Thank goodness for Spring. Without it, we’d never have an excuse to get our homes really clean. Besides, after those winter months, let’s face it, our homes could use a good airing out.

So throw open those windows and let in the fresh air. Breathe in deep and get your mind in gear to take in these ten spring cleaning tips. We’ve gathered them just for you, our Kars4Kids friends.

1) Let Gravity Be Your Guide

Always clean from top to bottom. It doesn’t make much sense to clean the floor and then dust the furniture, now does it? The dust will, um, fall down. And then you’ll have to clean the floor again. Not smart. So think of gravity and always start from the top of the room and work your way down.

2) Wear A Mask

Do you feel ill after cleaning? Dust is an irritant, not to mention mold spores that might get kicked up and dispersed into the air while you clean. And of course, cleaning products often contain harsh chemicals. So if you tend to get red-eyed and itchy or show other signs of irritation while cleaning, this time be smart and pick up a box of disposable masks at your local hardware store before you start your spring-cleaning. Wear the masks to protect your airways while cleaning. Your airways will thank you.

3) Wear Gloves

Just as you want to protect your airways, you’ll want to protect your hands as you clean. Gloves are the way to go. You may want to experiment to see which type of gloves is most comfortable for you. At Kars4Kids we’re nuts about surgical gloves. They’re close-fitting and don’t impede movement when one is scrub-a-dub-dubbing away. They’re inexpensive so when they snag or rip, just toss them and don a new pair. One caveat: if you’re allergic to latex, you’ll have to look for latex-free gloves.

4)Put On Happy Snappy Music

Listening to upbeat music is the best way we know to get into the cleaning groove. Music offers a rhythm for your scrubbing and dusting and helps keep your spirits high. It makes what you’d normally consider to be drudgery, almost fun. Think of it as cleaning Zumba!

5) Don’t Neglect Ceilings And Walls

Take a broom, wrap an old t-shirt around the brush and sweep the ceiling. Turn the t-shirt around to get to the clean side and sweep the walls, switching to a clean t-shirt or rag as needed. You’d be surprised how much dirt collects on these surfaces, not to mention cobwebs. Best to do this job first, in line with letting gravity work for you.

6) Murphy’s Law Of Clutter

Throw stuff OUT. Here’s the deal: only once you get rid of things will you discover you NEED them. Until that time, you won’t. Need them, that is. It’s just Murphy’s Law of Clutter. So holding on to junk is pointless. Declutter. It’s less for you to clean.

7) Vacuum Like A Pro

If you want to get area rugs cleaner than clean, turn them upside down and vacuum their undersides. Gravity makes everything fall. Dirt,  for instance. So rather than work against gravity, get your vacuum in where the dirt is located, underneath those rugs, then flip them over and go over them once more. You’ll see a huge difference. They’ll be fluffy and almost as brightly-colored as they were when new!

8) Magic Crystal Cleaner

Vases can be difficult to clean, especially when they are deep. Sediment can collect on the unreachable bottom, and dull the sparkle of the crystal. Get your crystal shiny by throwing in some frozen peas followed by clean cold water to cover and gently shake, swiveling the contents in a swirling motion. Pour out the contents and behold! Like new.

9) Effortlessly Shiny Silverware

Use science, not brawn, to get your silver shiny by creating a chemical reaction that removes tarnish. You’ll need an aluminum pan, a cup of baking soda, and boiling water. And oh, the silver of course. Put the pan in a sink or your bathtub, and then add the silverware. Sprinkle the baking soda over the silver items and then pour in boiling water to cover. The tarnish will disappear on its own. Then all you have to do is find a soft cloth and buff.  Shine without the work.

10) Donate Your Car

You know.  That car. The one sitting in your yard—that rusting hulk of a clunker—the one your neighbors have complained about. Do you or your spouse imagine you’ll tinker with it on the weekends and make that motor purr? Lose that idea. It’s not going to happen. So you might as well call up Kars4Kids (you know the number right?) and donate that car today. You’ll make your neighbors, and some lucky children, very happy indeed.