Down and Dirty Spring Cleaning Tips
Seasonal house cleaning is beneficial for your family’s health and well-being. Trouble is, you probably don’t have time to turn the entire place inside out. Make your home sparkle with these simple spring cleaning techniques. Remember you are not required to do them all in one day. Tackle a little at a time as your schedule allows.
Floors
Begin by using a microfiber mop to pick up pet hair and dust. Follow by mopping with a wood, laminate or all-purpose cleaner depending on your flooring type. Vacuum all carpeting and area rugs. Take extra time to vacuum high-traffic areas to remove embedded dirt and revive the pile. Don’t forget to clean behind and underneath furniture.
Treat stains on rugs and carpets with a spot cleaner. Make sure the product is safe for use on your particular carpet fiber. Always follow the manufacturer's application directions. Speed up the drying process by directing a hair dryer on wet spots. If you have an expensive natural fiber rug, call in the professionals to avoid ruining a precious heirloom.
Picking up dust with a microfiber mop is great to clean wood, laminate and tile floors.
Windows
Clean exterior window surfaces first. Knock down cobwebs and debris around frames and on screens with a broom. Buy a multi-surface outdoor cleaner that attaches directly to your garden hose. Spray down the outside surfaces then inspect windows from the inside.
Remove smudges on the inside with glass cleaner or a vinegar and water solution. To minimize streaks clean your windows on a cloudy day. You can use a squeegee to take care of the windows inside and out.
Once you've cleaned the exterior windows don't forget to do the inside for a sparkling clean appearance.
Upholstery and Bedding
Use the vacuum crevice tool to clean under furniture cushions. Use the brush attachment to remove dust and pet hair on and embedded in cushion fabric. Treat stains with a product formulated exclusively for use on upholstery. Do a test in an inconspicuous area to check for color-fastness. Steam cleaning upholstery is best left to the professionals.
Wash or dry clean all comforters, duvet covers, pillow shams, pillow protectors and mattress pads to help reduce dust, mites and a variety of allergens in the bedroom. Vacuum your mattresses and finish with a spritz of anti-allergen and odor eliminating spray. Replace stained and worn bed pillows.
One of the main spring cleaning tips is to completely remove the bedding, wash everything and vacuum the mattress.
Curtains
Many people overlook curtains at spring cleaning time. However, they harbor accumulate dirt, dust and odors quicker than upholstered items. Begin by removing surface dust with a lint brush or vacuum. Check the care tag before deep cleaning. Some curtains are machine washable.
Curtains made from fine fabrics such as silk should be dry cleaned. If you are uncertain of the fabric content and proper cleaning method consult with your dry cleaner or an upholstery and drapery cleaning service.
It's best to vacuum your curtains to remove the dust that has accumulated over the winter.
Ceilings and Blinds
Banish ceiling cobwebs using an electrostatic duster with a telescoping handle. Use a sturdy step ladder to reach high ceilings, lighting fixtures and ceiling fans. Electrostatic cleaning wands also make short work of dusty blinds and shutters.
You can clean your blinds with a damp rag or easily remove PVC blinds and wash them outside using a mild soap solution. Give your blinds a good rinse with the garden hose and hang them to dry thoroughly and then bring them back in the house.
Wiping blinds with a damp rag will get the dust and sticky gunk off the blinds.
Household Clutter
Spring is also the perfect time to conquer clutter and purge your house of unnecessary items. Get the entire family involved and separate clothing, toys and things you no longer want. Donate the items to your favorite charitable organization.
To create and maintain a clutter-free environment, stow away toys, off-season clothing and seldom-used items in labeled plastic bins or baskets. Place the bins and baskets on ready-to-assemble shelving units in your closets, family room, pantry, basement, garage or attic.
Eliminate the clutter by organizing rooms, closets, bathrooms and kitchen.
15 Basic Spring Cleaning Tips
- Wash the windows from the inside and out.
- Clean out the sliding door tracks.
- Scrub down base molding.
- Deep clean your carpets and floors.
- Don’t forget to clean under appliances and furniture.
- Clean and freshen up upholstery.
- Vacuum window treatments.
- Remove dust from light fixtures and cobwebs in ceiling corners.
- Organize each room.
- Switch out your seasonal wardrobes
- Check the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Clean out the gutters.
- Clean and repair outdoor furnishings.
- Do an intense kitchen and bathroom cleaning.
- Touch up paint interior and exterior trim.
© 2019 Linda Chechar
Start a Conversation!
Liz Westwood from UK on June 01, 2019:
This article contains some great tips. It could also feature as a to do list for me. I just need to find thd time to tackle it.
Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on June 01, 2019:
Ptosis -- a steamer is a great cleaning tool. That's something I should have included in this article. Thanks for the additional cleaning tip!
ptosis from Arizona on June 01, 2019:
I bought a used handheld steamer from a garage sale a few years ago and it works great for cleaning out the grille work from the gas heater (which is off of course).
No need to work out all the nooks and crannies of the grille, just steam it. Works great on the vents in your car also.
Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on May 31, 2019:
Thanks, Kristen! You're right, these cleaning tips are useful for a tiny house or a McMansion. :)
Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on May 31, 2019:
Great tips Linda that anyone can do at their apartment or home. Everyone should put them to use
