Spring is here, which means that it’s time for spring cleaning. Read on to learn the top spring cleaning tips.
It’s officially spring, which means it’s time to clean house. The idea of spring cleaning came from a time when homes were heated with fireplaces or coal.
By the time spring rolled around, the house was covered in a layer of grime and soot, requiring a thorough spring cleaning.
Although most homes are now heated with gas or electric furnaces and we no longer need to clean up coal dust, spring is still a great time to clean your home from top to bottom.
The extra daylight will highlight all of the dust and grime that has built up over the winter months.
Spring is a time of rebirth, as plants begin to emerge, trees that were dormant all winter start sprouting leaves, and flowers start poking through the no longer frozen soil.
To help you get through your spring cleaning painlessly, here are 10 spring cleaning tips to get your house ready for spring and summer.
1. Make a List and Stock Up
Make a list of everything in your home that needs to be cleaned. Start at the top (literally). Any dust or dirt cleaned from walls, shelves, or light fixtures will end up on the floor, so don’t clean that first!
Make sure you have all of the supplies you need, whether that be cleaning supplies, rags, a broom and dustpan, and a mop. A sure way to lose your cleaning momentum is to not have what you need to do the job right.
2. Clean Your Mattress
Changing your sheets regularly isn’t enough. You also need to clean your mattress at least twice a year.
After stripping all of the bedding and mattress cover, use your vacuum cleaner attachment to remove any dust, debris, and microscopic material you can’t even see.
Once you do that, sprinkle the top of the mattress with baking soda and let sit for 24 hours, if you can. This will deodorize the mattress and remove any tough odors.
After 24 hours, vacuum up the baking soda and put your freshly washed mattress pads, sheets, and duvet back on.
3. Cleaning Appliances Need Spring Cleaning, Too
Your dishwasher and washing machine are doing the cleaning for you, but do you ever think about cleaning them? These machines need to be cleaned too!
You can buy dishwasher and washing machine cleaning tablets that you put in the machine and then run a cycle through. Or, you can use natural things you might have around your house, like vinegar and baking soda, to really get them clean.
4. Don’t Forget the Walls, Windows, and Doors
Wiping down your walls and windows will make your home feel bright, clean, and airy. Our windows collect grime and outdoor debris all year long. Your walls also collect marks, splashes of food or drinks (especially in the kitchen), and scuff marks.
Doorknobs and doors (especially white ones) should get wiped down. Take a look at your white door and I bet you’ll notice a layer of dirt and grime near the doorknob or where people push the door open.
5. Wash Your Trash Cans
When was the last time that you washed your trash can? Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone! A few times a year, wash out your trash cans with hot water and disinfect them with bleach or another cleaner. Leave them outside in the sun or upside down to fully dry them out.
6. Use Coffee Filters
Coffee filters aren’t just for your morning drink anymore. The filters are soft and their non-abrasive texture is useful for dusting TVs, computer screens, or anything with a delicate surface.
7. Look Up
How often do you look up at your ceilings, light fixtures, fans, and air vents on or near the ceiling? Knock down any cobwebs that might have collected in the corners or near the ceiling.
Clean out any globes that might collect dust, dirt, or tiny bugs in your light fixtures. Use a damp washcloth or sock over your hand to wipe down the fan blades (if your fan is running almost all the time, the amount of dust on it might shock you!).
8. De-Clutter
It’s hard to keep lots of stuff clean. Clutter often signifies mess, so do some de-cluttering as part of your spring cleaning.
Clean out old clothes you no longer wear or need, donate dishes or kitchen appliances you don’t use, and get your family on board to de-clutter books, toys, games, and other household items that are just taking up space.
9. Wash All Linens and Pillow Covers
Spring is prime time to pull off your pillow shams, protective covers, duvet covers, mattress pads, you name it, and wash them.
Use hot water to kill any dust mites or other critters that might be on your linens. If you can hang or lay them to dry outside in the sun, that helps make sure dust mites that like our linens will be killed.
If you suffer from spring allergies, washing in hot water and drying in the sun or on high heat will help eliminate any allergens.
10. The Outside Needs Love Too
Don’t forget the outside! Take some time to clean up your yard, landscaping, and flower beds. Rake up any dead leaves, sticks, and prune any trees or bushes that need it. Power wash decks, sidewalks, patios, and your home if needed.
Think of how nice it will be to pull up to your house with a clean yard and a clean inside as well!
Start Your Cleaning TODAY with These Spring Cleaning Tips
Don’t wait a minute longer to get started! These spring cleaning tips will get you started and you can get going any time. It doesn’t all have to be done in a day, so don’t get overwhelmed. Take it little by little and in no time, you’ll have a clean and decluttered space you can be proud of.
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