maybe” pile in order to avoid putting things you should get rid of directly into the “keep” pile. For non-seasonal items ask yourself, “When was the last time I wore this?” “Does it still fit?” “When will I wear this again?” Don’t ask yourself, “Will I wear it again,” because it’s easy to tell yourself you will and then keep it, only to have it stay on the hanger and never see the light of day again.

You can do it!

While purging your belongings can be scary, it will make you feel better afterward and make your move a little lighter. Remember, for seasonal or larger items, storage is always an option. Don’t feel obligated to purge everything but use discretion.

Content developed in association with The Parham Group and Noah’s Ark Self Storage.

Rock the block with your next garage sale

Written by Jessy Howe

Garage sale shopper

Garage sale season is upon us! In an effort to de-clutter your home of items you no longer need while making some extra spending money, we’ve gathered our top tips to throwing a rocking sale!

Choose the date

Many communities have “neighborhood sales.” If your area does this, take advantage! Traffic will be busier than normal and those who are out are ready to find your treasures. Have your sale over the course of two days, Friday and Saturday typically have the best results, and be ready for customers early. 8 a.m. is usually a great time to start.

Pricing

We recommend pricing everything you intend to sell. With people making a mess of your tables all day, you’ll be thankful each item is tagged. Pick up sticker price tags from your local dollar store, they usually have a selection of blank or pre-printed price stickers to choose from. Masking tape is a great price tag alternative. Go with “easy-to-pay-for” prices. What I mean by this is tag your items at .50 cents, $1, $5, and so on. Not .30 cents or $1.70. Lastly, price to sell! This is something my mom has always said when it comes to yard sales. You will not get $15 for your worn jeans, even if they are in good condition.

Make it a family affair

Ask your family and friends if they’d like to get in on the fun! Chances are they’ve accumulated some junk as well. Because multi-family sales are larger, they are more appealing to those driving by and provide incentive to stop. Keep items separated when selling by putting that family member’s initial on the price tag. Keep a notepad at your cash table with columns for each seller to jot down who has made what.

Prepare for the weather

Unless you are in a garage or barn, set up a tent or canopy if possible. You’ll have a shady area to cool down on a hot day and a place to move your items if it rains. Cover your tables with tarps overnight to avoid the trouble of taking your set up down just to put it back together the next morning.

Set-up matters

Trust me when I say that appearance does matter. People are more willing to stop when they see you have items nicely set out. Put your children’s toys in one area, books and movies in another, fold men’s clothes on one table and women’s clothes on another, you get the idea. An organized sale makes it easier to look through, and buy!

Garage sale set-up

Let people know!

Post to Facebook on community garage sale pages in your area, or perhaps your town’s Facebook page shares these type of updates. Purchase an ad in your local paper- normally no more than $10- and include when, where, and a brief list of items your selling. Descriptions can be as simple as “women’s clothes, baby clothes and toys, antiques, furniture, tools.” If you choose to have a multi-family sale, be sure to mention this. Most importantly, put signs out near busy intersections and at the end of your street to help direct people. Use large letters and stick with simple wording such as “Garage Sale” followed by your address and directional arrow.

Include your kids

If you have children they can easily be part of the weekend. Bake cookies the night before and set out a cooler of bottled water for them to sell, or set up a lemonade stand. They’ll love having their own job and will be occupied throughout the sale.

Donate what’s left

Pack up the items you are left with at the end of the weekend and donate them to a shelter or organization in your community. If you are in need of cardboard boxes for your donation items, visit your local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® to choose from a variety of sizes.

Do you have any garage sale tips to live by? We’d love to hear them! Like us on Facebook for more helpful tips and updates. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward!

Refreshing your home in preparation for spring

Written by Jessy Howe

It’s nearly time to enjoy the long-awaited spring weather once again! With the warm sunshine and flowers beginning to bud, there is nothing worse than coming back inside to space that feels like it could use freshening up! Below is a checklist of spring cleaning to-dos in each room of your home, but before we get to that, here are a few simple tips to help this process run smoothly.

  • Do a quick inventory check of your cleaning supplies before beginning your spring cleaning. If you find you’re out of paper-towels or running low on Windex, make a list and head to the store.
  • Consider investing in a cleaning caddy. These are inexpensive and can be found at most stores. They are convenient not only for carrying supplies through the house while you clean, but also to provide an organized storage place for your items.
  • I find it is easiest to work on one room at a time. Jumping around the house from room to room allows for distraction, tasks not being completed, and results in spending much more time cleaning then necessary.
  • Due to the amount of deep cleaning that is done during the “spring cleaning cleanse”, remember it is okay if not everything is completed at once. Spread your tasks out between two days to avoid feeling overwhelmed or simply take breaks between rooms.
  • During this time, I also gather unused items and put them in either a donation bin, or storage spot for garage sale items come summer. Since I am already going room to room deep cleaning, it is easy to lump this into my spring cleaning routine.

Now on to the list. As mentioned, I find it most efficient to clean one room at a time so naturally tasks are separated in this fashion. Of course depending on where you live or if you reside in a house versus an apartment, the list may vary from person to person, but hopefully it will serve as a good starting guide when you begin your spring cleaning!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Spring Cleaning Checklist

If you have any spring cleaning tips we’d love to hear them! For more cleaning tips and tricks, head on over to our Pinterest page or like us on Facebook. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward!

How to avoid leaving a huge mess when you move out

Don't forget to clean the stove before moving!

Moving is a huge time-consuming and stress-inducing chore, but there’s no other way about it. You have to spend weeks sorting and packing stuff you’ve accumulated over the past few years, talk to the movers, arrange for utilities to be transferred, unpack and put things away in your new home…the list just goes on.

With all this occupying your mind day and night, it’s only natural that you’ve forgotten one essential part of moving – that’s right, move-out cleaning! This house has been your home for the past many years; don’t you owe it a good cleanup before you leave? Okay, you are not that sentimental about the house, but do you think you have a good chance of getting the deposit back intact if you leave the house in the condition it is in right now?

To make things easier on you and help you avoid leaving a huge mess behind when you move, we have put together a handy list of things that you need to do before closing the door of your old home one last time. Happy moving!

What you will need:

  • A pair of rubber gloves
  • A vacuum cleaner
  • A mop
  • A broom and a dustpan
  • A squeegee
  • A spray bottle
  • Scrubbing sponges
  • Dish detergent
  • Baking soda
  • Magic erasers
  • Vinegar
  • Toilet cleaner and brush
  • All-purpose cleaner
  • An old toothbrush for tough-to-clean stains
  • Old newspapers
  • Cleaning rags
  • Trash bags

Tip: Remember to keep the above items separate from your packing boxes so that they don’t get shipped out to your new home before you are done cleaning!

In all the rooms:

Spray all windows with a mix of 50% distilled water and 50% tap water and wipe clean with a squeegee or a scrunched-up newspaper. If you had not washed your windows for a long time and they are particularly dirty, you may want to wash them with soapy water first. Clean the ledges.

Dirty window blinds? Simply put on an old cotton sock, dip your hand in the vinegar mix, and run your hands over each of the blinds. And there you go, good as new!

Take out all nails and hooks you have put into the walls and doors and fill them with putty. Use a magic eraser to remove scuffmarks, but take care to first test the eraser on a small surface. Harsh erasers can take the paint right off the walls and make your job twice as hard!

Bright lights are magnets for insects. Make sure to check for dead insects when you dust and clean the lighting fixtures and fans.

Wipe the closet shelves and check if the walls are clean. Remove cobwebs from the ceiling, vacuum the floor, and mop the hardwood and tile surfaces.

Tip: Always clean from top to bottom to avoid having to clean the same spot twice!

In the kitchen:

Empty cabinets and remove liners. Wipe the insides and the front surfaces clean with a damp cloth.

Remove refrigerator shelves and soak them in the sink while you scrub the inside clean with a scrubbing sponge and dish wash soap. Wipe the inside dry with a cleaning rag, wash the shelves, dry them, and put them back in. While you are at it, clean the sides, back and top of the refrigerator and also sweep below the refrigerator. If you have a dishwasher, clean it thoroughly.

Clean the oven, microwave and stove next and make sure that you remove all traces of grease and burnt food. While cleaning the stove, make sure you clean below the drip pans too. Scrub the kitchen counter top, sink and plumbing fixtures and you are good to go!

Tip: For the oven, use a paste made of baking soda and water to remove stubborn grease and grime without the harsh odors associated with heavy-duty oven cleaners.

In the bathrooms:

Empty the bathroom cupboards and take out the liners. Scrub clean the shower walls, tub, sink and counter with an all-purpose cleaning agent. Use the toothbrush for attacking the grout. Clean the toilet thoroughly from top to bottom. Spray the mirror with the vinegar solution you used on the windows and wipe clean. Dust the exhaust fan. Mop the floor.

Tip: Remember to keep at least one bathroom for the last or you may have to clean it again before you leave!

Don’t forget the outside areas

If you were using any outside storage facilities in the building, such as garage lockers, clean out those spaces. Dust and clean the outside lighting fixtures. Check your mailbox. Sweep the porch and patio.

One last time

Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you say goodbye to your old home for the last time.

  • Are all the closets and cabinets empty?
  • Are all the electrical appliances/lights/fans in working condition?
  • Have you taken the trash out?
  • Do you have time-stamped photographs to document the condition of the house at the time of your move-out? These may be necessary if the landlord comes up with false damage charges later.
  • Do you have all the keys to return to the landlord?
  • Have you informed your neighbors you are moving?

A thorough move-out cleaning, especially if you have not been very particular about keeping the house in great shape all these days, can take a lot of time. If you have friends who are willing to pitch in, don’t hesitate to ask for their help. You should ideally start a few days in advance so that you are not left elbow deep in soapsuds and detergents even on the last day.

If you hate getting your hands dirty and don’t mind spending the extra dollars, you can always consider hiring a professional cleaning service to spruce up the home before you leave. But whatever you decide, don’t forget that move-out cleaning is essential to ensuring that you get your security deposit back from your landlord without a major deduction. In most cases, a happy landlord means a full refund. Here’s hoping that your moving happens as smoothly and easily as possible. All the best!

 

photoKurt Jacobson is a writer and vacation rental manager. Knowing what it takes to maintain pristine appearances for customers, he thrives on sharing what he’s learned from his experience. When he’s not managing a property, he writes about home cleaning for the Professional Home Cleaning Inc website.

Spring cleaning: Tackle the forgotten areas in your home

Written by Nicole Harrison

Spring is just around the corner! Toss back your curtains, throw open your windows, and breathe in that crisp warm(ish) air. Whether you love cleaning or not, now is the time to start freshening up your house and begin spring cleaning. As much as I hate cleaning, I have to admit, after a good spring cleaning my mood drastically improves.

Most people have the same spring cleaning schedule each year, however think about the areas of your home you don’t tend to focus on. It’s easy to vac SPRING-CLEANINGuum your carpet, dust your furniture, and clean out the fridge, but I have highlighted what I think are items and areas most people seem to neglect.

Baseboards– When cleaning, most people forget about their base boards. Vacuuming along the edges of the carpet is usually a go-to, but many people don’t actually take time to clean their baseboards, and if they do, it’s not very often. There are a few ways to clean your baseboards, speaking from personal experience, both work quite well. If you don’t clean your baseboards often I recommend using a bucket of water and vinegar, or soapy water. Dryer sheets are also an excellent way to clean your baseboards. The fibers in the dryer sheets work well to pick up dust, dirt, and hair that could be lingering on your baseboards. If you want a thorough deep-cleaning, you can wipe down your baseboards with dryer sheets and follow with the liquid solution mentioned earlier. We recommend using cotton swabs to reach the tight corners and crevices on your baseboard.

Blinds– There many types of blinds and cleaning them can be a huge pain. Believe it or not, blinds get very dirty and can collect a lot of dust. Depending on the type of blind you have, you can either vacuum across each panel — don’t vacuum vertically — or use a dry sponge to remove excess dust and particles. If you have to spot clean a certain area of your blinds, all-purpose cleaner works well to clean make your blinds look like new again!

Pillows– Did you know you’re supposed to wash your pillows? You should be washing your pillows at least twice a year. Check the care label on your pillow to make sure they are machine washable. Wash no more than two pillows at a time, while keeping a balanced load. When you wash your pillows, we recommend using very hot water. In addition to laundry detergent, it’s common to add powdered dishwasher detergent, bleach, and borax to your load to clean and make your pillows white again. If you decide to dry your pillows in the dryer, throw in a couple tennis balls covered in old socks to fluff the pillows while they dry.

Junk Drawer– I hate junk drawers. It’s a place for me to get lazy and throw … well, junk — and believe me I do. If you are like me and have a junk drawer (or multiple), be sure to spend some time going through it when you’re on your spring cleaning kick. Empty your junk drawer and wipe down the inside with warm soapy water. Depending on what you have in your junk drawer, the bottom of it could get really dirty, and really, how often do you take time to wipe out the inside of it? Go through yIMG_9032our drawer’s contents and pitch anything that has no value or functional use for you. Look into buying drawer organizers to keep items in place and easy to find.

Garbage Disposal– I stole this tip from our spring cleaning blog that was written last year. I tried it, and it’s brilliant! Warm up ½ cup of lemon juice in your microwave. After the lemon juice has been heated, slowly add ½ cup of baking soda to create a thicker paste (it should bubble). Turn on the garbage disposal and pour down the sink. Run hot water to wash down the leftover cleaning solution. If your garbage disposal still smells, repeat the process as needed. I love the fresh lemon smell!

Hopefully these spring cleaning tips were helpful and reminded you to clean those often forgotten areas! For more spring cleaning tips and ideas, check out this spring cleaning infographic.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

10 spring cleaning tips using basic household products

Written by Claire Schneider

Throw the curtains open and put out a cheerful welcome mat because it’s finally starting to feel like spring. We all know what that means … spring cleaning time! It’s the season to toss or stow seasonal items, tidy corners, and tame cluttered spaces.

This may sound strange, but I’ve been waiting for spring cleaning since last spring. My husband and I bought our first house last year, which was a foreclosure, so it needed a lot of work. I’ve tested many different cleaning products ranging from eco-friendly to the toxic, burn–the-lungs, cleaners. Still there are just some items in our house which will not clean well.

I’ve enlisted the help of my awesome co-workers for their go-to, natural/organic spring cleaning tips. I put some of them to the test on our home; others I’ve heard have worked for several people, such as the oft-prescribed club soda trick.

Vinegar

• Windows and glass: Mix together a 50/50 blend of vinegar and distilled water into a spray bottle and grab a few sheets of recycled newspaper. Use a diluted 25/75 for hardwood floors and silk plant leaves. It will make them shine!

• Rust: Soak rusty items in vinegar to eat off rust. Since our house was vacant for at least six months, our sinks and showers had stubborn rust rings around the drains.

I tested out this cleaning tip on our bathroom sink. It was hard to really get the area to soak for a long period of time (our drain apparently doesn’t close water tight), but after only soaking for 30 minutes and scrubbing with a toothbrush for about 10, there already is a dramatic difference in the amount of rust that even the well-known rust cleaners couldn’t accomplish.

Rust 1

Rust 2

•  General cleaning: Vinegar is good for general cleaning of bathrooms and clearing clogged drains. When left in a bowl it also can deodorize a room.

I left a bowl in one of our linen drawers that has always had a musty smell no matter how long I let it air out. From what I can tell, it worked very well.

Club Soda

• Stains: Club soda is perfect for getting rid of red wine and other pesky stains.

Dryer Sheets

• Dust and hair: Rub a used dryer sheet over freshly dusted furniture and it will repeal dust and hair.

This one I had to try. We have two dogs and I currently have to dust at least twice a week. Here’s a photo of what our table looks like after not dusting for a week without using the dryer sheet and in the right is one week after testing it out. It’s still dustier than I hoped, but it’s an arguable improvement.

Dusty Table 1

Dusty table 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Odor: Dryer sheets are very handy and inexpensive air fresheners for closest, drawers, under sinks, and pet areas.

Lemon

• Water marks: Cut a lemon in half and rub the lemon on the metal fixture and rinse.

Not only did this work but it left my bathroom smelling lovely!

• Garbage disposal: Mix ½ cup of lemon juice and ½ cup of baking soda. Heat lemon juice in microwave for 30 seconds. Add baking soda slowly (it will bubble) and mix well. Turn on the disposal and pour down the drain. Turn on hot water for a few seconds to rinse away any mix remaining in the sink or the bowl. Use weekly. If disposal still has a bad odor, repeat.

Cotton

• Ceiling fans: Slip a pillow case over ceiling fan blades, one at a time, and wipe. Dust falls into the pillow case, not on you, your furniture, or your floors.

This may be one of my favorite tips! I have really bad dust allergies so being able to dust and tap it will really help ensure I don’t get one of those amazingly fun sneezing attacks this year.

• Blinds: Put an old sock on one hand and spritz it with water. Grip each panel of the blind and pull one end to the other, removing dust from both sides at once.

I hope you find these natural and powerful cleaning tips as helpful as I did. Check out our spring cleaning infographic for additional tips!

7 Benefits of Spring Cleaning

By Claire Schneider

Are you getting tired of the winter blues? Well it’s finally getting to be that time again for the ritual of spring cleaning; that is if Mother Nature ever decides to cooperate. Spring cleaning is a tradition that allows us to freshen up our homes and get a head start on the seasons of spring and summer so we can enjoy them with our friends and family. Here is more information on the ritual’s history, benefits and a checklist for spring cleaning:

Spring Cleaning Infographic

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.