7 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Vacation Home

We can hardly bring ourselves to say it, but spring is in the air! There have been some beautiful days on the calendar recently, and it just makes us get all giddy for warm weather, boat rides, family BBQs, and summer nights where everyone crashes exhaustedly into their comfy beds before doing it all again tomorrow. With spring just around the corner, now is a great time to tackle Spring Cleaning, and getting your home ship-shape before the fun season starts! Here are a few tips from Slumberland Furniture at the Lake of the Ozarks on how you can tackle these big projects and be ready in just a few weeks.

1. Freshen Up The Essentials

Now is a great time to take a look at the items in your vacation home and decide whether they need to be replaced. We’re talking about old toilet brushes, bed linens, sponges, towels, rugs, shower curtain liners, etc. Nothing can make a space feel fresh and new like some fresh and new essentials!

2. Wash Home Accessories

Depending on the material it’s made of, take some time to wash all of your knick backs and decor pieces. This obviously doesn’t apply to wooden or fabric items, or anything very delicate. However, if they are glass, china, plastic or metal, some water and a bit of soap can do wonders. Washing instead of dusting can help the items to stay cleaner longer, and they will have a special shine when you are done!

3. Keep An Eye Open for Pests

You haven’t been around for a few months, and this is the perfect time for rodents and pests to take up residence. Signs to look for are dead bugs lying around, damage on the walls, cracks, and insect droppings. The same applies to rodents as well, if you are finding any droppings or nest materials, it’s time to call in the pest control specialists!

4. Clean Surfaces

If it has a surface, it needs to be cleaned. This can be said of doorknobs, light switches, door frames, counters, cabinets, even the walls! Everything needs a good wipe-down, as all surfaces can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Grab your favorite surface disinfectant and get busy!

5. Wipe Down Vents & Ceiling Fans

You know you’ve looked up there, and after a whole winter of nothing stirring the dust bunnies, those ceiling fans need a little extra attention. Just a simple wipe down of the blades should suffice, but if it’s really dirty, you may need to wipe down the fan unit as well - but be careful. You can also take some time to remove the air duct covers from the walls and floors and use a brush to clean the grates of your HVAC system. You may need to refer to a user’s manual to make sure you don’t need to do anything special other than powering down the unit before starting.

6. Detail the Appliances

There’s nothing that is going to make you feel grimier than opening the oven and finding last year’s BBQ baked onto the bottom, or opening the fridge and smelling a strange sort of “stank” that you don’t recognize. Taking some time to clean out your appliances can be a fast way to show yourself some love and make a really great and clean place to vacation.

7. Clean Up Outside

When we have one of those beautiful 70 degree days in February that we love so much, this is a great time to tackle the outside of your home. You can hose down the patio walkway, and maybe even the outside of your home. If anything needs a paint job, prepare for it now so that when the weather is right you have all of your supplies ready. You can also take a look at the landscaping and start removing any of the dead plants that are no longer needed.

Spring is Springing!

According to the groundhog, spring is coming early this year, so now is a great time to start getting ready for her! After you finish cleaning, it’s a great time to also finish up any renovation projects you’ve been putting off as well! Need to find a new couch for the living room or a new mattress for the guest bedroom? Slumberland at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help you make your lake home comfy and cozy. We have an amazing selection of mattresses at the Lake of the Ozarks, as well as luxury furniture in Osage Beach, MO. So whether you need something for the bedroom, bathroom, living room, or kitchen, we have a combination of styles, colors, and textures to help create the perfect look for your home!

It's a good life!  

Slumberland Furniture at the Lake

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6241 Osage Beach Parkway
Osage Beach, MO 65065

(573) 302-4222

Spring Cleaning Tips for the Entire House

Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to open your windows, let in the fresh air, and give your home a good deep-cleaning. Slumberland Furniture at the Lake of the Ozarks has a list of the main areas in your house to tackle. 

The purpose of spring cleaning is to take the time to deep-clean the areas that tend to get passed over during your regular weekly cleaning routine. It's also a great time to get rid of all of those things that no longer get used and make room for fresh, new items. 

As a general rule, always start at the top of a room and work your way down to the floor. You will find a few natural cleaning alternatives in a past blog of ours. Now for the areas to pay special attention to, room by room. 


Living Room
The following tasks for cleaning the living room also apply to the other rooms in the house. Those other rooms have a few extra things to take care of in addition to the following.

• Clean ceiling fans and light fixtures.
• Dust wall hangings. If they are behind glass, use glass cleaner. 
• Vacuum curtains and window blinds.
• Vacuum all furniture and cushions.
• Clean windows, inside and out. Choose a nice day when you can leave them open and air out the house that has been closed up all winter at the same time.
• Polish wood furniture with a mix of 1/2-tablespoon olive oil and 1/2-cup of vinegar or lemon juice. Apply with a spray bottle and rub in a circular motion.
• Wipe baseboards, door frames, and walls with a damp cloth. Do not use any type of cleaner that could remove paint. 
• Rent a carpet/upholstery cleaner and deep clean away all of that winter dirt buildup. Move furniture slightly and place the legs on top of small wax paper squares. This will both protect the carpet and keep the furniture from getting wet. You may want to hire a professional to take care of this for you.

Bedroom

• Rotate the mattresses. This allows the wear on it to distribute evenly over time. If your mattress is more than 10 years old, it may be time to replace it completely.
• Empty dresser drawers and wipe them down. Only put back the clothes that you want to keep, and donate the rest. Do the same thing with your closet. 
• Wash all blankets, comforters, bed skirts, mattress pads, and other items that have been used often over the winter.

Kitchen

• Empty cabinets and the pantry. Vacuum, then wipe it down well and throw away any old or expired items. 
• Do the same with the refrigerator. Vacuum the condenser coils so that it runs at its best.
• Clean out the dishwasher. Do this by filling a cup with plain vinegar and place it on the top rack of the dishwasher. Run it on the hottest setting. When that is done, sprinkle baking soda around the bottom and run another cycle with hot water. 
• Clean the oven either on its self-cleaning setting or mix a paste of baking soda and water to coat the inside of the oven. Do not put it on bare metal and heating elements. Let the paste sit overnight, then scrape it off with a spatula in the morning.

Bathroom

• Wipe vents and fans with a damp cloth and clean light fixtures.
• A mixture of 1/2-cup ammonia, 1/2-cup baking soda, and 1 gallon of water will give the tile in your tub and shower a good, deep clean.
• Remove any frayed bath towels and either throw them away or use them for rags in the garage, for your pets, or other extra-dirty cleaning tasks.
• Get rid of old or expired medications, makeup, and other bathroom products. 

Home Office

• Dust all equipment: printer, fax machine, scanner, etc...
• Take stock of office supplies. Throw away or donate any unnecessary items, and make a list of those that need to be replaced.
• Shred any documents that need to be disposed of. File any loose ones that need to be saved.
• Clean your virtual space. A computer can get even more cluttered than your actual office. Delete any files, photos, emails, and other items that do not need to be taking up space on your computer, phone, or tablet. 

Now that you have everything cleaned up you've gotten rid of the old, it's time to bring in the new! Our Lake of the Ozarks furniture store has a wide variety of wonderful furniture pieces, mattresses, and home accent items to fill up any areas of your home that need a pick-me-up. 

Start the new spring season off with a new look for one, or all, of your rooms. Slumberland Furniture features the most luxurious furniture and affordable prices. You are sure to find something perfect for every room in your house. 

It's a good life!  

Slumberland Furniture at the Lake

Please visit our Website
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on LinkedIn

6241 Osage Beach Parkway
Osage Beach, MO 65065

(573) 302-4222