Spring Cleaning…Your Kitchen

Tips on spring cleaning your:

FRIDGE

• Check half-empty containers and their expiry dates. Will you actually use them before the best-before date?
• Keep a list near the fridge of items that need to be used soon and plan your meals using those ingredients.
• Check condiments that you don’t use often. How long have you had them? If you can’t remember when they were purchased or the last time you used them, toss them out!

FREEZER

• Check your freezer for foods hidden in the back that have been there too long. You may want to toss items with freezer burn: it affects the food’s quality and taste.
• Not sure what’s in those unlabelled bags? Out they go!
• Make extra portions when you cook. Label with a date, freeze them, and you’ll have meals ready to go on nights you don’t have time to cook.

PANTRY

• Check for spices that are past their prime. How about any oils? Get rid of bottles with a rancid odour.
• Give nuts a sniff or taste test. Toss anything that smells or tastes “off.” Look for crackers, cereals, peanut butter and other open staples that have gone stale.
• Canned goods may keep longer, but like everything else, keep an eye on expiry dates
• Move older items to the front so you’ll use them first.

Spring Cleaning…for your Bedroom.

Since we spend so much time in our bedrooms, we want it to be a relaxing and refreshing place to rest our heads at night. Follow these super easy steps to make your bedroom neat and tidy.

Strip your bedding. 

Remove your sheets, shams and comforter and give them a good cleaning. Follow the directions on your blankets’ labels. Use mild detergents when washing sheets. Also, be sure to avoid bleach products because they’ll weaken and discolor your linens.

Tackle those pillows.

First, it’s important to check that they can be machine-washed. If so, clean them on a mild cycle using liquid detergent. As you dry them, place two tennis balls in the machine as well. This will help bring back their fluff.

Conquer your closets. 

This is probably one of our least favorite chores, but it must be done.If you need more space for things like bags, belts and scarves, you can repurpose shower curtain hooks.

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De-stress the dresser.

If your drawers are over packed with shirts, try filing them vertically so they stay neatly folded and are easy to grab.

Take care of the floors.

If you have wooden floors, be sure to give them a good once over with the vacuum. To get into those small spaces, try taping a straw to the end of the smallest attachment to suck up grime.

Finally, flip that mattress. 

Turn the mattress onto the other side. Then, dust the entire area with baking soda: This will help keep it smelling fresh.