Spring is the perfect time to refresh your home. Winter is over and it’s time to shake off the dust and tackle all those tasks you’ve been putting off! Use these easy spring cleaning tips to make your spring cleaning as quick and painless (and thorough!) as possible. It’s a good idea to start by decluttering your apartment and gathering all the cleaning supplies you’ll need so you don’t have to lose momentum to run out and grab anything.
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Kitchen
1. Clean beneath your appliances
When it comes to cleaning your kitchen, we all know the basics like cleaning your counters, sweeping and mopping, and scrubbing the sink. But when was the last time you cleaned underneath your appliances? The first of our spring cleaning tips is to pull your appliances away from the way and clean the area underneath them wish dishwashing soap. This is important to keep pests like mice and roaches at bay and reduce mystery odors, particularly in apartments since who knows how many people have lived there before you.
2. Clean out your appliances
Spring cleaning is the perfect time to clean out your appliances themselves. This means checking and cleaning your dishwasher filter giving the interiors of your refrigerator and freezer a thorough scrub as well. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, clean your oven as well. We recommend using the self cleaning setting if you have one. If your oven doesn’t have that option, we recommend using an oven cleaner like Easy-Off, though be sure to open your windows and run your hood vent as the fumes are intense. Also be sure to avoid spilling it on anything other than your oven as it will permanently stain. This includes floors and cabinets, so be careful!
3. Remove food splatters in the microwave
Cleaning your microwave is a probably one of the easiest ways to immediately feel like you’re getting something done when it comes to spring cleaning. Just wipe down any food splatters and run the glass dish through your dishwasher. If you have stubborn food splatters, heat a bowl of water in your microwave until it boils and then let it sit for about 5 minutes. The steam will help loosen up anything stuck on. This same idea works for loosening stuck on grime in your oven, too!
Bathroom
4. Use a microfiber cloth when cleaning your toilet
Bathrooms can be daunting to clean because the sheer amount of disinfecting, wiping, and scrubbing that needs to be done. One way to make that easier is to take a first pass over your toilet with a microfiber cloth to catch all the layers of dust and hair. Then go back over with your all purpose and disinfectant cleaners.
5. Use a vinegar based solution for soap scum
Ceramic tile and fiber glass fixtures are particularly prone to soap scum, but an easy way to combat this is a mixture of white vinegar, water, and dishwashing soap. Combine two parts water, two parts vinegar, and one part dishwashing soap in a spray bottle, spray, and allow it to sit for five minutes before removing with either a microfiber cloth or a nylon bristle brush for extra scrubbing power. This recipe comes from The Spruce, where you can find not only this, but more spring cleaning tips to make your place feel fresh and revived.
6. Treat mold and mildew with a bleach based cleaner
Mold and mildew are common issues in bathrooms due to the sheer amount of water around. It’s important to tackle these spots as soon as you see them, but if you’ve been putting it off spring cleaning is the perfect time to put these in check because it won’t go away on its own. Use a bleach based cleaner for best impact on mold and mildew, and for mold in grout, we recommend this gel. It’s bleach based and you can even leave it on overnight if your mold situation is especially stubborn.
Bedroom
7. Declutter your closet and hang up cedar blocks or rings
There’s a mental relief when everything is neat and organized when you go to get dressed everyday, and the first step to this is decluttering. Donate or throw away anything that doesn’t fit, doesn’t flatter you, is damaged, or you don’t wear. Then hang up cedar blocks like these to eliminate any musty odors and deter pests like moths or mice that could damage your clothes.
8. Wash all bedding, including your pillows
We all know we should wash our bedding, but it’s important to wash ALL your bedding. This includes your mattress protector (if you don’t have one, get one) and your pillows. Not only does this get rid of odors, but it also gets rid of dust mites. It’s also good to wash any of your heavy bedding before storing it after winter.
9. Deep clean your mattress
Deep cleaning your mattress is one of our favorite spring cleaning tips because its so often overlooked. Despite mattress protectors, mattresses get surprisingly dirty due to sweat and dust mites seeping down into the fabric of the mattress itself over time. You can read more about the steps to deep clean your mattress here.
Miscellaneous
10. Clean your baseboards
Clean baseboards go a long way towards making your apartment look and feel its cleanest. Use your vacuum’s bristle brush hose attachment to pick up dust and hair; then run a damp microfiber cloth over them with an all-purpose cleaner.
11. Clean and treat all furniture
Clean all of it! Your upholstered furniture should be cleaned to remove any stains or smells they’ve picked up over time. Dust and polish your wood furniture to remove built up grime and protect it from damage. Clean and condition any leather furniture to keep it soft, supple, and resistant to water.
12. Wash your windows and clean your window treatments
The last of our spring cleaning tips is to clean your windows and window treatments. Clean the window vents, tracks, and sills to get the full effect. You can use your vacuum hose attachments for some of this, though a microfiber cloth will come in handy for the tighter spots. Finally, wash or steam your window treatments to banish any lingering odors and keep them looking their best.
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