The Beauty Battalion - Featuring Beauty In All Shapes & Sizes April 2017 | Page 33
Make Spring Cleaning a Cinch
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Photos courtesy of Getty Images
FAMILY FEATURES
pring is a time of renewal and revitalization, but it’s hard to
appreciate all the invigorating aspects of spring when your home
still bears months of winter dust and dirt. Tackle your living
space room-by-room for a spring clean that will leave you and
your home refreshed and ready for a new season.
Kitchen
Although the kitchen is likely the room that gets the most cleaning
attention, there are probably still areas for spring improvements.
Cabinets and countertops make the biggest impression in your kitchen,
so give them a thorough wipe-down, adding polish to the woodwork
and natural stone, and repair any chips or damaged spots. Make your
appliances look new again by wiping down and scrubbing hard-to-
reach and heavy-use areas like the top of the refrigerator and the
stovetop. They may not be immediately visible, but don’t overlook
the inside of your cupboards. Discard expired food, damaged items
and wayward pieces, such as lids with no matching container and vice
versa. Finish off the kitchen with sweeping and mopping for squeaky
clean floors.
Living Areas
Throughout the house, your biggest chore may be removing clutter.
Finding storage solutions or new homes for accumulated items can
make rooms seem instantly brighter and more welcoming. Dusting
the blinds, lighting fixtures and fans can add a fresh touch, and clean
baseboards make for a top-to-bottom clean. Vacuum cushions as
well as under and behind all furniture, and if necessary, consider
shampooing the carpets. Dust all the nooks and crannies, including
any decorative items and accessories.
Bedrooms
The closet is a good starting point in the bedroom. Sort your
clothes and discard any you haven’t worn in the past year; these
can be donated. Also check for any items that need repair and
set them aside to mend when you take a cleaning break. This is
also a good time to put away winter clothing and bring out your
spring and summer attire. Additionally, you may find it helpful to
add organization and storage containers to help control items like
shoes, handbags and other accessories. As temperatures rise, your
bedding needs will change, as well. Wash and put away blankets
you won’t need until the weather turns cool again. Flip and rotate
your mattress for longer wear before you add fresh, lightweight
sheets. While the mattress is raised, you can take advantage of
access under the bed to run the vacuum. A fresh new pillow will
add the final refreshing touch to your spring-ready bed. Before you
leave the bedroom, don’t forget to pull dressers and other furniture
away from the walls to vacuum, dust each item thoroughly and wipe
down baseboards and blinds or shutters.
Once all your cleaning is complete, take a few extra steps to make
your home feel extra fresh and clean. On a warm day, throw open the
windows to let the fresh breeze chase away stale winter air and add
lightly scented candles throughout the house for a home that smells
as inviting as it looks. Find more advice to make spring tasks simple
at elivingtoday.com.
Don’t Lose Your Natural Stone’s Luster
D
urability is one reason homeowners choose natural
stone for their kitchens and bathrooms, but the
greatest appeal is often the sheer beauty of the
material. Maintaining that luster and shine requires a bit
of effort, but the ability to enjoy the unique character of
natural stone makes it all worthwhile.
It’s important to understand the shine on granite and
other natural stone is not from applying a wax, but a
natural shine that reflects a rigorous process.
After being quarried from the earth’s surface, these
stone blocks are taken to a factory for processing. The
next step is a polishing line. It’s this factory finish that
enhances the inherent characteristics of natural stone –
the veins, swirls and crystals. From there the slabs are
bundled and shipped to local stone manufacturers and
installers to be cut to a homeowner’s specifications.
Once installed, you can maintain that luxurious factory
finish with these tips from the experts at Granite Gold.
Clean often. Even miniscule particles could have a
detrimental effect on your natural stone. However, it’s
important to avoid common cleaners and abrasives as
they can break down the protective seal and dull the
natural finish, and result in expensive repairs. Also
avoid using an abrasive scrubbing pad, which may leave
unsightly scratches. Rely on scrubbing pads designed
specifically for natural stone or look for “non-scratch” on
the packaging.
Seal frequently. Frequently sealing natural stone surfaces
maintains maximum surface protection, penetrating stone
surfaces to provide superior, long-lasting resistance to
staining, etching and soil buildup. It’s easy to test when
to reseal. Pour water (about 3 inches in diameter) on the
surface and let it sit for 30 minutes. If the water beads,
then the stone remains sealed. However, if a dark mark or
ring is created by the water, it is time to reseal. Be sure to
repair any etching or stains before the sealant is applied.
Polish regularly. Polishing not only brings out the
stone’s natural beauty, it reinforces the protective seal
and provides ongoing protection against water spots and
fingerprints. One time-saving but effective solution after
sealing is Granite Gold Clean & Shine, which provides
the cleaning power of the line’s Daily Cleaner and the
luster from the Polish in one easy-to-use formula.
You can find the products nationwide at Walmart,
Lowe’s, Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond and Amazon;
check the store locator at GraniteGold.com.