Spring Cleaning!

It's that time again--just when it starts to warm up, we all realize how much work we need to do indoors! Here's what we're working on at Coffee street Inn...

**Flipping mattresses
**Cleaning toilet plungers and all garbage cans (the best way to do this is to fill a bathtub with hot water and bleach, then soak your plungers and garbage cans for awhile. Eventually, they become clean enough to safely rinse and dry ;)
**Defrosting fridges and freezers, cleaning ice trays (ice should always appear clear!)
**Throwing out stained towels (a big thank you to those guests who did not use their towels for muddy shoes, dogs, or bikes last year :P)
**Touching up paint in all the rooms...some of it was chipped off when we got new carpets (you should come see all the changes-- I'll give you a tour!!
**Washing all comforters, pillow shams, and bedskirts (don't worrym we do this much more often than seasonally!)
**Shampooing carpets
**Polishing wood floors
**Taking down window treatments, washing, and IRONING (I HATE ironing...)
**Checking all smoke alarms, change lightbulbs
**Dusting all light fixtures
**Running vinegar or lemon juice through coffee pots
**Cleaning windows inside and out
**Using CLR to remove buildup from shower heads and sinks
**Washing the washing machine! Put 2 cups of white vinegar in the machine and run a stain cycle, or let it soak then run a regular cycle
**Getting rid of lost-and-found or mismatched items
**Tuning up our bikes for summer...
**Airing out and sealing our tent for summer...
**Creating a new calendar for 2011 to place in room binders (for all of you to use when you visit!)
**Thinking of new package deals (let me know what you'd like to see!)
**Trying out a few new recipes for summer! This includes use of the grill...
**Bringing the grill back outside, filling the propane tank, and cleaning the grill!
**Re-evaluating a budget for the year
**Packing up old, outdated files to make room for new ones!

Overall, this is exciting stuff! ...Or maybe I'm just an obsessive-compulsive neat freak? Either way, these are a few of the things I've been working on for myself and for the Inn. Post a few of your spring cleaning tips or tricks!

Here's a note from the Mayo Clinic about spring cleaning your diet:
"When you're spring cleaning your home, go one step further and spring clean your diet. Replace the not-so-great food choices you may have been making this winter with some fresh, tasty, and nutrient packed spring-season options.
Delicious and nutritious spring-season options include:
Apricots
Artichokes
Asparagus
Bananas
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cherries
Collard Greens
Green Beans
Green Onions
Honeydew Melon
Leeks
Lettuce
Mangoes
Mushrooms
Onions
Peas
Pineapple
Radishes
Rhubarb
Spinach
Strawberries"

I have been really good about this as of late! My persuasive sister convinced me--yes, me!!-- to give up sweets for lent. I started a week late but have now gone 2 WEEKS without sweets! Tea has replaced hot chocolate as my afternoon and nightly drink, and I now eat carrots and green beans as a snack. Watch for some healthy recipes involving the foods mentioned in this post!!