Spring is officially here! As the weather begins changing and the days become longer, a good spring cleaning that freshens up your homes living spaces can surely help to lift your mood. Nothing is more satisfying than a deep clean. Although it may seem like a daunting task, spring cleaning will freshen up your home and shake off those winter blues. Whether you chose to start indoors or outdoors, create a manageable schedule and take it one room at a time. If you’re wondering where to start, Check out these spring cleaning tips to help organize your to do list!
Restock Your Cleaning Supplies
First things first, you’ve got to restock all of your go-to cleaning supplies. Start with the basics like a multi-surface cleaner, spray bottles, glass cleaner, sponges, and microfiber cloths. If you’d prefer natural products, start with products like vinegar, baking soda and castile soap.
Clean Room by Room
The most effective way to deep clean is to approach the cleaning process one room at a time. Create a cleaning checklists for each room to keep you get organized. Focus on the areas that have been pushed aside or neglected during the winter.
Wipe Walls and Ceilings
Kick off the cleaning of your walls and ceilings by removing the dust. Use a vacuum, or a microfiber duster to get started. You can then use a multi-purpose cleaner to get rid of any surface grime. You may need to use a degreaser for stubborn areas of grime in the kitchen. Remember to test your products in a small area to make sure it won’t tarnish the surface.
Deep-Clean the Kitchen
The kitchen is typically the most commonly used place of the home- the center of family meetings, talks, and the prime collector of dust, grease, and much more. The cabinets take up the most space in your kitchen, so giving them a deep clean will benefit the entire kitchen.
For the cabinets, gentle cleaning is best, so skip the abrasive products and use a solution of warm water and dish soap. First, empty your cabinets and drawers and vacuum up crumbs and debris using a crevice attachment. Next, wet a soft cloth with the soap and water solution and wring it out until it is just damp. Wipe down the inside and outside of the cabinets as well as handles or knobs. Don’t forget to go over frames or trim where grime can accumulate. Follow with a cloth slightly dampened with plain water to rinse and then dry thoroughly with another soft cloth. Use a glass cleaner on any glass cabinet fronts.
Show Appliances Some Love
Even the small kitchen appliances work hard consistently, such as your toaster and hand mixer. They can all benefit from a deep clean. To get rid of dried-on batter, smoothie, or sauce from your hand mixer and blender base, rub the exteriors with a damp cloth. Don’t forget to wipe the cords (unplugged, of course) as well, since they can also be targets for splatters.
To clean your toaster, start by unplugging it and gently shaking it upside down over the trash to remove crumbs. Remove the crumb tray and wipe it and the exterior of the toaster down with a damp cloth. Dry the crumb tray completely with another cloth before replacing. Finally, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe down your coffee machine base. Other parts, including the carafe, lid, and filter basket, can be washed in warm, soapy water.
Un-Clutter Closets
With a winter spent in quarantine, we’ve all had the chance to binge the KonMari Method with Marie Kondo and organizing tips from the Home Edit, so it is now time to put that to use when you begin to unclutter your closets. It is best to start with a purge of items you no longer wear or want. A simple rule of thumb, if you haven’t reached for it in a year or more, let it go.
Once you have completed the de-clutter, you can begin to organize. You can chose to sort it based on type, season or by color. Try arranging all bottoms together, all tops together and so on. Take it up a notch by using all matching hangers facing in the same direction to create a clean, uniform look.
Catch Up on Laundry
If you’re like me, you’d prefer to skip laundry but unfortunately that task cannot be avoided. Take some time to catch up on the laundry that you’ve let go over the last couple weeks. Some items may have taken up residence in the laundry area because they are in need of a little extra care. Now’s the time to tackle hand washables and other delicate pieces.
Also, make a pile—or sort through your pile, if you already have one—of clothes or accessories that need minor repairs such as reattaching a button or fixing a hem. Carve out some time to make these simple fixes and wash and fold any remaining loads of clothes you have.
Beautify Baseboards
Depending on the size of your home, this may not be the quickest task to tackle, but it is super satisfying, and a chilly day when you’re stuck inside anyway is the best time to get it crossed off your to-do list.
Start by removing dust with your vacuum’s brush attachment. Follow up by wiping down baseboards with a cloth dampened with a warm water-dish soap combo. Dry baseboards with a clean microfiber cloth. Work your way around the room to ensure you don’t miss any spots.
Vacuum and Shampoo Rugs
Synthetic carpets and rugs with waterproof backings can be deep-cleaned with a rotary shampoo machine and a hot-water extraction machine. Rugs without backings, including Orientals, require professional cleaning.
A deep spring cleaning is a perfect opportunity to establish ongoing clean habits that can make the next spring cleaning a lot easier. Keep in mind that the most efficient way to clean is not by rushing the process through a single day or a single weekend. Take each chore, one task at a time and continue these habits throughout the year.
