Spring Cleaning Makeover – The Bedrooms

Happy Sunday everyone! I am glad you are back here for what I hope has been a fun and informative respite from the outside world and the anxiousness and desire to get back to being out and about! I also hope you are still staying safe and healthy! Tonight’s post will be spring cleaning the bedroom. It is said that we spend about 1/3 of our lives in bed and it is now more important than ever to get good, quality sleep. And it is even more vital that our bedrooms stay clean and sanitized to prevent the spread of any illness. Let’s dive in!

CHECKLIST:

Wipe baseboards

Dust/polish furniture

Donated unused clothing

Organize closets

Wash bedding, including sheets, pillows, duvets, and bedskirts

Vacuum carpets

Flip mattress

Dust blinds

Dust curtain rods

Clean window sills

Wash windows

Clean or vacuum curtains

Mop or vacuum floors

Shampoo rugs or carpets

TIPS:

Strip the bed. Wash your sheets every week, pillow covers every month, mattress covers every 3 months, and comforters and pillows every 6 months or when dirty. (NOTE: during this time, I have been personally washing our pillowcases every 2-3 days. Since our family works in essential industries, I am trying to be extra vigilant with these.)

Rotate your mattress. Rotate the position of your mattress every 3 months to keep it from sagging.

Dust all surfaces. Work from the top to bottom so that you won’t have to clean anything twice. Dust the ceiling fan with a pillowcase. Dust the furniture with a microfiber cloth. Don’t forget the baseboards. (NOTE: this is a great time to make sure light switches stay disinfected on a daily basis.)

Save time finding linen sets in your linen closet by storing sheet sets in pillowcases. Store each set of sheets together in a pillowcase to keep your linen closet neat and clean and organized. When you make a bed, grab a set and go.

Vacuum your mattress when you rotate it. Sprinkle some baking soda on the box spring and use a vacuum attachment when you vacuum to freshen and pick up dust and any other allergens.

Zap stains on your mattress with a homemade hydrogen peroxide paste. Be sure to use a white cloth to wipe up so that any kind of colored cloth does not stain the mattress. This solution should be used right away and any unused portions discarded. Take 1 tablespoon of liquid castile soap, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide. Mix the ingredients together, then apply the thick paste to the stain. Let it sit until it is completely dry. Then wipe away the residue with a damp cloth. If the stain is not completely gone, take another white rag, and blot with more hydrogen peroxide until the stain lifts away.

Tip for Vent Cleaning (any heating/air conditioning vents). Vents can attract a lot of hair and dust and dirt. Pour a little vinegar in a small bowl and add a drop of your favorite essential oil to the vinegar. Dip a clean cloth in the white vinegar, wring out any excess and wipe vents. If you have a vent that is up high, put a sock with vinegar on it on a broom handle and carefully wipe with that!

RECIPES:

Peppermint and Lavender Linen Refresher: Take 1/2 cup of water (distilled), 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol, 10 drops of lavender essential oil, 5 drops of peppermint essential oil. Combine ingredients and pour into a 16 ounce container with a spray top. Spray about 8 inches from any linen you are refreshing. Store in a spray bottle in a cool, dark place up to 2 months.

Natural Scratch Remover. (Great for dressers and bookshelves and headboards) Take 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of distilled white vinegar. Mix the lemon juice and vinegar together in a small bowl. Dip cloth in solution and rub into scratches. Buff away any residue with a dry cloth. This a one-time use recipe.

On the Go Bed Purifier. This recipe is great to make and take for on the road for use when staying in hotels. The cedarwood purifies and cleans the spot where you will be sleeping. Take 1 cup of distilled water and 20 drops of cedarwood essential oil. Combine water and cedarwood essential oil in a spray bottle. Shake well. Spray bed linens thoroughly. Allow to dry. Store indefinitely in a spray bottle in a cool, dark place.

Moth Be Gone Sachets. Take 1 cup of dried lavender buds or flowers. Mix in 20 drops of lavender essential oil, 10 drops of orange essential oil, 10 drops of cedarwood essential oil. Add 1-2 tablespoons of mixture to 8-10 sachet bags and tie each one closed. Add scented sachet bags to drawers, closets, or other place. Sachets can be freshened with 2-3 essential oil drops as needed. Store sachets indefinitely in a sealed plastic bag or container.

Home Air Filter Freshener. Take 3-4 drops of your favorite, citrus essential oil to your air conditioner and furnace filters. Turn on your unit and fill your whole home with fragrance. Refresh as needed every couple of days. Great choices are: lemon, lime or orange. (NOTE: Since we have pets, I use citrus oils only. I do not use lavender or eucalyptus or tea tree.)

I wish you all a week of hope, joy and productivity and continued health. I will be back mid week as we are nearing the end of this series. I will have a checklist for the garbage and laundry room and will finish out with some tips and fun DIY miscellaneous cleaning recipes. Stay tuned at the end of that post for the release of my next series!