Top 5 Spring Cleaning Shortcuts
The annual spring clean is revered by many, but you don’t have to spend your entire weekend cleaning to get that spring-fresh feeling. We’ve tested the best spring cleaning shortcuts for a quick clean that will leave your home sparkling in no time!
To speed up your spring cleaning: nurture neglected areas, freshen-up fabrics, wash your windows, clean appliances and take inventory.
Try these Time Saving, Spring Cleaning Shortcuts!
Nurture Neglected Areas
Forgotten nooks and crannies are magnets for dirt . Spots like vents, walls, and baseboards become havens for grime to collect. Use a vacuum extension hose to remove dust from vents and fans. Then wipe down baseboards with a damp cloth and spot clean walls with a mild detergent. Kitchen cabinets can accumulate a gross amount of grease and grime. Wipe surfaces with a solution of warm water and a grease-cutting dish detergent. Remove dust and debris that naturally builds up on hard to reach surfaces will give you the spring-fresh feeling fast!
Freshen-Up Fabrics
Soft surfaces like pillows and upholstery accumulate body oils, bacteria, and odors - Not to mention spills and dirt. Yuck! This spring cleaning shortcut will have you sitting pretty in no time! Spot clean non-washable materials with a color-safe stain remover. Vacuum all sides of upholstered furniture to remove dust and hair. Machine wash throw blankets and rugs according to the care directions. Remove bedding from mattresses and sprinkle a layer of deodorizing baking soda over the surface. Allow this to sit for 1-2 hours than vacuum the entire mattress to remove baking soda and any accumulated dust and debris.
Wash Your Windows
Opening the windows is the fastest way to ignite spring fever, but you’ll quickly see that winter has wreaked havoc. Skip the DIY cleaning solutions and newspapers and instead look for a residue free glass cleaner such as Invisible Glass. Some glass cleaners contain soaps, scents, and dyes that leave behind streak-causing residues. Work on a cloudy day so the sun's rays won't cause your cleaner to evaporate too quickly. Spray the glass cleaner directly on the window. Then, use a microfiber cloth to wipe in a side-to-side motion since a circular motion can create a static charge that attracts more dust and grime to the surface.
Clean Appliances
Spring cleaning is a great reminder to check in with those larger areas that aren’t cleaned often, such as a refrigerator or dryer. Briefly unplug your refrigerator and move it away from the walls enough to reach the back coils with a vacuum extension hose. Vacuum the back coils and around the flooring. Next move to the clothes dryer. Carefully remove the dryer vent duct and use a dryer vent brush to pull out built-up lint. Move the brush in and out several times cleaning it after each pull. Clean around the inside lint trap using your vacuum hose and wipe down the trap itself with a damp cloth if necessary. Finally, refresh your dishwasher. Add 1 cup baking soda to the bottom of your empty dishwasher and let it sit overnight. Run the hottest cycle using vinegar instead of detergent to clean and deodorize. This yearly maintenance not only keeps your appliances clean it helps them perform better too!
Take Inventory
You're almost done! Let's take a look for some simple fixes. Test and service smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, then look for and replace burned-out light bulbs. Edit medicine cabinets and beauty supplies by removing expired or damaged items. Sort through junk drawers tossing any items that are no longer useful or working. Take a tour of your home creating a checklist of items you’d like to tackle in the future such as rooms to repaint, items to repair, or décor changes. This list can be a time saver when prioritizing future projects.
Make Spring Cleaning Simple and Fast:
- Nurture Neglected Areas
- Freshen-Up Fabrics
- Wash Your Windows
- Clean Appliances
- Take Inventory
Spring Cleaning doesn't have to be a week-long chore. With these 5-simple steps you can make Spring Cleaning simple and fast. Maximize your time enjoying the fresh air, instead of toiling away.
