Christine: Hi, I'm Christine with Merry Maids and today I will be offering some spring cleaning tips. Right now, I will be covering a few tasks which most people need only complete once or twice a year and should be completed during your spring cleaning routine. Keep in mind that depending on how your home is lived in, you may want to perform these tasks a bit more regularly.

First, clean out the refrigerator and freezer. Keep in mind; spill should always be cleaned up immediately. As you work on a compartment, take everything out of it. Check food for expiration date and packaging tears, throwing those items away. Wash and dry all of the shelves and the sides of the compartment.

Next, clean the oven. Again, spill should always be cleaned up as soon as possible. Be sure to clean the racks while you're at it. Clean the inside and outside of windows. A squeegee is a great tool for cleaning windows like the pros do. A tip for streaks is to do the inside of the windows with a horizontal motion and the outside with a vertical motion.

This should make it easier to tell where any streaks are. Don't clean windows when they're in direct sunlight. This will make the product dry too quickly and leave spots. Next, clean out closets and the pantry. If food gets spilled in the pantry, it should be cleaned immediately. This is a great time to find clothes to donate or those that need repairs.

Also, in the closets and the pantry, be sure to dust or wash any shelving and to vacuum or wash the floor. You will also want to wash the blinds. If you have vinyl blinds you can actually take them down and wash them with a hose outside. Put them on top of some old towels or blankets to keep them in place and spray them with the hose.

And lastly, flip and vacuum the mattresses. Flipping a mattress is definitely a two person job, be sure to get help for this task. Vacuum the side that's currently up and then flip the mattress and vacuum the other side. And these are all tasks that should be completed once or twice a year. I hope all of these spring cleaning tips have helped you become more organized, more efficient, and make you successful when spring cleaning this year. Good luck!