Whether it’s May or November, sometimes you just get that feeling that it’s time for a spring clean of your house and possessions. Your ‘spring’ clean should cover all the annual tasks that will keep your home well maintained over the years, and also catch up on any cleaning that you have been putting off for the last few months. Get your home looking clean and smelling sweet with Goldstar Cleaning Services’ spring cleaning checklist. Floor care Unless you have a strict maintenance routing, your vinyl or linoleum flooring will need to be stripped, scrubbed and then re-finished once a year. Wood floors may need to be sanded and re-finished, especially in high-traffic areas. To avoid unnecessary wear-and-tear on your wood floors, there is no need to wash them with anything harsher than water and vinegar. Windows Take the screens out and hose them down in the yard. Wash the windows and frames inside and outside, using 1 part distilled white vinegar to three parts water and a squirt of dish soap. Wipe clean with newspaper – it’s the best – and cheapest – material to use because it doesn’t leave behind fibres. Wall and ceilings Mix one part ammonia to two-parts water to spot-clean any scuffs, handprints or food grease from your walls in high-traffic areas like the kitchen, stairs and around door frames. Don’t spot-clean your ceiling – the clean patches will just show up how dirty the rest of it is! Either leave it as it is, or wash the whole ceiling with the ammonia and water mixture and a long-handled mop. Carpet and rugs Check what material your carpet and rugs are and ensure you use the correct cleaning solution for them. If your carpet or rug is generally clean, but has some stained patches, spot-clean them. If your carpet or rug is very grubby,  rent a steam cleaner to deep-clean it. Baseboards Ideally you should dust baseboards once a month – if you haven’t, wash away any built-up grease with one part ammonia added to two parts water. Choose semi-gloss painted baseboards if you want them to be low-maintenance and easy to clean. Light fixtures Stick any removable glass or plastic parts such as shades or cords in the dishwasher, or scrub with one part ammonia added to two parts water to remove dust and grease. Don’t forget to dust your ceiling fans before you use them again! Houseplants Away from the wind and rain of their natural environment, houseplants can get coated in grease, dust and grow mold that may cause allergies. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth and clean pots or trays. Appliances Take a deep breath and pull out your appliances from where they sit all year. Wipe around the sides and vacuum the floor. Vacuum any vents that may get clogged with dust, reducing the lifetime of the applicance. Put a cup of vinegar in the bottom of your dishwasher, and run a cycle to clear any stuck food that may cause odours, or soap residue. Put ¼ cup of vinegar in your coffee machine jug, fill to the top with water and run a cycle to remove any mineral buildup. Unscrew the shower head and soak it in vinegar overnight to clear any limescale.   Get in the professionals Goldstar Cleaning Services’ experienced cleaning crew can provide a professional, thorough cleaning service for your home or business premises. Contact us to arrange a visit and to get a personalized quote.