As the sun shines through my window and the flag is waving in the breeze I find it hard to believe once again signs of spring are all around.  Many of you must be spring cleaning as I’ve had many questions on how long to keep canned goods and how long to keep certain papers in the file.  Don’t forget that http://ohioline.osu.edu is a great resource to go to anytime and retrieve information that will help answer many of your questions.

As I cleaned my office, I ran across an article, I would like to share a resource that was just released from some research that was done at Ohio State University on using bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and baking soda that might help you with some of your spring cleaning.

When we clean a surface our goal is to remove the dirt -- from counters, cutting boards, dishes or utensils that we might use.  We can wash most of those with hot soapy water, rinse and air dry for success.  When we sanitize an area, we are trying to reduce germs to a safe level so that illness is not likely to occur.  We can do that by using a sanitizer and letting it air dry.  If you have young children in your home or elderly, then sanitizing is essential to making sure the food you prepare is free from germs.  Check out this web site for more information http://extension.osu.edu/news-releases/archives/2011/january/study-inexpensive-household-cleaners-can-effectively-sanitize-kitchen-surfaces. 

What common household products are good for cleaning?  Here are a few to keep in mind:

• Ammonia should only be used in a well ventilated area to wash windows, clean ovens, bathrooms and removes wax from floors.  Do not combine it with any other cleaners!
• Chlorine Bleach will kill germs and clean bathrooms and kitchens, disinfect garbage cans, and remove mildew.
• Baking Soda is useful in both cleaning and refreshing items.  It can be used to clean refrigerators, clean porcelain enamel, and remove stains from countertops.
• Vinegar and lemon juice are good basic cleaners that also give a shine.  They may be used to clean glass or chrome fixtures, remove rust and hard water spots,  clean copper or brass, and remove mildew. 

To get the best results:

• use mild detergents and warm water where possible.
• DO NOT mix cleaning products and follow any directions given for items you may be cleaning.
• avoid scouring powders where possible because they will scratch some surfaces.
• small amounts of chlorine bleach will help kill germs.
• avoid getting surfaces too wet.
•  use clean water and tools.
•  hard water areas may need a softening agent added to the water.

If you are interested in specific details, here’s a web site from our Extension friends in Michigan that gives actual recipes to solve your spring cleaning dilemmas:  http://www.msue.msu.edu/objects/content_revision/download.cfm/revision_id.499694/workspace_id.-4/01500631.html/

Happy spring!