Add to favoritesSpring is officially here! The weather may not feel like it’s spring just yet (depending on your location), but March 20th was officially the first day of spring this year. And with spring comes warmer temperatures and spring cleaning – which is the annual practice of sprucing up and deep cleaning your homes during the springtime. Most people use this opportunity to maintain areas of the home that aren’t regularly cleaned. And especially for areas with colder climates, spring is the perfect time of year to get that fresh start and finally clean out all the dust and grime that may have accumulated during the wintertime.
Below, we listed 10 spring cleaning tips to make your home sparkling clean:
1. Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures
Your ceiling fans and light fixtures may be out of reach and may be neglected when it comes to routine cleaning. However, these two tend to get very dusty, so make sure to add these to your spring cleaning list. A great cleaning hack for your ceiling fans is to spray the inside of an old pillowcase with a mixture of water and distilled vinegar and slide it over each fan blade to capture all the dust.
2. Clean carpets and area rugs
Vacuum and spot clean your carpets to rid them of dust mites, dander, and other allergens that may have gotten trapped in its fibers. You can bring your smaller area rugs outside to hose them down (if they cannot be thrown in the wash) and revitalize them with the fresh outdoor air. For larger stains or more delicate rugs, you may want to consider hiring a professional carpet cleaner to help tackle trickier stains.
3. Dust blinds and wash windows
Windows and their coverings are often neglected, however they should be cleaned at least once a year. So while you’re doing your spring cleaning, make sure to machine-wash or vacuum your curtains, dust off your blinds, and wipe down your windows and window sills. This is a great way to refresh your home and welcome in all the bright sunlight after enduring all those dreary winter months.
4. Deep clean the fridge
Deep cleaning your fridge is essential for preventing the growth of bacteria that can contaminate your food and in turn, make you sick. So make your fridge a part of your spring cleaning routine and toss out old food, clean up any food stains, and disinfect all its walls and shelves. Make sure you’re also cleaning the exterior of your fridge and wipe down grease and grime, disinfect the handles, and clean out the condenser coil.
5. Reorganize the junk drawer
You probably have a junk drawer at home filled with random miscellaneous items. This is a great time to go into that drawer to reorganize and declutter any items you no longer need – this can include old batteries, receipts, dried up pens, old chargers to cellphones you no longer own, etc.
6. Declutter closets
If you store away your seasonal clothing, it’s the perfect time to rejig your closet and replace all your winter clothing with your springtime clothing. While doing so, you can also take this time to reassess your wardrobe and declutter all the items you no longer wear or need.
7. Hose down your garbage cans
Both your indoor and outdoor garbage cans can get dirty and hold onto unpleasant odors over time. So make sure to take them outside to hose them down with warm soapy water and scrub away with an extendable scrubbing brush to remove any gunked-on residue. Follow up with a disinfectant and use a sprinkling of baking soda as your final step to deodorize any foul odors.
8. Clean your microwave
Your microwave may not get cleaned out as often as other kitchen appliances, so make sure to also add this to your spring cleaning list. Microwaving a bowl of water mixed with vinegar and using its steam is a simple and effective way to loosen up any gunk and make it easier to wipe away tough food stains. And if you don’t have vinegar on hand, you can also use a lemon in the same manner to clean your microwave.
9. Wipe down patio furniture
It’s time to dust off all your outdoor furniture because patio season is quickly approaching. Wipe all the dirt and cobwebs off your patio furniture so they’ll be ready for any outdoor bbqs, gatherings around the fire pit, or for when you want to sit outside and enjoy your morning coffees.
10. Replace air filters
Getting into the habit of routinely changing out your HVAC filters can greatly improve the air quality in your home. Dirty or clogged air filters aren’t as efficient as clean filters and can actually put more strain on your HVAC system (potentially leading to higher utility bills). So remember to check your air filters and replace any as needed.
