Spring Cleaning

Hi everyone! May is spring cleaning month. Not a fun project but the results are oh so pleasing and calming.
For about 15 minutes, til the wind blows in more sand and pollen. We don't have lots of trees here, but what is here blooms in May, especially the pine trees.

First on the list is to strip off and wash all the white slipcovers. This must be done by May 1st before the town starts ''flushing'' our water mains and the water turns brown, sometimes very brown. Like old coffee colored. Hard on white cotton.  I also changed the throw pillows to the blue and white summery covers.

This year I did something I swore I never would---I covered the clean slipcovers with sheets and throws that will be easier to remove and wash over the summer. I've always had white sofas. I stood strong through toddlers and red wine stains and guests with poorly trained children, tea spills and tomato sauce splatters. But I am defeated by little dirty dirty paws and gooey rawhide chews.

Then I washed all the rugs by hand. [Tide, Clorox 2, and a scrub brush. Much blotting. Looks , uh, better. I guess]The blue china went back in its display rack, pitchers on the dresser.

All the yelloware is washed and replaced in the corner cupboard [plus sneak peek of my gorgeous doll quilt from Barbara!]

My dining table has reclaimed its original function, now that I am making my craft space elsewhere.

I love how open and tidy it looks, with just a homespun linen cloth, some striped place mats, and a pail of sunflowers.

And I finally redid this corner which for years has been an eyesore and clutter magnet full of golf clubs and beach chairs and random crap.

I put my  Swedish bride's bench here,
See the rolling pin?

To deter the return of the junk I added the blue door bolster and the beaches sign. Fresh and clean! I may put my collection of blue Shaker boxes here in the fall, or baskets of berries. It can be a fun spot to decorate now.

I repainted this large fish sign to give to a friend. [it was part of the junk in that corner]

Even the little metal terrarium got a coat of white paint.

I scrubbed and refinished the entry stairs. I bought one of those stupid Mr Clean Eraser sponges and washed all the wall smudges. [as it disintegrated in my hand].I aired the beds and put blue quilts but I didn't yet remove the flannel sheets. Outside it is again cold and grey. And I haven't cleaned up my deck and I have some touch up painting to do but overall, I am pleased.

My mother didn't believe in seasonal cleaning. She said that if you kept your house in proper order daily there was no need. [You should have seen that lady's linen closet!] But my dad had his differing plans--he'd clean drawers and closets on New Years Day [how ghastly] and paint the house in and out each June, as needed. And he'd patiently wait til the pines finished blooming to wash all the windows on the Cape Cod house. Inside and out. Much bickering would ensue, as my mom was the self-designated spot spotter. "You missed a spot, honey! There! No no, over there, no there." Then it would rain. LOL.

So how about you? Do you spring clean? Do you do it alone or have a helper or two? Is it worth the effort, since it all gets pretty grungy right away again? tell me!

love

lizzy

gone to  the beach...............