Spring cleaning is a great opportunity for homeowners to reconnect with their living spaces. From decluttering old items to reorganizing different pieces of furniture, this time-honored tradition is always a must for every household. In this article, we’ll show you 15 easy ways to tidy up your home in preparation for the season.
1. Clean your doormats
Before you begin cleaning your home, you need to make sure that the porch or foyer area is free from dirt. Since the doormat is where you scrub and clean your footwear before entering the house, it can accumulate hard-to-remove stains over time. To refresh these mats, simply hose off the surface with water and soap. Leave the mats to air dry before using them again.
2. Wash your windows
While it should be part of a weekly or monthly cleaning routine, washing your windows is an absolute must when spring cleaning your home. To do this, simply get a sponge, a squeegee and a bucket filled with soap and water. Dip the sponge into the cleaning solution and wipe at each windowpane. Rinse the glass thoroughly by using the squeegee and clean water afterwards.
3. Disinfect the kitchen sink
Sanitize the kitchen sink by pouring a disinfecting solution into the whole area. Scrub each corner and surface using a gentle sponge to remove any hardened food stain. Doing this will also help remove any bacteria or germs that can cause common illnesses at home. Afterwards, make sure to rinse the entire sink thoroughly using warm water. For best results, wait for a few minutes before using the sink again.
4. Clean the kitchen appliances
From the refrigerator to the oven, all kitchen appliances must be wiped clean to remove any food spills or splatters. Get a gentle cleaning solution and apply a few drops on a microfiber cloth. Wipe the cloth on each corner of the appliances until the stains come off. If stains still persist, consider using a stronger cleaning solution to break away the stain particles.
5. Wipe the countertops clean
The kitchen countertops are prone to accumulating all kinds of dirt — from dust formations, liquid spills and food stains. Apart from cleaning it on a daily basis, spring cleaning is also a perfect way to disinfect the entire surface properly. To do this, just get an all-purpose disinfectant cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Apply a few drops on the surface and wipe in a circular motion.
6. Organize your living room
Remove any unnecessary clutter from the living room by discarding items that are taking too much space. Likewise, furnitures that are no longer being used can be stored away to free up the area for more open space. To keep things in order, consider doing this quarterly to maintain peace and order in the room.
7. Clean the bathrooms
When it comes to spring cleaning, tidying up the bathroom is more than just rearranging and reorganizing. Disinfecting the entire area is the number-one priority — from washing the toilet, cleaning the sink and removing stains and tile grout from the shower area.
8. Clean and maintain your air conditioner
Cleaning the air conditioner is one of the most important things to do when doing spring cleaning. In preparation for the summer season, aircon units need to be well-maintained to avoid sudden breakdowns and performance issues. If you don’t have the time to clean your unit, you can always contact an aircon cleaning service to do the trick for you.
9. Pull back and wash your curtains
Spring is the best time to wash your curtains and drapings. Simply toss these items into the washer and launder using a gentle cleaning detergent. If you have curtains made out of thin and flimsy fabrics, consider cleaning them by handwashing.
10. Organize your bookshelves
After all the days you’ve spent reading during the winter season, your library’s bookshelf should be in dire need of sprucing up. Allot around an hour to properly stack books together — by title, author and genre — and proceed to dusting each title afterwards. You can also place your favorite home accessories — mini indoor plants, treasure boxes or flower vases — in between the books for added decoration.
11. Dust and tidy up the ceiling
Spring cleaning is a great opportunity to take the extra time to clean hard-to-reach spots such as walls and ceilings. Although this task may seem daunting, the process is actually very easy and manageable. Simply grab an extendable duster and a sturdy high chair to sweep away the dust from these surfaces. You can also wipe away hardened mold formations by using a microfiber cloth and a spray cleaner.
12. Do a bed and mattress cleanup
Cleaning the bedroom usually focuses on changing the sheets and covers but rarely do things underneath these surfaces get the act of tidying up. When you’re doing spring cleaning, all you have to do is vacuum your bed and mattress to get rid of the dirt and mold. Once you’re done doing this, sanitize the area by using a disinfectant spray. Vacuum the entire surface again afterwards for one last round of cleaning.
13. Dispose the trash properly
While disposing garbage is a daily task for every household, spring cleaning takes this to the next level with more stringent and germ-free measures. First, collect items and waste that are up for major disposal and segregate them by waste type. Afterwards, store them in an airtight garbage bag and toss them out in the trash.
14. Vacuum and mop the floor
Whether you own a carpeted floor or a tiled one, it’s important to pay attention to this area of the house when doing spring cleaning. Use a mop, a bucket of water and a mild all-purpose cleaning solution to clean wooden and stone surfaces. If you have a carpeted floor area, simply use a vacuum or a steam cleaner to disinfect and remove dark spots and stains.
15. Freshen up your home
After doing all the cleaning, it’s time to freshen up your space! Finish the whole thing by lighting a scented candle or pouring your favorite essential oil into an air diffuser. This will not only give your home a new whiff of freshness, but it will also give you time to relax after a job well done.