Along with planting flowers and garden beds, spring can be a great time to do some spring cleaning to help you feel happy, healthy, and organized when you're at home.
Here are a few tips and things to consider adding to your to-do checklist this spring:
1. Get rid of things you haven't worn in over a year.
One way to help you keep track of how long it has been since you've worn something out of your closet is to take all of your garments on hangers and hang them back so that the open end of each hanger faces you. In six to twelve months, the hanging garments that are turned backward may indicate that it's time to get rid of them.
We have donation bins in the Nikkei and Mabuhay branches to collect for homeless college students. By donating the garments that you no longer wear or want can be a great way to help local students and make your closet less cluttered.
2. Check expiration dates.
While there may be some things that will last beyond their expiration date, there are other items that you shouldn't keep after they expire because they may lose their effectiveness or safeness. These include medications, spices, vitamins, sunscreen, cosmetics, and batteries.
3. Clean your refrigerator.
Generally, refrigerators should be cleaned every three months. If it has been longer than that since you've cleaned your refrigerator, this spring may be a good time to do so. Start the process by removing all food from the fridge. You can place the food in coolers to keep the food cold while you are cleaning. Food absorbs odors, so it's best to clean the inside of the fridge with a solution of two tablespoons baking soda and one-quart hot water. After scrubbing the refrigerator, rinse with a damp cloth and dry with a towel. The removable sections can be soaked in the same solution and then rinsed and dried. Check for freshness and expiration dates before putting food back in the refrigerator.
4. Test and replace smoke alarm batteries.
Now is also an excellent time to make sure that your smoke alarms are in working order. You can test most smoke detectors by pressing and holding the test button on the smoke detector. While pressing the button, a loud siren should come from the smoke detector within a few seconds. If the sound is nonexistent or weak, replace your batteries.
5. Clean your washing machine.
Without regular cleaning, your washing machine might also harbor leftover detergent, hard-water deposits, and mold or mildew around the lid. If your washing machine has a self-cleaning feature, you can use that. Otherwise, you can run a cycle with vinegar, then scrub the inside and outside of the washing machine with a mixture of 1/4 cup vinegar and a quart of warm water, and then run a second hot cycle with just hot water.