Here's a spring cleaning chore that may not have occurred to you: Freshen up your upholstery and carpeting. Even if you're diligent about vacuuming during the winter, the furniture and floors still sat in stuffy indoor air for months with you. Give them a little extra effort and it might just brighten up the whole house.
1 Clean out your vacuum to make sure it's really working. Empty the bag (if it has one), replace filters and hoses as needed, and pull out any hair or threads around the rotating brush.
2 Vacuum everything — yes, everything: carpet, baseboards, rugs, and all your upholstered furniture. Remove cushions to get inside the couch and make liberal use of the wand attachment.
3 Wash and dry any removable cushion covers according to label instructions. Replace damaged or worn-out throw pillow inserts.
4 Spot-clean carpet stains and treat any suspicious smells with a generous dusting of baking soda (just make sure to vacuum it up after a few hours. For major stains, consider renting a steam cleaner at your local hardware or grocery store, or hire a carpet cleaning service.
5 Don't forget your windows. Wash or dry-clean curtains, wipe down blinds and shades, and clean glass and windowsills.
6 Shake dust and dirt out of throw rugs and wash if possible.
