Spring cleaning is in the air.
From taking care of routine home maintenance tasks to cleaning out closets, spring is an ideal time to get your home back in tip-top shape.
Struggling to find the time to tackle your spring cleaning chores? Save time – and your sanity – with these timesaving tips.
Clean from Top to Bottom
As you brush off your favorite knick-knacks and family photos sitting on the shelf, bits of dust and dirt will get kicked into the air and eventually fall to the floor. Focus your cleaning efforts on dusting first, and then follow up with vacuuming and mopping. That way, all the dust that fell on the floor while you were cleaning will get picked up at the end.
Time Yourself
How long does it really take to clean the house? Here’s an easy way to find out! Before you begin cleaning a room, set a timer and let it run until you’re finished. In addition to helping you stay focused and complete your housework tasks, timing yourself also helps you better manage your cleaning routine in the future.
The Magic of Microfiber Cloths
Say farewell to those old feather dusters and hello to magical microfiber cloths! Unlike feather dusters and rags, microfiber cloths are designed, so dust and dirt actually stick to them – so you’re not just pushing the dust around. For best results, lightly mist the area with water or an all-purpose cleaner, and then use the microfiber cloth to wipe away the dust.
Use Your Dishwasher to Clean More Than Dishes
Dinnerware isn’t the only thing you can clean in the dishwasher. Toss other frequently used household items – contact lens cases, hair and makeup brushes, pet dishes, plastic toys, refrigerator shelves, soap dishes, knobs and pulls – into your dishwasher to keep them clean year-round.
Give Your Blinds a Bath
Don’t lose your sanity scrubbing dirt-covered blinds one slat at a time. Instead, give your blinds a bath. Take down your blinds, lay them flat in your bathtub, and soak them in a simple solution of equal parts water and vinegar for about an hour. Then, rinse them off with water and hang back up to dry.
Use Pillowcases to Dust Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans in need of a good dusting? Use an old pillowcase to wipe off fan blades without dropping dust everywhere. Cover fan blades with the open end of the pillowcase and pull toward you. All the dust will collect inside the pillowcase, not on the floor. When you’re done, just toss the pillowcase in the wash, and voila!
Let Your Microwave Do the Dirty Work
Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a bowl, and place the bowl in the microwave. Zap for five minutes, then let it sit for 5-10 minutes while the vapors work their magic. Using the mixture and a clean towel, wipe down the microwave to get rid of any remaining crumbs and pieces of food. Just like that, your microwave will be clean. And don’t worry… the not-so-pleasant vinegar smell will go away after it dries.
Zap Your Kitchen Sponge
Do you clean with a sponge? Sponges can be breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Disinfect your kitchen sponge every other day by zapping it in the microwave for two minutes. You can also toss it in the dishwasher for a full wash and dry cycle.
Make a Checklist
Keep track of your spring cleaning tasks by making a checklist. Not sure where to begin? Download our free checklist, which shows routine spring home maintenance tasks and provides extra spaces so you can customize it to fit your own cleaning needs.