Spring is in the air, and it’s the perfect time to freshen up your home with a proper clean. Focused decluttering, organizing, scrubbing, and polishing will give you — and your home — a boost of energy, and can also relieve stress, improve your mood, lessen seasonal allergies, and increase your focus and productivity. Follow our spring cleaning tips and tricks to make the process smooth and easy, and get ready to jump into springtime with a clean slate.
In the Kitchen
Doing a thorough clean in your kitchen is a crucial part of spring cleaning, as the kitchen is arguably the busiest room in your home. In addition to sweeping, mopping, and degreasing cabinets, the following tips will help you deep clean and sanitize your kitchen.
Sanitize Your Cutting Boards
Use lemon rinds as scrubbers to remove stains and bacteria from your cutting boards.
Create Natural Air Fresheners
To infuse the air with a fresh scent, fill a pot with water and boil orange or lemon peels. You can also throw lemons down your garbage disposal to remove odours.
Unclog Drains
Experts recommend placing half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain with a wet towel and let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then run hot water down the drain to make clogs disappear.
Purge Your Cabinets and Pantry
There’s nothing like clean, organized cabinets and a spotless pantry to make your kitchen feel brand new. Begin by emptying everything out of your cabinets and pantry, then toss out anything expired or that you know you won’t use. Wipe down the pantry shelves and cabinetry, dust the tops of cabinets, and clean any organizers or containers. Next, organize items in a way that makes sense for you (say, snack items together, baking supplies, school lunches, and so on) and place them into their new homes.
This is also a great opportunity to improve your storage situation by investing in airtight containers or jars, flatware trays, dividers, bins, baskets, and more.
Clean Your Refrigerator and Freezer
A thorough fridge clean also begins with taking everything out. Check all your items for anything expired or spoiled, and throw them out or recycle them. Then, wipe down your fridge’s shelves with a microfibre cloth and clean out the drawers. Next, put all your food back in the fridge as neatly as possible. Don’t forget to wipe down the front, sides, and top of your fridge as well (again using a microfibre cloth for a nice streak-free shine) and to vacuum underneath and behind the fridge. You can do the same for your freezer, working quickly to clean it out so that items don’t defrost.
Deep Clean Your Appliances
Your stove and dishwasher put in a lot of work for you all year round, and they can greatly benefit from a deep clean.
First up is your oven and stove. If your oven has a self-clean feature, start with that option. If it doesn’t, remove the oven racks and give it a good scrub using vinegar and baking soda. Wipe down the stove top, knobs, buttons, and sides of your oven, and remember to give the hood fan a good wipe down too. This is also a good time to replace your hood fan filter if it’s been a while.
For the dishwasher, give it a good scrub inside and out and then run a cycle using a cup of vinegar to freshen and deodorize it. To do this, place a bowl of vinegar on the top or bottom rack of your dishwasher and add a cup or two of white vinegar. Then, run the dishwasher without detergent. The vinegar will also help to clear out any stains.
In the Bathroom
Following the kitchen, bathrooms are another space where dirt and grime accumulate. These tips will reduce cleaning time and keep you organized.
Don’t Neglect the Walls
Wipe down the bathroom walls and pay close attention to the wall that’s behind you every morning when you and your family get ready. This space is typically coated in hairspray and other products that need to be removed. You can remove hairspray from the walls without ruining the paint by dampening a microfibre cloth with isopropyl and rubbing it gently on the wall, and then immediately wiping the area again with a fresh microfibre cloth dampened with just a bit of water.
Deep Clean Your Shower
Giving your shower some TLC will make it feel much fresher and more enjoyable to use. Start with the showerhead, which you can give a thorough clean by filling a plastic bag with half water and half white vinegar. Wrap it around the showerhead and tie it in place with a twist tie or elastic band. Let that sit for a few minutes and then give the showerhead a good brush to remove any mineral deposits and grime.
Get your shower walls sparkling by giving the tiles and grout a good scrub with a mixture of baking soda, water, and vinegar. Glass shower doors can be cleaned with a mix of vinegar and water, and if you have a squeegee, finish off with that and hot water. You can also throw your shower curtain into the washing machine to freshen it up (but skip the dryer).
Utilize Your Dishwasher
Use this time to take full advantage of your dishwasher, and load it up with everything but dishes. Soap dispensers, toothbrush holders, and bath toys can be run through the dishwasher for the ultimate deep clean.
Declutter Under the Sink
Spend time decluttering the mess of soap, shampoo, and other products that have been collecting dust under the sink. Find creative ways to organize your cabinets by investing in smart storage solutions.
In the Living Room
The living room may take you the longest because it’s full of small nooks and crannies that we tend to forget about. Follow these tips to put a sparkle back in your living room with ease.
Rid Your Carpets of Indents
Remove furniture indents from the carpet by placing ice cubes in the dents and letting them melt. Doing so will loosen the fabric fibres and release the carpet indents. This works well on most carpets, but if you’re concerned about getting your carpet wet, you can test it first on a small, hidden patch (for example, under a piece of furniture).
Be Strategic with Dusting
Dusting your living room is often a massive chore because the space is frequently used by kids and pets. To avoid dust particles from going airborne and settling on the surrounding surfaces, tidy the room from top to bottom by removing and cleaning curtains and drapes and dusting ceiling corners and tops of window frames before moving on to furniture and the flooring. Do the same for your sofa by removing all the cushions and vacuuming any dust or crumbs that may have fallen through.
Bonus Tip: Invest in Air-Purifying Plants
Stagnant indoor environments allow air pollutants to build up and can sometimes cause illnesses. Improve the air quality in your home by investing in plants that are known for their air-purifying qualities, like snake plants, spider pants, Boston ferns, and aloe vera.
In the Laundry Room
Believe it or not, the laundry room needs a touch of spring cleaning as well. From the mouldy smell that can emanate from the washing machine to an abundance of lint, this room needs some tiding and TLC.
Remove Odours from Your Machine
Add baking soda, vinegar, and hot water into the tub of your washing machine, then let it run for 30 to 60 minutes. Afterwards, restart your machine, let the water drain, and wipe it dry. Leave the door ajar to allow air to circulate and thoroughly dry the inside of your front-loading washer.
Clear the Lint Traps
While the washer is being cleaned, remove the lint trap from the dryer and soak it in warm water and dish soap to remove the build-up of dirt and lint. Be on the lookout for a handy vacuum attachment that allows you to clear out the lint trap, avoiding any fire hazards.
Remove Eyesores
Consider giving your laundry room a revamp to create a more organized space. Don’t be afraid to put your detergent on display by placing it into a large jar, or use cabinets to hide all your products.
In the Bedroom
The bedroom is a restful space and should always be kept tidy, but spring is the perfect time of year to do a more thorough clean. Spring cleaning your bedroom will help it feel like the peaceful sanctuary it’s meant to be. Kids’ bedrooms and guest bedrooms will also benefit from a deep spring clean.
Remove Dust Mites from Your Mattress
Vacuuming the mattress is imperative as even the cleanest of mattresses can harbour dust and dust mites. Be sure to remove and wash all the sheets and mattress coverings before you get started.
Wash Pillows and Duvets
While you vacuum, toss pillows and duvets in the wash. Experts recommend that pillows and duvets be cleaned 2-3 times a year.
Dust Ceiling Fans
During the winter months when the ceiling fans go unused, dust builds up very quickly. Dust off the fans, and to avoid future accumulation, use furniture polish to minimize the build-up. Wipe off the excess polish and lightly buff the sides.
Work your way through this checklist and your home will be clean, fresh, and spring-ready in no time. To ensure you never miss home tips and tricks from us, follow us at @cachetcommunities on Instagram.
