Monday Motivation #56 | Spring Cleaning Linens, Curtains & Spiritual Lessons

Today, we are continuing to spring clean our way through the home with the top-down approach. We’ve covered ceilings and overhead things and all of the hard vertical surfaces, including windows, doors and walls. This week, we will tackle the soft surfaces-primarily window coverings and linens. 

I want to start with linens, the move on to window coverings, and finally share with you a little spiritual lesson I learned from neglecting my curtains for nearly a decade. 

SHOW NOTES

Full episode transcript and helpful product links will be on the blog. Click the link or go to theartofhomepodcast.com/blog and search "MM56".

https://www.theartofhomepodcast.com/post/spring-cleaning-linens-curtains-spiritual-lessons

Transcript

Allison 0:01

Happy Monday, homemakers. Welcome to Monday Motivation, brought to you by the Art of Home Podcast, where we are exploring how homemakers cultivate a place to belong. I'm your host, Allison Weeks. I'm a wife, a mom, a granny, and I've been practicing the Art of Home for over 30 years. Thank you so much for joining me for a little Monday motivation today. Every Monday, you can meet me here for homemaking tips, ideas, and encouragement in this short form episode. If you like what you hear today, be sure to check out our long form episodes that come out every Wednesday, where we feature stories of homemakers just like you and deep dives into topics related to homemaking. Today we are continuing to spring clean our way through the home with the top-down approach. We've covered ceilings and overhead things and all of the hard vertical surfaces, including windows, doors, and walls. This week we will tackle the soft surfaces, primarily window coverings and linens. We will save upholstery for next week when we discuss furniture and then rugs for the final week when we look at all the things on the floor. I've said throughout this series, the way that you structure your spring cleaning is going to depend upon your schedule and how you prefer to work. That is, you might take one room at a time and working from the top to the bottom, clean the ceiling, then the walls, windows, and doors, then the linens and the window coverings, the furniture, and then the floor, and be completely done with that room before moving on to the next room. Or you might tackle all the ceilings in the house one day, then all the vertical surfaces another day, all the window coverings and linens on another day, etc. My desire is to give you the basic steps and helpful tips for the process as a whole, and then you get to decide how you will implement or if you will implement these things into your seasonal cleaning. Just make sure that you always employ the top-down method as much as possible to avoid more cleaning than is necessary. In this Monday motivation, I want to start with linens, then move on to window coverings, and finally share with you a little spiritual lesson I learned from neglecting my window coverings for nearly a decade. Household linens include sheets, comforters, quilts, or duvets, pillows, blankets, and throws, pet bedding, and towels, both bath and kitchen towels. You could also throw in table linens, such as tablecloths and cloth napkins, into this process if you use those often. All linens should be in a regular laundry rotation. Check online for recommendations on how often you should be washing each type of item. But for seasonal cleaning, you may need to give your linens a little extra TLC. First, check their condition. Is it time to replace some things or do they just need deeper cleaning, such as laundry stripping, to remove buildup of body oils, detergents, and stains? There are tons of articles and videos online to explain how to do laundry stripping, so I won't go into that here. Just know that it is a labor-intensive process and will require extra time added to your seasonal cleaning schedule. Some laundry service companies might offer stripping for a reasonable fee. This might be worth the splurge, especially if you've invested in high-quality linens and or you lack the time, space, or tools to do the stripping yourself. Let's tackle the bed first. Strip the bed down to the mattress and using the upholstery brush of your vacuum cleaner, thoroughly vacuum the mattress on all sides. If you have an upholstered headboard, go ahead and vacuum that as well. Now is also the time to deal with stains on the mattress. Spot cleaning with a damp cloth is safe for most mattresses. Just be sure it is completely dry before you put any bedding back on and consider using a breathable protective mattress cover to avoid stains in the future. Oh, and don't forget to rotate your mattress. That is, take the end currently at the foot of the bed and flip it around to the top. If you have a two-sided mattress, like there's no pillow top, but it's the same on both sides, rotate and flip it over. All this flipping and rotating helps to extend the life of your mattress by preventing lumps and valleys that tend to form when you sleep in the exact same spot on the mattress for years at a time. For the outer layer, comforters, quilts, duvets, etc., you will want to again assess their condition to decide if they have reached the end of their life in your home, but also to check for stains and spots that need mending. These items tend to be more expensive, so you want to use them for as long as possible. Or they might hold sentimental value. Getting rid of granny's heirloom quilt that covers your daughter's bed is simply not an option. But is it still functional as a bed cover or does it need to retire to a wall hanging or other form of artistic display? Once you've assessed the condition and it passes the test, launder each item according to the instructions on the tag. Many people change their bed covers with the seasons, a heavier quilt for the fall and winter, a lighter cover for spring and summer, and then even they might change their sheets, flannel for the colder months and cotton for the warmer months. If this is you, go ahead and change those out now. Be sure to wash and dry the outgoing sheets andor covers thoroughly before you store them away, and store them in a breathable linen bag or storage box. It's also a good idea to put sheets of tissue paper in between the layers of the folded linens so they don't get creases while they're in storage until next season. A little sachet or a couple of drier sheets also help to keep them smelling fresh. If you are taking warm weather bed linens out of storage and they are less than fresh, you might also want to give them a launder or at least air them out, probably outside on a clothesline would be a good idea for about an hour before you put them on the bed. While they are airing out or being washed, you can vacuum and clean the mattress as discussed above. You've cleaned the mattress, the sheets, and the comforter or the quilt. Now let's talk about pillows. Technically, these are part of the soft furnishings in the home, but we are grouping them with linens today. Inspect your pillows the same as your sheets and your covers. Are they looking lumpy and stained and a little worse for wear? It may be time for new pillows. If they look pretty good, they still need to be cleaned at least twice a year to remove allergens, sweat, skin cells, dust mites, and bacteria. You may want to wash them quarterly if you have sweaty sleepers, kids, or pets. Most pillows made of polyfill or down are machine washable. Typically, you would wash polyfilled ones in warm and downfilled pillows in cold. Just check the label on each pillow to check the manufacturer's instructions. A good practice when machine washing pillows is always wash two at a time so the machine does not become unbalanced during the spin cycle. Polyfill pillows can go in the dryer on low, but downfilled pillows should be air-dried. Whichever you're doing, make sure that pillows are fully dry before you put pillowcases back on to avoid mold. A zippered protective pillow cover under the pillowcase will extend the life of your pillows. I highly recommend those. For throw or decorative pillows, follow the directions on the tag for cleaning. If they're very decorative with lots of applique beads or anything like that, they probably are just going to be spot clean only. But a lot of decorative pillows have a removable cover that you can just throw in the wash. A note about memory foam pillows. These typically cannot be put in the machine, only spot cleaned. So consider that the next time you are in the market for new pillows. Personally, I want to be able to throw mine in the washing machine. So I don't buy memory foam for that reason. And speaking of washing machines, most of these bedding items are very bulky. Might I suggest that you take all of your bed covers and pillows to a laundromat where you can easily fit them into those large capacity washing machines. Most laundromats will have at least two or three of these industrial-sized machines. So if you could really knock this job out pretty quickly by doing it all there all at the same time. So congratulations, your bed is now fresh and clean. Expect to have an excellent night's sleep. Let's move on to towels, shall we? Again, the first thing you want to do is assess the state of your towels. All the different size bath towels and all of your kitchen towels. Are they frayed, holy, or stained? Do they still absorb moisture pretty well, or do they just push the liquid around? Do they still smell fresh even when they're wet? Or do they have that musty, sour smell? They might be revived by laundry stripping, or it might be time for them to go. If it's time for new towels, save a couple of the old ones to make cleaning rags, if you want, and give the rest to your local animal shelter. They are always in need of towels, and they don't mind if they're a little bit holy or a little bit musty smelling. Take great care of your towels on a regular basis by washing them every two to three uses. Resist the urge to use fabric softener on your bath towels. It leaves a residue on the fibers to which body oils and dirt love to cling. This residue builds up over time and reduces the towel's softness and absorbency, and it really cannot be removed except by laundry stripping. While we are in the bathroom, go ahead and wash your shower curtain. If the liner is washable, then wash it as well. If not, it's probably time for a new one. If you have pets, assess and wash their bedding. Mend or replace as needed. Now we are ready for the window coverings. Blinds and shutters should be cleaned when you clean the windows. Dust them with a duster or the vacuum hose and wipe clean with a damp cloth. Shades should be cleaned according to manufacturers' instructions. Vinyl or plastic shades usually just need a wipe down with a damp cloth and left extended so that they can air dry before you roll the shade back up. Fabric shades are usually a permanent installation, so you can't just take them down and throw them in the wash. Gently remove dust with your vacuum hose and a soft brush attachment. Curtains and shears will need to be taken down and either dry cleaned or washed and dried according to manufacturer's directions. Keep in mind that laundering might cause them to shrink depending on the fabric, so follow those washing instructions very carefully. You may not think that your curtains are dirty, but I promise if they've been up for more than a year, they need a wash or at least a vacuum. You ask a lot of your linens. They keep you cozy every night, they wash and dry your skin and your dishes. They are an integral part of your daily homemaking. They might look okay at a glance, but they are quietly collecting dirt, oils, and bacteria while they serve you day in and day out. You've just become blind to the dirt. You don't notice the buildup until your towels become scratchy and the light from the window is dimmed by the dingy curtains left hanging there for years. Not that I know anything about that. Enjoy the following story from an April 2025 newsletter and take care of your linens so they can continue to take care of you. Spring homemaking. While on a podcast break last month, my husband and I did several home projects. One of those forced me to deal with a much neglected homemaking task, cleaning window coverings. Specifically, the ceiling to floor length drapes and shears in our dining room. The window wall was damaged and the drapes had to come down for the repair. Since they had been up there for eight years, I figured this was probably a good time to give them a wash. The drapes themselves are made of a heavy gray linen with a lining. They require dry cleaning, so I dutifully sent them out. The shears are an inexpensive polyblend which can be machine washed. I carried them from the dimly lit dining room into the bright, fluorescent LED lights of the laundry room, and I gasped. Those cream colored shears did not seem altered in the least as they hung in the large dining room windows. However, in the glaring light of the laundry room, they were not in fact cream colored. They were a dingy, dirty, sooty gray. Upon reflection, I can now see three factors contributing to this disgusting transformation. First, and most obvious is the fact that I left them up there for years without cleaning. Second, our windows are rather drafty. Small bits of dust and dirt can easily seep in and settle on the curtains. Also, the air vent for that room is just above the window, blowing towards it, providing another steady source of fine dust to settle on the curtains. Lastly, this room is used for dining, generally at night, with low lighting. I don't really have a reason to visit that room during bright daylight hours. The out-of-sight, out of mind rule certainly applied here. As I looked down at these filthy curtains, I formulated a plan for restoring them from dark to light. I knew that I would first have to give each panel a good rinse in the sink to remove some of the grime. If I just threw them all in the washer, the water would be quickly contaminated, and they likely wouldn't be any cleaner at the end of the cycle. So, one at a time, I gathered the panels into the utility sink and began to pre-rinse them. The clean, clear water instantly turned black and continued to do so, rinse after rinse after rinse. It took multiple rinses and several soakings of each panel before the water ran relatively clear. I could not believe that these curtains, which I passed by every single day thinking they were white, were not white at all. My neglect, their surroundings, and the lack of light all contributed to this buildup of dirt hiding in plain sight. It occurred a little at a time over a long period of time, and I was blind to the alteration. I simply didn't notice the change until it was revealed by the light. The Lord so often uses visual representations like this to teach me spiritual lessons. How could I not see that much dirt? Because it was subtle, appearing gradually, not suddenly. If someone had splashed a glass of red wine onto the curtains, I would have noticed and attended to that right away. But the level of filth I witnessed running down the sink drain was only able to build up because I neglected regular care and attention. As the rinse water continued to run black, I thought of God's cleansing of my soul. I have been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6, 11. Praise the Lord. I am a new creation in Christ. However, I still live in the world and in this fleshly body, the leaky window and the air vent, if you will. So while Jesus' blood has washed me white as snow, I still must contend with the temptation of sin around me and in my flesh. I must regularly submit to God's care and keeping of my being, lest the dirt build up and I become unrecognizable as one of his children. But surely I would notice if a pattern of sin was forming in my life. I'm in Christ, so I would see the dirt, right? Yes, we have the capacity to see, but our vision can easily be distracted or diverted. From our limited perspective, we can easily identify the red wine sins, but we often miss or ignore those dust particle sins. There are the obvious, easy-to-see stains that result from blatant sin, stealing, lying, drunkenness, cheating, etc. As believers, we are generally quick to feel the Holy Spirit's conviction over these, hopefully before we commit them. Like immediately addressing that red wine stain, we experience godly sorrow over them. But then there is the more subtle dust and debris category of sin, including things like envy, laziness, gossip, anger, discontentment, unbelief, or lack of trust in the Lord. These respectable sins creep in slowly, a little at a time, altering our spirits without us even noticing. But God notices. He sees our dirt hiding in plain sight. And it's his merciful desire to free us from this slow creep of sin. Though we live among all this dirt, there is grace. We don't have to allow the dirt to cling to us, building up and choking out abundant life, dimming the light of our witness to the beauty of Christ. If you have trusted in Christ for salvation, you are his. Nothing will change that. Yet you have not only been saved from something, you've been saved to something. He is making all things new. And that includes you. Isaiah 43 19, Romans 6 4, Revelation 21 5. He is constantly calling you further up and further in to a better way of life, the true and living way. John 14 6, Hebrews 10 20. Go to him daily and allow him to reveal the sin you've neglected to notice. Prioritize regular time with him above all else. His presence and his word will with kindness illuminate your soul and all its dusty corners. He will not condemn you. He will gently lead you to repentance and restoration, washing away both the obvious stains and the subtle daily dirt. Romans 2.4 1 John 1 9. Setting your feet firmly on the way of abundant life for your good and his glory. Also, you might want to clean your curtains. That's all for this Monday motivation. I hope you are inspired and ready to spring clean your household linens. The entire transcript of today's episode will be on the blog, along with some favorite cleaning and protective products for linens and window coverings. Click the link in the description or go to the Artof Home Podcast.com slash blog and search MM56. That's M the number five and the number six. I will be back on Wednesday with a deep dive into quilting 101. And next Monday with more spring cleaning. We'll tackle appliances, furniture, and the forgotten. Until then, keep practicing your art of making a home.