Spring Cleaning Tips: Part 1

DIY 4 Minutes

Polish Stainless Steel Appliances with Olive Oil

Make your stainless steel appliances sparkle this spring by polishing them with a surprising kitchen staple—olive oil! Simply apply a small amount of olive oil to a soft cloth, buff the surfaces, and you’ll be rewarded with a streak-free, gleaming finish.

Clean Oven Racks in the Bathtub

Effortlessly refresh your oven racks by placing them in the bathtub for a deep-cleaning session. Let them soak in warm, soapy water to loosen grime, and then use dryer sheets to easily wipe away grease and residue.

Wash Bed Pillows in the Washer

Want a more refreshing sleep experience? It all starts with tossing your pillows into the washer this spring. A quick spin removes dust, allergens, and the winter blues, leaving you with fresh, fluffy pillows for a rejuvenating night’s sleep.

Scrub Grout with Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

Scrub any tiled spaces with a simple yet effective DIY cleaning solution of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Watch as this powerful combination lifts away stains and brightens grout lines, leaving your floors and walls looking good as new.


Use a Lint Roller to Clean Lampshades and Fabric Surfaces

Simplify your cleaning routine by grabbing a lint roller to remove dust and debris from lampshades and other fabric surfaces. This quick and efficient method ensures a polished, lint-free look with minimal effort.


Clean Tall Windows with a Swiffer Mop

Tall windows don’t have to be a tall order! Cheryl Sousan, the self-proclaimed “neat freak” behind the blog Tidy Mom, recommends using a Swiffer mop to clean high or hard-to-reach windowpanes. Simply wrap some paper towels around your Swiffer, spray some glass cleaner, and wipe your way to sparkling clean windows.


Steam Clean Your Microwave


Look no further than your microwave itself for a quick and easy cleaning tip! You’ll need to mix two cups of water and two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar in a bowl and heat it on high in your microwave until it comes to a boil. Let it stand inside for about three minutes and then use a sponge or cloth to wipe your microwave clean.


Clean Your Bath Mats


If your bath mats are machine washable, this will be an easy one. Simply shake out any debris and then run your rug through a regular wash cycle on the cold setting. Most rugs can also be put in the dryer on low, but be sure to hang dry memory foam mats or ones with rubber backing.


Shake Out Your Doormats
Your doormats, whether indoor or outdoor, get a lot of foot traffic. Give them a good spring cleaning by shaking out debris outside, vacuuming them, and then rinsing them off with a garden hose to remove any lingering dirt.


Polish Your Silverware with a Toothbrush

Is your silverware looking a little less than guest-ready? Remove residue and tarnish easily using a toothbrush and Hagerty Silver Foam.

Wash Your Brooms

Dust bunnies, be gone! To clean your broom, simply take it outside and smack it against a tree to loosen up all the dust and dirt. Then place your broom in a bucket filled with warm, soapy water and let it soak for 30 minutes for rinsing it off with warm water.

Deep Clean Your Washing Machine with Vinegar

Disinfect your washing machine to help it reach its maximum cleaning potential. First run the machine with hot water, then add white vinegar and baking soda, and let them sit for about an hour. Finally, restart the cycle, let the water drain, and wipe it clean.

Wash Your Shower Curtain Liners

Did you know you can wash shower curtain liners in the washing machine? Instead of replacing yours, take a few extra minutes to toss it into your washing machine along with a bath towel or two. After washing, simply hang your curtain back up to dry in your shower.

Give Your Toilet Bowl a White Vinegar Bath

To eliminate hard water stains inside your toilet, soak toilet paper in white vinegar and let it sit on top of the stain overnight. Then simply flush to rinse away the stains!

Freshen Up Your Trash Cans

Make your trash smell a little better by placing dryer sheets on the bottom of the can to help absorb spills and mask odors.


Throw Away Expired Makeup

Using old makeup and tools can lead to skin irritation or infection. Look through your medicine cabinet and toss concealer, eye shadow, foundation, lip gloss, and nail polish that you’ve had for more than one year. Lipstick and blush last a little longer so you can keep them around for up to two years.


Care for Your Garbage Disposal with Lemons


“For spring cleaning, I like to do the little extras that don’t get done on a daily, weekly or even a monthly basis (unfortunately!),” says Warren Weiss of Scrub!, a cleaning service in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
To make the garbage disposal smell nice and to keep the blades sharp, Warren suggests cutting a lemon in quarters and run it through. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!


Use a Pillowcase to Dust Ceiling Fans

Use an old pillowcase to dust all of your ceiling fans, says Cheryl. Simply slide the pillowcase over each blade and then pull the fabric back, keeping all the dust and dirt contained.

Add Essential Oils to Your Cleaning Solutions

While you’re up there wiping down the blades of your ceiling fans, Warren suggests adding an essential oil to your cleaning solution.

“That way, when I turn on the fan, it makes the room smell great,” he shares.

Unclog Kitchen and Bathroom Drains

“Did you know that some Feng Shui masters say that clogged drains deplete finances, health, aspirations, travel, clog sinuses, and simply, wreak havoc in general?” asks Cheryl.

SOURCE: THE PIONEER WOMAN

Unknown's avatar

Published by pat frederick

Published

74 thoughts on “Spring Cleaning Tips: Part 1”

    1. Morning, Pat! Well, that’s a switch! It’s only 27 here this morning with a slight dusting of snow. But the sun is shining brightly so that snow won’t last long. Wheezer ate most of the food overnight but is out catting around.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Morning Filly!
        it’s overcast here. The snow is slowly melting, but the ice beneath is not. When i go out now to put out the feeder, i can hear it rushing through the ravine beyond the pond. there must be sticks or even tree limbs stuck in there because you can see the water is hitting something and jumping up. too muddy over there to investigate though.

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

  4. Lozzy B
    @TruthFairy131
    Ukraine Jewish President Zelensky believes that he gets to dictate & control where Europe gets their oil from.

    While oil isn’t getting through from the Middle East due to the War with Iran, Zelensky has cut off Hungary & Slovakia’s oil from Russia.

    At the same time he wants Hungary to lend him money & supply Electricity to Ukraine.

    Who does this guy think he is? https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1f928.svg

    Zelensky: 

    “Honestly, I wouldn’t restore it. That’s my position. I’ve told this to European leaders and to everyone who’s called me about this issue, including the leadership of the European Union, because this is Russian oil”.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. Troublemaker10

    March 7, 2026 2:15 am

    Good gosh. Even one of the bluest states out there wants voter ID. What is wrong with congress that they refuse to pass the SAVE Act?

    —

    California voter ID initiative clears signature threshold, setting up November showdown with Newsom

    Excerpt:

    According to Reform California, a nonpartisan political activism group, organizers submitted the “California Voter ID Initiative” petition to county authorities with 1.3 million signatures. The group says the petition has garnered bipartisan support, with signatures from Californians representing all walks of life and political persuasions across all 58 of the state’s counties.

    Reform California believes the measure has a solid path to passage in November, citing polls showing 71% of Californians favor the initiative. If passed, the measure would bypass the Democratic legislative supermajority and amend the state constitution to require voter ID when casting a ballot, require election officials to verify the citizenship of registered voters and require the state to maintain accurate voter rolls.

    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/california-voter-id-initiative-clears-signature-threshold-setting-up-november-showdown-newsom

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Jake

    March 7, 2026 7:23 am

    Appeals Court Rules D.C.’s Gun Magazine Restriction Is Unconstitutional

    https://thefederalist.com/2026/03/06/appeals-court-rules-d-c-s-gun-magazine-restriction-is-unconstitutional/

    ‘Because these magazines are arms in common and ubiquitous use by law abiding citizens across this country, we agree … that the District’s outright ban on them violates the Second Amendment.’
    In a 2-1 ruling, the three-judge panel found that the federal district’s ban on firearm magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds violates the Second Amendment. Judges Joshua Deahl (Trump appointee) and Catharine Easterly (Obama appointee) comprised the majority, while Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby (Bush 43 appointee) dissented. 

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  9. Good morning!

    Timely article on Spring Cleaning.

    My “cleaning mentor” is The Fly Lady (Finally Loving Yourself). Found her when my son was little. Handful of daily routines, handful of weekly routines. Keeps thing tidy. lol That’s as far as I got with her program.

    And Feng Shui. Yes!! The art of Placement.

    low 50s this morning. Snow pile still decreasing. A false spring. More snow n cold coming. Good thing about this time of year is being able to see the birds and critters in the yard.

    God bless. 🙏

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I hate wasting time looking for something I KNOW i have. I do a lot of crafting and my crafting room got halved during covid when hubby’s work sent everyone home to work. (The big oak desk is in there) and gratefully, they have allowed him to keep working from home–his job is an hour away)
      But that meant compromising on space–giving up half of what was my craft/junk room. Things got shuffled into bins and drawers and the closet. When i know i have it, but can’t remember where i put it, drives me nuts.
      once a year (usually spring) I TRY to clean out more stuff and label the bins.
      my goal is to actually get where you are–daily chores, weekly chores, etc.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    2. Good morning, Gina! Bright sun here this morning w/a dusting of snow. It was 26 when I got up about half an hour ago but it’s already up to 28. And you know how I feel about cleaning….LOL!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  10. Just The News: “Violent weather ripped through the Midwest on Friday, including tornadoes in Michigan that killed four and injured at least a dozen. Sheriff Frederick Blankenship of Branch County, Mich., told the New York Times that a tornado touched down in Union City, a village near Kalamazoo, Mich.

    Three were killed and many of the injured were taken to hospitals, officials said. “It is completely devastating,” said Jennifer Nagel, the assistant village manager of Union City. In nearby Cass County, one person was killed by a tornado that touchdown near Edwardsburg, Mich., Sheriff Clint Roach said.

    The tornadoes were part of an outbreak of violent weather that stretched from Texas to the Great Lakes.”

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  16. Julie Kelly
    @julie_kelly2
    I wrote in 2024 about the power couple.

    Pan also sat on the panel that upheld Judge Tanya Chutkan on the question of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution. Both were bench-slapped by SCOTUS in a 6-3 decision reversing Chutkan’s order.

    In a separate decision, Pan also upheld the Biden DOJ’s use of 1512(c)(2)–also overturned by SCOTUS in a 6-3 opinion in June 2024.

    As I have said repeatedly–these Democratic activist judges do not care about being reversed by the Supreme Court. In fact, many consider it a badge of honor. Pan is one–as long as she can wield her temporary power to thwart the president and his agenda, any future rebuke is immaterial to her.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  17. Just The News: “Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif, announced Friday he will retire at the end of the current term, and he is endorsing San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond to succeed him.  

    “Today I’m announcing my enthusiastic endorsement of Supervisor Jim Desmond for Congress — to represent California’s new 48th district,” Issa told Fox News. “Jim is not only a personal friend, he’s a true patriot, a Navy veteran, a successful businessman, and has a 20-year record of public service. He understands this community, was born and raised here, and will make a terrific Congressman.”

    Issa’s district is one that was redrawn under the state’s Prop 50 last year, in which a majority of California voters voted for the redistricting intended to favor Democrats. 

    “This decision has been on my mind for a while and I didn’t make it lightly,” Issa said, adding that he had spent 25 years in Congress and 25 years in business. “It’s the right time for a new chapter and new challenges.”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  19. The Vigilant Fox
    @VigilantFox
    Adam Schiff falls right into Bill Maher’s trap as he criticizes a
    statement he thought was from Trump but was actually from Obama.

    MAHER: “This statement from the administration: ‘The president had
    the constitutional authority to direct the use of military force because
    he could reasonably determine that such use of force was in the
    national interest.’ That’s too vague for you?”

    SCHIFF: “Totally vague.”

    MAHER: “Okay. Because that’s from Obama about Libya.”

    Brutal setup. Watch Adam Schiff try to dig himself out of this one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  24. Fearless

    The insurance company and the environmentalists will both be unhappy about this

    Looks fast standing still

    Yes, a fine pair

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  25. Old Dogs Are Good Dogs

    US Antarctic Program Snowmobile – 1960s

    Extraordinary Entrance

    Joe Namath and Raquel Welch at the Academy Awards, 1972

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  27. VIDEO

    “Finishing what JFK Started”

    Clandestine, Mar 07, 2026

    “The “Deep State” is not just corrupt US politicians. It’s a transnational criminal organization that has embedded itself within governments around the globe, and leveraged entire nations to do their bidding. Or, as JFK called it, a “secret society” and a “monolithic and ruthless conspiracy.”

    “It is a system which has conscripted vast human and material resources, in the building of a highly knit, highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific, and political operations.”

    So when it comes to truly eliminating the Deep State, it’s not just arresting corrupt US politicians and calling it a day. This is a GLOBAL infestation that lurks in the shadows, and they have assets that must be destroyed, worldwide.

    The only way to truly save America, is to save the world. We must decimate all of the Deep State’s tentacles, to safeguard the future and ensure their evil never rises again, which includes Iran and her terror proxies in the Middle East, as well as the cartels in the Western hemisphere.

    Trump is purging the unofficial armies of the Deep State. JFK tried to warn us about this “monolithic and ruthless conspiracy” that was fueling the Cold War from the shadows, and he was murdered for trying to expose it.

    Trump will finish what JFK started.”

    https://bioclandestine.substack.com/p/finishing-what-jfk-started

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  28. whoa…reading a weird what if… the attempt to get POTUS a THIRD term? also opens up Obummer for a third term. wouldn’t that slimy ass weasel obummer–the perfect leftist democrat candidate–with the humongous ego- relish running against DJT?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. right…that’s what drew my attention to the comment–so what if they DO make that amendment. Obummer CAN also run again and with his ego? and the way the left loved him? bet he would run…dontcha think?

        I mean really–what other possible candidates does the left have??? they all suck!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  29. Just The News: “President Donald Trump introduced a multinational security initiative to combat drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere during a summit with South American leaders in Florida on Saturday.

    The program, Shield of the Americas, is aimed at the coordination of the military, intelligence, and law enforcement of the partnering countries and focuses on the drug trafficking and cross-border crime syndicates of the Western Hemisphere.

    “The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries,” Trump said at the event. “We have to use our military. You have to use your military.” 

    At the summit, more than a dozen heads of state from the U.S. and South America discussed the strategy of the coalition. The strategy focuses on intelligence-sharing and operational collaboration as a way to dismantle the cartels’ operational and structural flow of trafficking and drugs.

    Trump said that organized crime syndicates and their activities should be viewed as a military focus and the equivalent of a cartel terrorist entity.

    Trump has designated the first U.S. special envoy to the coalition, Kristi Noem, former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. She is expected to work closely with other countries to implement this initiative.”

    Like

    Reply

  38. phoning it in…

    article

    Oregon Democrat has been attending council meetings remotely from Spain for over a year on $68,000 taxpayer salary

    By 

    JonahAquino

    , March 6, 2026

    Mary Nolan, a 71-year-old Oregon Democrat on the Metro Council, has been dialing into council meetings from Spain for more than a year while collecting a $68,000 annual salary funded by taxpayers.

    Records obtained by The Oregonian reveal that Nolan attended Metro Council meetings remotely in 2025 between March and June, July and September, November and January, and again since Feb. 5.

    That is not a sabbatical. That is not a brief family visit. That is the better part of a year spent in another country while drawing a public paycheck from residents of a metro area Nolan reportedly does not live in. The Story Breaks

    According to The Daily Caller, Nolan first came under scrutiny after a Feb. 24 Metro Council meeting that featured a verbal altercation with councilor Juan Carlos González, the council’s first Latino councilor. During the exchange, Nolan asked González, “Can you say that in English?” The details of what González said that prompted the remark were not provided in available reporting, but the incident drew enough attention to put Nolan’s work habits under a microscope.

    What that microscope revealed was far more interesting than a rude comment in a meeting. The Oregonian dug into records and found a pattern of remote attendance stretching back over a year, with Nolan connecting from Spain across multiple extended windows. When confronted, Nolan told The Oregonian on Tuesday that trips to Spain were “to visit my family occasionally” and occurred “when someone in my family needs help.”

    “Occasionally” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence. The documented stretches of remote attendance span the majority of 2025. Whatever the family situation, the voters of the Portland metro area elected a councilor to represent them locally, not to serve as a transatlantic Zoom participant. The Résumé of a Career Democrat

    Nolan is no newcomer to Oregon politics. She previously served as the Oregon House of Representatives majority leader, was first elected to the Metro Council in 2020, and won re-election in 2024. Her career also includes a near-appointment to a top position at Planned Parenthood’s Columbia Willamette chapter, and she was hired by Medicare and Medicaid healthcare provider FamilyCare in Portland.

    This is someone who has spent decades inside the machinery of government and progressive institutions. And yet the basic expectation of physically showing up to work in the jurisdiction she represents apparently proved too demanding.

    Voters re-elected Nolan in 2024. It is worth asking what they thought they were getting. A representative who lives among them, understands local conditions firsthand, and is present for the unglamorous daily work of regional governance? Or someone who participates in council meetings the way the rest of us attend webinars we’d rather skip? The Deeper Problem

    This story is small in dollar terms. Sixty-eight thousand dollars is not a massive government salary. But the principle it represents is enormous.

    The COVID-era normalization of remote work gave elected officials and government employees a permanent escape hatch from accountability. When you can attend a meeting from anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection, the physical tether to your constituents disappears. And with it goes something harder to quantify: the obligation to actually be present in the community you govern.

    Nolan uses “they/them” pronouns, which the coverage dutifully notes. That detail is less interesting than the substance of the story, but it does fit a pattern. The same political class that insists on precise language, correct terminology, and rigid adherence to new social norms cannot seem to manage the far older and simpler norm of showing up to work in the place that pays you.

    The priorities reveal themselves. Policing language is treated as essential governance. Being physically present in your district is treated as optional. What Accountability Looks Like

    There is no indication from the available reporting that any formal action has been taken against Nolan or that the Metro Council has moved to address the situation. No government action, no charges, no policy review has been cited.

    That silence matters. If a private-sector employee spent the better part of a year working from a foreign country without clear authorization, they would not be asked to explain themselves to a newspaper. They would be asked to clean out their desk.

    The residents of the Portland metro area are reportedly paying $68,000 every year to someone who reportedly does not live among them. The Metro Council now faces a straightforward question: does physical presence in the region matter for the people who govern it, or is representation just another task that can be outsourced overseas?

    The answer should be obvious. Whether the Metro Council treats it that way is another matter entirely.

    https://conservativeinstitute.org/conservative-news/oregon-democrat-has-been-attending-council-meetings-remotely-from-spain-for-over-a-year-on-68000-taxpayer-salary.htm

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment