It’s a blissful time of year – spring is here! I don’t know about you, but there’s a little extra magic in the air thanks to the feeling of new beginnings brought by this season. We’re feeling extra inspired at Cummins Facility Services (CFS) following National Cleaning Week, which took place the last week of March! Now is the perfect time to step up your spring cleaning game, so that your home and workplace are ready to take on whatever exciting happenings the future months have in store. I have compiled some tips to help you make the most of your spring cleaning.
Replace salt with sunshine
Windows are the eyes into any building. Following a long winter, your view into the spring sunshine can be blurred with dirt and grime left behind from winter weather. Be sure to use this opportunity to get the glass sparkling clean so you can enjoy the vibrant views.
Homeowners can enjoy the same crystal-clear windows seen in office buildings by using a spray bottle filled with tablespoons of ammonia, one tablespoon of vinegar and the remainder with water. Drying windows outside in one direction then inside in the other direction allows for easy removal any streaks.
The next step is to focus on the floors. It’s not a matter of if there is salt left behind, its how much and where. Find the salt and kick it to the curb! Salt residue not only creates a dingy look, it’s erosive on floors, furniture and paint. Stripping your floors clear of salt allows sealants to do their job of protecting the surfaces. If you have carpet, now is the time to invest in a deep clean to get built-up salt, dirt and grime up and out of the fibers. For the shine on your hardwood floors that you see in office buildings, mop in the same direction as the grain of the wood. Be sure to keep any cleaning liquid from pooling and potentially damaging your floor.
Look up!
Following the season of furnaces on full-blast, your ceilings are probably in serious need of a clean-up. Spring is a great time do high-dusting and/or ceiling tile cleaning, services proudly offered by CFS that clean hard-to-reach spots across the ceiling’s surface area. Thorough, professional duct cleaning is important as well. Before you make the switch from heat to A-C, you want to be certain that the residual grime is clear to allow optimum flow of odorless, cool air.
Don’t forget the exterior
Have you ever passed by a home or building that looks incredibly inviting? Curb appeal is an area that can take a building from average to outstanding. Spring is the perfect season for a thorough power wash, another service offered at CFS! Your building will not only look better, it will be free of the unsightly layer of outdoor elements that can build up on exterior surfaces. Once your building is sparkling in the sun, take some time to clean up the landscaping so your guests will really feel welcomed.
Refresh, Restock and Reorganize
You’ve heard of checking your smoke detectors during daylight saving’s time. The start of the spring season should serve as a routine cue to thoroughly clean, reorganize and refresh the supply stock in your janitorial closets. Also, take this time to review SDS data sheets, which outline extremely important details for each piece of equipment and cleaning supply to make sure the users are operating them safely. Also, be sure to check company or personal cars and restock any first aid kits or emergency supplies that may have dwindled or expired over time.
The power of fresh air
We’ve heard time and time again that outdoor spaces or great circulation indoors is an excellent measure to reduce the spread of Covid-19 and other viruses. Warmer spring temperatures create the perfect opportunity to cleanse indoor spaces with fresh air! Open up windows and doors as your seasonal allergies permit to allow new, clean airflow into all rooms in your home or office.
Continue to hold gatherings outdoors whenever possible, or at a minimum, in rooms with ample fresh air flow from outdoors. Moving interactions to a yard or outdoor space whenever possible will help everyone stay safe. Plus, the spring sunshine is good for the soul!
Spring is the season of new beginnings, and there is something extra refreshing about a good spring cleaning this year. May you feel the excitement for the warmer months ahead and enjoy giving your home or business a clean slate and an atmosphere of optimism for the future.
Jill Frey, President & CEO
Cummins Facility Services, LLC