Do you remember watching adults spring clean when you were a child? I do! Painstakingly scrubbing down walls and cleaning every crevice of every room, sometimes using ammonia and other harsh chemicals that would make me cough. Well, I don’t go to that extreme, but I do like a freshly cleaned home. Here is what you need to know to spring clean like a Pro!
General Household Spring Cleaning Supplies
- Bucket
- Cleaning Agent (such as Murphy’s Oil Soap or Pine-Sol, white vinegar, and Dawn)
- Vacuum Cleaner
- Dust Mop
- Rags (lint free, preferably) and Microfiber Cloths
- Heavy-Duty Sponges, with a soft and abrasive side.
- Scrub brush
- Microfiber Duster with extension wand (optional)
- Stepladder or Step Stool
- Kneeling Pad
- Furniture polish
- Cleaner suitable for electronics
- Glass Cleaner
- Paper Towels
- Mop and/or Floor Steamer
- Carpet and upholstery cleaner
Where To Start?
Spring Cleaning usually starts with the areas that need it the most. Since our living room gets a thorough cleaning after Christmas when we take down the tree, it isn’t as much of a priority as, say, the windows, curtains, and blinds (read the details in the March Newsletter).
Defining “Thorough” Cleaning
A thorough cleaning in our house means furniture will be moved and we tackle every surface. Start at the top and work down. Cleaning cobwebs from ceilings and walls may cause dust to fall on other surfaces, and you don’t want to clean those things twice.
Spring Cleaning Basics
- Remove globes from ceiling fixtures and wash in hot soapy water. Rinse well, dry, and replace.
- Use a duster with an extension wand to clean cobwebs from ceilings and corners.
- Clean ceiling fans and blades.
- Remove any marks, fingerprints, or dirt from the walls.
- Even a bucket of warm water with a minimal amount of Dawn works well for most walls and non-wood surfaces. Just use a damp rag or microfiber cloth.
- Clean light switch covers and outlet covers, using a minimally damp cloth. Since water and electricity don’t mix well, use caution and a little common sense.
- Clean the frames of any artwork or photographs you have hanging on the walls.
- Next, move furniture away from the wall, if possible, to access your baseboards. With your vacuum cleaner attachment and extension wand, remove the dust buildup from baseboards and floors. Wipe the baseboards and sweep and/or mop the exposed floor and let dry. Vacuum the dust from furniture you moved, including the back, before putting in back in place. Use furniture polish as needed to clean your wooden surfaces.
- Remove shades from lamps. Using the brush attachment for your vacuum, clean each shade carefully. Wipe down the lamps (making sure the light bulb is cool), including the electrical cord, before replacing the shade.
- Dust all accessories in the room, including the TV and other electronics.
- Vacuum your upholstered cushions with your brush attachment and rotate and flip them, if possible. When the cushions are removed, don’t forget to vacuum underneath! Usually, lost items will resurface under those sofa cushions! You may also find money!
- Once you have vacuumed behind the furniture and everything is moved back in place, vacuum the remainder of the floor. If there are any spots on the carpet or area rug, use your carpet and upholstery cleaner to deep clean that area. For large jobs, you may need to rent a carpet scrubber. If you have any stains on your upholstered pieces in the room, now is a good time to clean those as well.
Spring Clean The Kitchen
The one thing that holds true in any kitchen: since it is a place where food is both prepared and enjoyed, keeping it clean and germ-free year round is a must to prevent foodborne illness. Along with the basic spring cleaning tips above:
- Wipe down kitchen cabinetry to remove grease build up. I haven’t found one cleaning agent yet that I am 100% satisfied with, so I use multiple products. The key here is to remove the greasy film AND keep the shine to your cabinets. Dawn works great to remove grease from anything. First, apply the soapy water to the cabinet with a sponge or rag and remove the grease. Then, use a clean rag with only water and wipe again. Last, buff the surface with a clean, dry cloth. Also, I sometimes use Murphy’s Oil Soap, diluted per the instructions on the package.
- Next, clean your cabinet’s hardware. Knobs and drawer pulls collect dust and grime as well as oily residue from our skin. If hardware removal isn’t possible, clean surfaces using your sponge and Dawn. Use a toothpick to remove hard to reach buildup. Buff with a clean dry cloth.
- Clean and seal your countertop per manufacturer’s recommendations. I have a laminate countertop, so I use soft scrub (use at your own risk) to clean and disinfect it, causing no harm to the finish. Rinse well.
- Clean the sink and fixtures so they sparkle. A stainless steel sink is easy to clean with soft scrub. Be careful not to use anything abrasive that can scratch the finish of your sink.
- No matter what kind of floor you have, I would take extra time to sweep it and scrub it. I do this on my hands and knees (Using a kneeling pad). Because it needs it.
Spring Clean The Range and Refrigerator
- If you have a free-standing range and refrigerator, grab a helper and carefully slide them out into the room.
- For the range, clean all the exposed surfaces. Wipe the dust and grease from the wall and cabinets that are usually inaccessible. Sweep and mop the floor. Once you are satisfied and the surfaces are dry, reseat the appliance. It is a good time to clean the oven, too! Remember to remove the racks first.
- Your refrigerator has coils that need to be free of dust for the unit to function properly. Locate the coils and vacuum them. Then, follow the same steps you used to clean behind the range. Finally, don’t forget about the inside of the refrigerator! Take the time to empty it completely and discard any expired food. Clean the shelves and drawers. Most are removable and washable in warm, soapy water. Wipe out the entire refrigerator cabinet while it is empty. Rinse well, dry, and replace. Then, restock the food.
Spring Clean The Smaller Appliances
- Clean the inside (and outside) of your microwave. A friend bought me a nifty tool (or toy) to clean the inside of my microwave. This “Angry Mama” uses vinegar and water to effectively dissolve baked on food. It kinda makes it fun!
- The Coffee Maker. For some of us, this is a critical small appliance in the kitchen that often gets neglected. Simply fill the reservoir with white vinegar instead of water. Place a coffee filter in the basket and turn on the unit. When 4 cups of vinegar brew through, turn the unit off and set a timer for 30 minutes. Then, turn the unit back on until all of the vinegar is in the carafe. Turn off the unit. (TIP: before you dump the hot vinegar down the drain, sprinkle about 1/2 C baking soda into it. Then SLOWLY pour the hot vinegar into the sink. This will clean your drains and keep water flowing freely). Carefully fill the carafe with cold water. Remove the filter and replace it with a clean one. Pour the water into the reservoir and turn on the coffeemaker. Once all of the water runs through, turn off the unit, let cool, and repeat, using fresh water. This will remove the vinegar so the flavor of the coffee won’t be affected.
- Dishwasher. To spring clean your dishwasher, thoroughly clean the inside by placing a cup of white vinegar in a small glass ball. Set it on the top rack and run a wash cycle. Simply wipe clean when the cycle is completed. For heavily soiled dishwashers, repeat the process.
Spring Clean The Bathroom
Having a clean bathroom is a great feeling and helps to keep everyone healthy. It is one of the hardest rooms to keep looking fresh and new! Daily use by multiple people takes its toll. Hard watermarks, mildew, and soap scum can make even the cleanest bathroom look dirty. Spring Cleaning this room gets it back in tip-top shape.
- Pay special attention to the bathroom fan. Start by cleaning the dust and dirt from the cover. Remove the cover and inspect the inside. If necessary, carefully clean the dust accumulation from the fan. Doing this regularly not only keeps your fan functioning properly,
it makes it a lot easier to clean. Otherwise, the build-up sticks like glue and becomes almost impossible to remove. Ask me how I know! Consult your fan’s manual for specific cleaning instructions. - Wipe down the ceiling and the walls. Taking the time to do this makes it look so much better.
- Use a mildew and mold remover in the shower. Wear gloves and a mask if necessary. If you have a tiled surround or floor, use a scrub brush to agitate the cleaner into difficult areas, such as grout lines and corners. Give the cleaner time to work, then rinse thoroughly. Repeat if necessary.
- Once clean, make sure the caulking is in good shape. If it is cracked or peeling, make a plan to replace it. Water penetration into walls can cause dangerous mold, so regular maintenance is important.
- Clean and shine fixtures. Don’t forget the mirrors!
- For hard water stains, use a product that is made to remove them, such as Lime Away or CLR. Remember to follow the instructions and protect yourself!
Conclusion
Spring Cleaning is a lot of work! Don’t expect to get it all done in one day. Give yourself a reasonable timeline. The end result is very satisfying. The best part is that with routine cleaning, the look can be maintained until the next deep clean (usually in the fall). Please send me your cleaning tips and the products you find effective!
Until next time,
April
Subscribe to Just Organize My Life here for helpful tips delivered to your inbox.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
