Spring Cleaning for our Native Peeps

By A. Kay Oxendine

Spring is around the corner. There is so much to do — in our homes and on the trail. I know it may seem crazy, but I always try to clean my house before I leave to go on the trail. It makes it so sweet when I can come home and not have to rush around cleaning.

Now I know not everyone can do this, but I have a few ideas that work for me, and I hope they work for you as well.

• Plastic bags are your friend. I am talking about the resealable ones — where you can store your feathers, your beads, as well as wet hand cloths to help on a hot day. It’s also a great way to carry ice from home into the cooler. At home, they are great to store hardware, screws and nails, beauty supplies, noodles and rice, if you don’t have canisters. They’re also great to use when you buy larger meals and divide them up for future dinners.
• Duct tape — who’s with me on this one? How many of us have a roll in your car, whether to help on the road, or to tape those moccasins up at the last minute? I know I am not the only one.
• Use a label maker to keep your crafts and regalia stored in a good place. Go ahead and clean off that shelf that no one uses, and recreate a space for your crafts and regalia items. It also works great for your pantry and linen closet.
• Baking soda is a great silver cleaner, as is toothpaste. If you need to shine up your jingles or your roach rocker, your belt or your bells, this is an easy way to keep your shine on. It also can be used as toothpaste.
• Vinegar is a must-have when you clean. It is perfect for windows, and also ideal for cleaning sterling silver. This is also wonderful for cleaning hardwood floors, as well as to use in laundry. Vinegar will act as a fabric softener, can keep clothes from bleeding and can reverse colors from fading.
• Throw all glassware, even light fixtures, in the dishwasher when you are doing a big clean. Also put grates from the stove into the dishwasher.
• Wash all sponges in the washing machine. This refreshes your sponges, and they’ll last a good long while.
• Throw your curtains in the dryer, with a spray of febreeze to freshen up the entire room. Remove them in a few minutes, and then put them back up before the heat fades to keep them from wrinkling. Do this on light heat or fluff.
• Wash all your bedding, including your pillows, your comforters, sheets, pillow cases and shams. This only needs to be done a few times a year, but spring is definitely a good time to do it.
• Keep Goo Gone with you at home and on the road. It can tackle gum on shoes, marks on the car and scratches. It also works well for cleaning cabinets.
• A lint brush is your friend. Always carry one on the pow-wow trail. But if you don’t have one, duct tape can once again save the day.
• To make fruit flies go away, make a mixture of dishwashing detergent and apple cider vinegar. It will take the fruit flies away to a new home … bye bye.
• A traveling iron is a must when going to pow-wows. They are cheap and easy to use.
• Always keep fresh fruit with you, either on the road or in the house. Not only is fresh fruit great to eat, but it also looks beautiful in your home. Display that fruit, ya’ll.
• Before hitting the road to a pow-wow, be sure to check all your vital fluids: oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid. Also check your tires and your battery. If you can, go to your local mechanic and ask them to give your car a thorough go-over. It will at least give you peace of mind. Oh, and make sure you have plenty of gas.
• Also, if you can, take your own food to pow-wows to save money on your trip. This is also helpful if you are on a special diet.
• As you clean, try to remember to clean you vacuum, your shampooer, your mops and brooms.
• Throw out old brushes and combs. It’s always good to replace them each year, around the spring.
• Always have lavender on hand. This is great for your lingerie drawer, perfect for your dryer, and helpful to bring about good feelings. Carry a bit in a resealable bag wherever you go. If you have lavender oil, spray or dab a bit on the light fixture in your home or hotel room. It’s also good to put a bit on your wrists and behind ears, ladies. You will thank me later.
• When you come home from a trip, take your suitcase directly to the washroom and unload it right there and begin your wash. Then proceed to unpack everything else. Trust you me, this helps so much.
• Have a good time. No matter what you clean or where you go — have fun doing it.

I hope to see many of you on the pow-wow trail this spring and summer, and hopefully you can also leave a good-smelling, clean house behind.