Helpful Hacks to Make Spring Cleaning a Breeze

Spring is almost here, and with it comes that yearly urge to polish away the winter grime. Before you plunge into a multi-day cleaning spree, however, (or burn yourself out and put it off until next year) try these helpful tips. They just might win you a few hours back in your quest for clean…

1. Work Top to Bottom

Working from ceiling to walls to counters to floors guides dust and debris downwards and prevents any re-cleaning of the same areas. Here’s a room by room checklist so you don’t miss anything:

2. Use the Dishwasher for More than Dishes

Disassemble dusty glass ceiling fixtures and light covers, then throw them in the dishwasher for a zero-effort sparkle. Ditto for children’s toys, glass candle holders, and microwave vent screens.

3. Dust Fan Blades with a Pillowcase

Make quick work of a gross fan blade by enclosing it in an old pillowcase which you hold shut as you pull it back off the blade. Step outside to shake out the dust bunnies, then repeat with the remaining blades.

4. Throw Draperies in the Dryer

For curtains that aren’t machine washable, you can still do a quick and easy refresh by putting them in the dryer for 15 minutes on no/low heat. Some dryers even have a steam setting to help gently reduce wrinkles and odors. Worried about dust mites? Either raise the dryer heat to high for fabrics that can take it, or bag up delicate curtains and freeze them for 24 hours.

5. Wash Windows When They’re Cool

Direct sunlight heats window glass, causing unsightly streaks to form before you have the chance to wipe them away. Wash them in the morning or on a cloudy day so that you only have to clean them once!

6. Let the Microwave Clean Itself

Add a few tablespoons of vinegar or some thin citrus slices to 2 cups of water. Microwave on high until it starts to boil, let sit for 5 minutes, then easily wipe clean with a paper towel or cloth.

7. Use Baking Soda on the Oven Door

Save a little elbow grease by mixing baking soda and water to form a thick paste, then spreading and letting it sit on the open oven door for 20 minutes. Gently wipe with a microfiber cloth, rinse and buff dry for a sparkling finish.

8. Shine Stainless Steel with Olive Oil

For an easy, chemical-free fix, put a little olive oil on a cloth and use it to polish away smudges and stains from your stainless-steel appliances/grill. You can find more ideas in this article on natural cleaning solutions.

9. Naturally Clean the Dishwasher

Clean any gunk out of the drain filter, then fill a dishwasher safe container with one to two cups of vinegar and place it in the top rack. Run a cycle without dishwasher detergent nor other dishes. Once the cycle is complete, sprinkle roughly a cup of baking soda along the bottom rack and run another cycle.

10. Put Garbage Disposal Gunk on Ice

Put a handful of ice cubes down the garbage disposal along with either 1 cup coarse salt or cut up lemon pieces with the peels on. Turn on the cold water and run the disposal until everything is ground up and cleared out. Continue running and flushing with cold water for another minute. Bonus: the ice will also scrape and sharpen the blades.

11. Machine Wash Shower Curtains

Did you know your shower curtain liner can be cleaned in the washing machine? The trick is to throw in a small bath towel with it to help scour away soap scum + that weird pink stuff. Add 1/2 cup vinegar during the rinse cycle (you can use the fabric softener dispenser) to reduce mold and mildew.

12. Bag Scum on Your Shower Head

Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a plastic bag. Tie it around your shower head so that it’s completely submerged, then soak for at least an hour. Blast the hot water to clear out any residue.

13. Use a Lint Roller on Fabric Surfaces

Great for dusting lampshades, fabric window shades, and speaker covers. It can also remove stubborn pet hair from upholstery.

14. Get the Funk Out

Deodorize carpets by sprinkling them with baking soda, working it in with a broom or soft brush, letting it sit for 30 minutes, and then vacuuming. You can use the same technique (minus the brushing) on funky mattresses.

15. Become a Robot Overlord

Once a novelty, robot vacuums have improved by leaps and bounds and are now a legitimate way to clean & mop your floors with minimal effort. Spring Cleaning may be the perfect time to invest in one and free up your time for more involved tasks.

Need Some Motivation?

• Offer to host an event in the near future so that you have a deadline to work toward.
• Try organizer Shira Gill’s “15-minute win” by challenging yourself to tackle a single spring cleaning task each day…this can help you feel accomplished rather than overwhelmed, and those small tasks will add up to an extra-clean house before you know it.
• Don’t forget the power of music! You’d be surprised how much your favorite upbeat tunes can lift your mood and keep you going.
   

Cleaning to Sell?

Here’s a printable checklist specifically for cleaning and preparing your home for market: