Spring is a traditional time for cleaning, offering an opportunity to declutter, remove dust and cobwebs, and air out the house.

This sparked Great Bend-based professional cleaning product manufacturer Fuller Industries Inc., a longtime member of the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), a worldwide group supporting those in the cleaning industry, to join with Magna-Dry of Central Kansas and Office Products Incorporated to highlight March 23-29, International Cleaning Week.

“Cleaning week is recognized annually during the fourth week in March, and it is a good encouragement to do a deep clean of our homes, closets, cars, storage lockers and offices,” said Joe Mann, Fuller’s general manager. Also, this week emphasizes the value and importance of cleaning for employees, employers and other stakeholders in the cleaning industry.

Getting to the nitty, gritty

“Start small — don’t try to tackle your entire house at once,” said Todd Clark of Magna-Dry of Central Kansas, a company that uses Fuller products extensively. “Think about clearing one room, or even one closet, at a time.”

When this is complete, sort it out, go through the space and separate belongings. Determine the things to be kept, stored for later, sold, donated or thrown away.

“Once you’ve cleared out the clutter, give your home some much-needed TLC,” Clark said. .

He also offered these tips:

• Sweep under large appliances, such as the stove and refrigerator, and larger furniture pieces, such as dressers, desks and beds.

• Empty the kitchen refrigerator and thoroughly clean it.

• Clean vinyl or wood blinds and take any curtains or drapes to the cleaners. Flip mattresses. Don’t just clean the sheets; wash the pillows and mattresses. After these more thorough tasks, do the usual scrubbing, mopping, dusting and vacuuming.

• Change filters often. If an air conditioning system is running, change the filters in the spring and fall. This will help reduce dust particles that build up in the home.

• “Air duct cleaning is highly recommended for people with allergies, pet odors, smokers and smoke from a fire loss and construction dust,” Clark said. The company vacuums ducts, blows dirt off coils and fogs to kill mold and mildew.

• Maintain a clean bathroom. This will allow focus on other areas, such as ceilings and closets, that may need a more thorough cleaning.

• Put the spring back in a dirty keyboard with cotton swabs. If certain keys are sticking, or the entire keyboard doesn’t have the same pop that it used to dirt and crumbs are likely the cause.

• Smart devices and tablets need a good cleaning, too. Remember to spray the disinfectant on a microfiber cloth or paper towel first, then wipe the unit.

“The key to keeping your carpets clean is to vacuum regularly,” Clark said, noting that a professional cleaning should be done regularly. “An expert can remove more dirt and allergens than regular cleaning can achieve. Furthermore, regular maintenance will extend the life of the carpet.”

This will also help keep pet dander, allergens and stains out of the carpet. Depending on the amount of traffic, number of people and pets, some homes can go a year and a half between cleanings, but others should be done every six months. Magna-Dry can employ either a dry-cleaning method or a deep steam clean, depending on the situation in the home.

“Once again, this depends on children, pets and how often people go in and out of doors,” he said. “We see a lot of traffic patterns in homes. After a deep professional carpet cleaning, move furniture around to reduce those patterns.

“If it needs to be cleaned, Fuller has the product to tackle the job,” Clark said. “Magna-Dry uses Fuller products because they are tried and true.”

He recommends:

• Fuller solvent-based stainless-steel cleaner.

• Fuller First-Class Furniture Polish.

• Fulleroso, a lavender multi-purpose cleaner and deodorizer.

• Fuller ammoniated glass cleaner.

• Heavy-duty degreasers for tougher jobs.

“All products are highly concentrated, which helps keep costs down. A rule of thumb: adding too much chemical is never good,” Clark said.

Office Products Incorporated in Great Bend carries Fuller merchandise for spring cleaning needs. OPI’s downtown showroom features a selection of carpet/floor cleaners, window cleaners, bathroom cleaners, multi-surface cleaners, and hand soaps/disinfectants. They also carry various brushes and static floor sweepers.

In addition, OPI has a catalog from which they can order other Fuller products.

“Together, let’s celebrate and highlight the important role the cleaning industry plays in keeping people safe and healthy,” Mann said.

For more information, call Fuller at 620-792-1711, Magna-Dry at 620-282-2267 or OPI at 620-793-8479.

About Fuller Industries Inc.

Based in Great Bend, Kan., with a rich heritage dating back over a century to the Fuller Brush Man, Fuller Industries is a leading American manufacturer of industrial products, including cleaning chemicals and supplies, as well as brooms, mops, brushes and more. Fuller serves manufacturing, commercial, institutional and agricultural clients across the Western Hemisphere. Call 620-792-1711 or visit Fullerindustriesinc.com.