Aside from colorful fresh flower arrangements blooming everywhere, the spring season is also the best time of the year to deep clean your entire home. This is especially important if you or a family member is known to suffer from common spring allergies. Dreading all the work it’s going to take? Don’t worry. Here are some hassle-free, time-efficient, and practical spring cleaning tips that will make Marie Kondo so proud of you once you’re done.
Section and schedule
If you are having a crazy week and know for a fact that you cannot finish spring cleaning your whole house in one day, that’s all right. Create a schedule that will fit your routine and tackle each area one at a time. Start with the room that needs the most TLC and then move on from there. For example, you can focus on your kitchen this weekend. Breaking big tasks into bite-sized pieces will give you a sense of accomplishment every time you finish, and before you know it, you’re already on a roll and have scrubbed every nook and cranny of your home.
The Art of Decluttering
We can all probably agree that clutter takes a toll on our emotional well-being. They make us feel stressed, frustrated, and in a bad mood all the time. Spring cleaning is the best time to finally sort and get rid of all the clutter in our living spaces. Our dressing room closets and kitchen cabinets are typically the top clutter magnets around the house.
- Take everything out of the storage and drawers.
- Sort each piece one by one into three containers: keep, donate, and throw away.
- Keep similar things together and frequently used items within easy access.
The Konmari method teaches to let go of things that no longer sparks joy. If you have not used the particular item in the past year, it also means you probably have no use of it.
Easy ways to clean kitchen appliances
Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash
Beyond the cabinets and the countertops, there are also kitchen gadgets and appliances to spring clean. Make it fast with these steps.
- Microwave oven - Steam clean with 1 part vinegar mixed with water. Heat for 1 minute. Wipe off stains with a clean washcloth.
- Dishwasher - Place a dishwasher safe cup filled with vinegar on the top rack. Run the hottest cycle. Spread a cup of baking soda at the bottom part. Rinse by running complete cycle using hot water.
- Refrigerator - Remove all the contents of your fridge. Sort and throw away food items that have gone bad. Wipe off stains and spills on surfaces. For stubborn stink, you can put a cup with a few pieces of charcoal inside to neutralize it.
Newspaper hack
Instead of wasting paper towels, upcycle old newspapers by using them to wipe off and clean glass surfaces and mirrors. They are extremely effective in making these areas squeaky clean because are proven to take out grease and oil easily.
Spruce up your space with stylish and air-purifying indoor plants.
Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels
Believe it or not, plants can work as an eco-friendly air purifier for your home. They are simply amazing. Aside from impressively improving the indoor air quality inside your house by sucking out allergens and harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), indoor plants are also known to:
- Increase humidity levels
- Help reduce tension, anxiety, and stress
- Encourage productivity and creativity
- Boost immunity and prevent common sickness
To learn more about indoor plants for your home, read 10 Beautiful Indoor Plants for Better Air Quality.
Remove all beddings and curtains
Washing your bedsheets, blankets, and pillowcases, at least, every two weeks should be the norm, as these can become a hotbed of dust and germs real fast. When spring cleaning, you should up your game and give your comforters and pillows a much-needed washing, too. Make sure to follow the proper care instructions.
Take advantage of your dishwasher
Surprisingly, your dishwasher can clean a lot of other things apart from your plates and utensils. Save time by putting plastic toys, pet dishes, dish racks, toothbrush holders, soap dish, and hair brushes.
Bathroom cleaning tricks
Photo by Phil Hearing on Unsplash
- Showerhead: Give your showerhead its own bath by soaking it overnight in a reusable plastic bag filled with vinegar. Seal it with a rubber band. Run the shower the next morning and it’s all good.
- Faucets - Scrub and polish metal faucets and other hardware with dryer sheets.
- Toilet - Make a baking soda and water paste and use a toothbrush to reach the little crevices with stains. Others also swear by using a good ole’ Kool-Aid mixture to scrub.
- Floors and tiles - Mop with water, vinegar, and baking soda.
Usher in spring with fresh flowers.
Now that your home is spotlessly clean, it’s time to welcome the spring season with beautiful flower arrangements. Orchid plants are your safest bet if you have a furry friend or a loved one allergic to flowers.
Spring clean your garden
Whether it has gone through a rough winter or just a season of neglect from you because you were too busy the past few weeks, your garden will appreciate a little spring cleaning, too. Here’s a helpful checklist of what you need to do.
- Pull out all the dead plants and overgrown weeds.
- Sweep off your deck, lawn, patio, or yard.
- Prune ornamental grasses and bushes.
- Wake up your roses by pruning the bushes a little bit.
- Springtime is ideal for transplanting and repotting.
- Take out your outdoor patio furniture and scrub them clean.
- Plant new flowering plants for a bit of spring color.
Did we miss anything? Share your own spring cleaning tips with us in the comments below.
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