Time for a little spring cleaning! Here we focus on two rooms that get the most use and abuse: the kitchen and the living room. We've got a few tips to give your kitchen a good scrub. My friend Judith, a housekeeper, gives us a few general tips to keep the rest of the house in top order.

SHIP SHAPE GALLEY
When it comes to cleaning the kitchen, begin by making sure you have some essential cleaning supplies on hand. Vinegar is an amazing, natural cleaning product that avoids the need for nasty chemicals. However, it will also be necessary to keep some treated steel wool pads or cleansers for cook tops and sinks. Remember to use rubber gloves to protect your hands.

The best direction in which to clean is from top to bottom. So, fill up your buckets with soapy water, get on your stepladder and start cleaning with the kitchen shelves. Remove and clean the items, clean each shelf and put everything back where it came from.

Give countertops and sinks a good scrub to remove stains and food build-up. A toothbrush can come in handy for getting at every nook and cranny. Once the cabinets and countertops are done, it’s onto backsplash and cook top. As you're wiping imagine it being a good workout!

The refrigerator is one of the biggest tasks. Give the outside a good wipe before attacking the inside. Take everything out of the fridge giving it all a thorough cleaning with warm, soapy water. As you return items to the fridge check all the expiration dates, and throw out anything that’s past its prime. Last but not least, add a fresh box of baking soda and your refrigerator will be spring fresh. You can't imagine the sense of accomplishment as when your entire kitchen is spic and span.

CLEAN LIVING
And now, some tips for cleaning the living room. First of all, items to stock up on are light bulbs, floor wax and an electrostatically charged duster. Soft cloths work well for ledges, mantelpieces and bookshelves. Vinegar is a good product as is club soda for removing stains. Baking soda mixed with water is great for removing marks and scuffs on walls.

Start by clearing surfaces, getting rid of old newspapers, books and magazines. If you have a glass tabletop, make sure it’s sparkling. Once you get the surfaces cleaned up, it will already look and feel much more light and airy.

A quick spruce up idea is to replace oil paintings with framed photographs for the spring and summer months. A couple of spare vases and some pillar candles provide a springtime fresh appeal, as do ferns placed around the hearth.