During a recent day of gorgeous spring-like weather, I had a surge of cleaning energy unlike any I experienced during the winter season. I don’t often have such impulses, truthfully, so it was a welcome change. The warmer weather made it possible to open the windows and let in some fresh air. I was inspired to tidy up my back deck, put in a load of laundry, shake out the rugs and do some vacuuming. Once at my library job, my mind was still occupied with the project(s) on my list, so I naturally decided to do my next blog post on the topic of spring cleaning. Surely, I am not the only person in town stricken with this urge. So I headed to the book collection!
Spring cleaning books fall under different categories. There are books that are strictly about cleaning(disinfecting, stain removal, etc.), books about organizing or downsizing, books about giving your home décor a mini-makeover and books with general life hacks (like putting a lazy Susan in your refrigerator!). I have arranged a sampling for you.
As a fan of the environmental aspect and low cost of sustainable living, I was drawn to the book, “The Modern Organic Home: 100+ DIY Cleaning Products, Organization Tips, and Household Hacks,” by Natalie Wise. It has tips like doing your own dry cleaning using homemade products with a king-size pillowcase and a dryer. It also has hacks like how to remove dents from your hardwood floor and how to clean a mattress. If you like to get your home clean and not just mask odors, this is the book for you. The author does, however, frequently turn to lemons, lavender or peppermint essential oils for natural scent, among other oils.
If you are a maximalist, like I am, or if your parents have recently downsized their home and left you with boxes of treasures from your past (me, again), you could probably use “The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals,” by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, or “Remodelista: The Organized Home,” by Julie Carlson and Margot Guralnick. As anyone with a home studio or workshop knows, it can be challenging to stay organized when working from home. “The Home Edit” offers ideas for a variety of working and living spaces along with tips on keeping the organization going, post-makeover (clear bins and labels feature heavily, for example). “Remodelista” has a section in the back that shows featured storage accessories, all plastic-free, as well as where to get them. (If you do decide to use clear plastic bins, they can often be found at estate sales.) It also advises on what to do with belongings you no longer want, with a list of websites for various types of resale/reuse organizations.
“Weekend Refresh: Home Design in 48 Hours or Less,” from Tastemade, has easy quick ideas for helping you see your home interior in a new light. There are instructions for stenciling a faux-tile backsplash, creating a magnetic herb garden for your refrigerator and switching out your old cabinet hardware. It has instructions for growing houseplants as well as entertaining, organizing and cleaning. This book would be ideal for a handy person on a budget.
Finally, “The Science of Cleaning: Use the Power of Chemistry to Clean Smarter, Easier and Safer-With Solutions for Every Kind of Dirt,” by Dario Bressanini, actually explains how different ingredients clean. Have you ever wondered if baking soda, borax or vinegar is best at giving laundry a boost? Then, this is the book for you! You can learn the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, washing, disinfecting, sterilizing and more.
If the beautiful spring weather inspires you to make your house fresh and clean, I hope you find some helpful books at the public library.
