Every March-April Amish housewives do spring cleaning. The system is refined over generations.
Order
Top to bottom, far room to door. 1) Ceiling (cobwebs). 2) Walls (dust, stains). 3) Windows (vinegar + newspaper). 4) Furniture (remove, wipe, wax). 5) Floor (wash, polish). 6) Textiles (curtains, quilts — wash, sun dry).
Supplies
Vinegar + water 1:1 — glass, mirrors, surfaces. Baking soda — pots, sinks, stove. Lemon — odor, rust stains. Wax (beeswax + turpentine) — furniture. No store chemicals.
Rule
Pick up every item: needed — keep. Not needed — give away, sell, discard. Amish minimalism: if unused for a year — it's not needed.
Result
House sparkles. Everything in its place. Nothing excess. Ready for a new season.