We all get lazy in the winter and rightly so. With cold seeping into every nook and cranny, leaving the cozy, warm blanket to deep clean the house in winter just seems terrifying. But as the snow melts and spring starts to bloom, it is the perfect time to prepare the home for the season of renewal. Obviously, deep cleaning sounds like a daunting task and a lot like exercising; but the results can be thrilling and easy to achieve with some helpful spring cleaning tips.
Despite the doubts and reservations, spring cleaning doesn’t have to be laborious as little planning and strategic execution will eliminate several headaches down the road. We have amassed some useful expert spring cleaning tips to help you accomplish the task with ease and precision. So let’s get to work.
How to Prepare for Spring Cleaning?
Declutter Before You Start
Removing the clutter is the best way to begin your seasonal cleaning chores. Clutter can be anything – outgrown clothes, broken toys, outdated papers, expired foods – and it is important to eliminate it before you start the task to make the cleaning easier. You should begin decluttering room-wise; once it is done, you can go about washing, vacuuming, and dusting the house from top to bottom.
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Ready the Tools
You need to check the supplies you will be using to clean the house. Not only should the products be fresh and not expired but you should have the necessary amount at hand. You do not want to run out of a product and disrupt your whole day. Cleaning experts suggest that your equipment should be ready: check the vacuum cleaner’s roller bars for threads, empty the garbage bin ahead, clean and ready cleaning rags, and change the filters.
Create a Plan
You might wonder why would you need a plan for spring cleaning chores, but things always go better, faster, and easier when you have a strategy to carry out the task. Setting a goal before beginning helps you determine how extensive the tidying needs to be. You can create a checklist to break down the big task into smaller, more manageable measures and focus on the areas that need more attention. It is also easier to go about this undertaking per room; concentrating on cleaning first and reordering furniture and sprucing the decorations after that.
Put in Team Efforts
It is understandable that you might want to do things your way, hence avoiding help. But dividing chores and putting everyone in the house to work can help accomplish the task faster and will be easy on you. Little kids can help dust baseboards and floor vents, while the older kids can follow your instructions to clean entire rooms or take out the trash. Adults need to organize and conquer bigger tasks such as moving hefty things around, vacuuming, and so on. You can make an energetic playlist to keep up the pace.
Donate What You Don’t Need
Things that you have outgrown, or items that are in good condition but you don’t use anymore can be donated to others who might benefit from them. You can make a donation box and chuck everything in there that hasn’t been in use in the past year. Spring cleaning is all about making the most of the space and things you have, therefore, decluttering becomes a major undertaking in the process. It will make rearranging your belonging simple and your home will feel clean and refreshed.
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While you can apply these aforementioned spring cleaning tips to every room around the house, it is best to know which areas need more attention and love. Let’s get started.
Open With the Kitchen
Start With Cabinets and Sink
The kitchen is a good place to begin your spring cleaning. Empty the cupboards and pantry to rearrange things anew, deep clean them, and organize items by usage. Then move to the oft-forgotten kitchen sink and faucet. Pay attention to the strains near the strainer and the food debris in the faucet aerator. An old toothbrush or toothpick can help clear blocked holes.
Clean the Dishwasher and Garbage Disposal
Two of the most important things in the kitchen are the dishwasher and the garbage disposal and they require special tending when you are deep cleaning the house. Cleaning the dishwasher and filter will remove the buildup of food residue, grime, and soap scum to prevent diseases. The same goes for the garbage disposal which needs a thorough cleaning to get rid of food stains sticking under the elastic baffle.
Steam the Microwave and Oven
Winters have us all baking sweet and savory treats, which means the oven has a lot of baked-on grease and grime, while constant reheating of cakes and pies in the microwave has it smelling multiple food odors. The easiest way to clean both these appliances is to steam them. Steaming will help soften the grease and grim before you can wipe the oven clean. The same goes for the microwave, where boiling water with lemon slices will help eliminate the odor.
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Clean the Refrigerator Inside-Out
With spring’s arrival, the need for the refrigerator and the freezer increases immensely. Therefore, you must clean the appliance inside out. Begin by emptying everything, removing the ice buildup, wiping clean every surface, and vacuuming the fan and coils on the back to help the appliance work more efficiently throughout the season.
Refresh Your Beverage Appliances
While winter calls for pies and soups, spring and summer call for refreshing beverages. It is crucial to clean your beverage appliances thoroughly, even if they are usually filled with water. You can use distilled white vinegar to flush coffee makers and tea kettles for better-tasting drinks.
Spruce up Stainless Steel Equipment
On the other hand, your stainless steel equipment, such as the sink in the kitchen, needs a sparkle which can be achieved by spraying undiluted distilled white vinegar. Spray and rub away any stains with a microfiber cloth and rinse the surface with water.
Let’s Move to the Bedroom
Tidy the Closet
When you are tidying up the bedroom for spring, starting with the closet is a smart move. You should empty all the cupboards and other storage spaces and sort the clothes. Clean these spaces, put clothes you no longer use in the donation box, and reorganize the clothes by usage. You should wash or dry-clean the clothes that you will be using in the coming months.
Clean Bedding and Pillows
Bedding and pillows see a lot of friction and wear and tear, making it crucial to give them a thorough cleaning while tidying up the bedroom. The time is great to wash all kinds of pillows – foam, polyester fiberfill, and feather – to get rid of smell, dust, and dust mites. You need to wash all the bedding including mattress pads, sheets, blankets, comforters, and quilts before you store them away until next winter. Your mattress also needs proper cleaning to get rid of stains and odors.
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Move Furniture and Clean Under
One of the most important spring cleaning tips is to move furniture around to clean the surface underneath. It is a common mistake to only clean the visible dirt and skip the hard-to-reach spaces such as under the bed or the couch. If there is storage under the bed, remove things out and then vacuum the floor and the underside of the bed frame. While at it, use closed bins or boxes for items being stored under the bed.
Make Windows Shine
Clean windows allow plenty of natural light in, making your room more energy-efficient and feeling spacious. You need to take time to clean windows to brighten the home. Clean window vents, tracks, and window sills. Once the windows are clean, give them proper treatment. You can wash or dry clean – fabric, wood, and vinyl – curtains and blinds. You can use a garden hose to clear the dust when cleaning window screens.
Polishing the Bathroom
Clean the Toilet and Toilet Tools
Every room in the house deserves special tending to when you are spring cleaning. Begin by cleaning the toilet and toilet tools to prevent odor and germs. First, clean the base of the toilet and then work your way up. Experts recommend removing the toilet seat for an in-depth clean. While you are polishing your toilet to make it good and fresh as new, do not forget the toilet cleaning tools. You should clean, sanitize, and disinfect the tools such as the plunger and toilet brush.
Unclog Showerhead and Remove the Mold
A bathroom is where you go to clean yourself and a dirty bathroom is simply off-putting and a disease-carrier. Unclogging the showerhead and removing mold from the bathroom is necessary for keeping the space at its best. To clean the showerhead, use distilled white vinegar to work on mineral deposits in the water jets. You need to clean away mold from the ceiling, wood, and grout in the bathroom for a healthy and shiny bathing space.
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Remove Soap Scum
Ceramic tiles and fiberglass fixtures can easily accumulate soap scum. Fill a spray bottle with two parts distilled white vinegar, one part dishwashing liquid, and two parts water to get rid of soap scum in your bathroom. Spray on the affected surface, let it sit for five minutes, and scrub it clean.
Clean Water Spots
Water spots on glass shower doors are another issue you need to tackle. Pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into a microwaveable bowl and heat for half a minute. Then add a few drops of dishwashing liquid, spray it onto the door, and let it sit for five minutes before wiping it clean.
Tend to the Living Room
Pay Attention to Each Furniture Piece
Your living room furniture sees more wear and tear than any other piece in the entire house. Therefore, every piece in the living room needs a good cleaning. Your upholstered couches and chairs must be thoroughly cleaned to get rid of stains and odor. Wood furniture needs to be dusted and polished to eliminate dust and grime, while leather furniture needs cleaning and conditioning to remain soft and supple.
Get Rid of Cobwebs, Smudges, and Dirt
Corner spiderwebs, smudges, and dirt are very common in the living room after a slow and lazy winter. You can use a long-handle duster, a clean and dry sponge mop, or a broom to get rid of the cobwebs from the corners around the ceilings and moldings. Along with corner cobwebs, your walls can collect dust and dirt over time. You need to remove dust and scuff marks from the walls.
Clean Electronics, Lighting, and Ceiling Fans
Your electronics, lighting fixtures, and ceiling fans have been collecting dust over the winter. Spring is the perfect time to give them a proper cleaning. A disposable duster with an extendable handle can come in handy to clean ceiling fans and overhead light fixtures without much strain. Clean the dust from laptops, computer monitors, and all electronics, and sanitize the remote, game controller, and keyboard thoroughly.
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Tend to HVAC Systems
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in your living room need to be cleaned with filters changed for a refreshing atmosphere in spring and summer ahead. Vacuum and clean HVAC vent covers with a disposable duster or you can use a vacuum with a hose and upholstery brush attachment. If possible, you should remove the covers and wash them.
Give Some Love to the Floor
The floor of your living room sees the most footfall in the entire house. You must deep clean floor covering and area rugs to remove stains and odors. DIY through the process or hire a carpet cleaning company. Polish solid wood floors and clean laminate, LVP, and tile floors. When you are vacuuming every room, you should use the best vacuum with a HEPA filter to capture each dust and dirt particle.
Check Smoke and CO2 Detectors
Your living room is one of the most important spaces in the house and it is important to keep the air in there clean and toxin-free. You should regularly change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Spring cleaning is the best time to do this checking to determine that these devices are working properly for the time ahead.
Final Word
We understand that seasonal cleaning chores can seem taxing, but these spring cleaning tips should help make the task easy and smoother. Remember to donate the clothes and other items you have separated in the donation box! After the house is thoroughly cleaned, pay attention to your spring garden as well. Happy cleaning, folks!
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