ESL Podcast 993 - Doing Spring Cleaning

spring cleaning - in-depth, detailed cleaning and organization of an entire home, traditionally performed each spring

This year, Melissa wants to do her spring cleaning with all-natural products and no chemical cleaners.

drapes - window coverings made out of cloth, used to block light and to provide privacy

Thick drapes can improve the energy efficiency of your home, because less heat will escape through the windows.

to wipe down - to move a cloth or paper towel over a surface to clean it

Quick! Wipe down the counters before our guests arrive.

attic - the top section of a home, immediately below the roof, often used for storage

The attic is filled with boxes of family photos and baby clothes.

to clean out - to organize a space by getting rid of everything that isn't needed and placing the remaining items so that there is some logic to how they are stored

We need to clean out the garage so that we can park the car inside.

upholstery - cloth that is permanently attached to cover a seat

Kaiden often eats in the car, so a lot of the upholstery is stained.

to defrost the freezer - to remove the ice from the inside of a freezer (the coldest part of a refrigerator)

Where can we put the frozen meat and ice cream while we're defrosting the freezer?

cabinet - a cupboard; a wooden box with a door in front and shelves inside, used to store items, especially in a kitchen or bathroom

The rice is in the cabinet to the right of the stove.

to scrub - to clean something by rubbing it very hard and repeatedly, usually with a sponge or a cloth

Turn on the fan while you're scrubbing the bathtub so that the chemicals don't make you sick.

window screen - a flat surface made of many vertical and horizontal thin pieces of wire or plastic, placed over a window and used to keep insects out, but let air and light through

The window screen isn't strong enough to protect children from falling out of the apartment window, so make sure you install some metal bars for safety.

windowsill - the flat piece of wood at the bottom of a window

That plant would grow a lot better if you put it on the windowsill where it could get more light.

to steam clean - to use a machine that cleans carpets or cloth furniture with the use of steam (water vapor)

If we steam clean the carpets, do you think it will get rid of the smell of the dogs?

to sweep out - to use a broom on the floor to push all the dirt out of a room

Please shake out the rugs before you sweep out the laundry room.

reinforcement - backup; someone who can come to provide additional support and assistance

When the police officers realized that the men had guns, they called for reinforcements.

to not be the (something) for nothing - a phrase meaning that something has purpose and meaning and can provide some benefit in a particular situation

Of course the surgery will be successful! They don't call him the king of plastic surgery for nothing.

coach - trainer; a person who assists an athlete or a sports team to perform as well as possible

The coach wants all the soccer players to run at least 10 miles per week outside of practice.

workout - an exercise session; a period of time when one engages in intense physical activity to maintain or improve one's health

Cardiovascular workouts are important, but don't forget to also lift weights.