8 cleaning hacks for spring cleaning
Spring starts TODAY, which means that spring cleaning is upon us! But instead of making spring cleaning a dreaded task, make this the year you get your house cleaner than ever, and in half the time. Here are eight spring cleaning hacks that need to be on your spring cleaning list.
Check expiration labels
One of the best places to start in cleaning out kitchen cabinets, the kitchen pantry, and even bathroom medicine cabinets is by taking a good, hard look at each item you have in there – specifically its expiration label. Especially with food products and medical products, you don’t want to use anything that has expired. Purge them early on to clean out counter space and cabinet space, and make room for other, more important (and useful) items. Plus, clearing out a bunch of space, and seeing visual proof of cleaning progress will give you a boost of motivation to keep going!
Try Kool-Aid-ing your toilet
Cleaning your toilet is often a dreaded task, but it’s a necessary step of spring cleaning. But – you can make it more fun by trying a new cleaning method. According to Redbook Magazine, Kool-Aid, the popular drink powder, is incredibly effective as a toilet cleaner due to its levels of citric acid. It's non-toxic, and can knock the job out overnight. Just dump the Kool-Aid packet in the toilet, let it sit overnight, and then flush again in the morning.
Show your bed some love
Your bed is your source of rest and relaxation – and it deserves to be a clean, fresh haven. So, pay special attention to your bed as you go about your spring cleaning. Do business as usual to wash your sheets and other bed linens, but use spring cleaning to clean your mattress as well. There are a couple of different ways you can do this: one of the best ways to clean your mattress is by vacuuming it (use the vacuum attachment to get into every nook and cranny), and then use baking soda to deodorize the top. Simply sprinkle on the baking soda, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then vacuum it up.
Clean your pillows correctly
And speaking of your bed, make sure that you clean your pillows correctly! You've probably been changing your pillowcase fairly regularly, but when was the last time you cleaned your actual pillows? Probably not as often.
So, give your pillows the spring cleaning treatment too. Many pillows are washing-machine friendly, or you can opt to take them to the dry cleaner (you’ll just need to shell out the cleaning costs). At the very least, give your pillows some time to air out every once in a while, or throw them in the dryer for a quick spin.
Leverage your dishwasher
Yes, your dishwasher is great for cleaning your dishes, but it’s also great for cleaning a ton of other household items. When going about spring cleaning, throw the following items in the dishwasher for a quick spin: hair brushes, makeup brushes, pet dishes, kids toys, soap dishes, and other bathroom and shower accessories. It’s a quick and easy way to deep clean lots of the odds and ends in your home – many of which you may use daily.
Oh, and don’t forget to clean your dishwasher itself! You can do this by loading an empty dishwasher with a cup of vinegar on the top shelf, and running the dishwasher on its hottest cycle. Then, sprinkle a cup of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher and run it on hot again.
Shine up stainless steel with baking soda
Baking soda is the all star of spring cleaning season. In addition to the uses mentioned above, baking soda can also be used to clean stainless-steel sinks and fixtures. Simply wet the area to be cleaned, then sprinkle baking soda on it, and scrub with a sponge, or a toothbrush for small crevices.
Steam your microwave
If you’re like most families, the microwave in your kitchen gets a lot of use. Give your microwave some TLC with this cleaning hack as you go about spring cleaning. According to MentalFloss.com, you can easily “remove old food stains from the inside of the microwave” by steaming the inside of the microwave before you wipe it down. To do this, fill a microwave-safe bowl with at least one cup of water and two tablespoons of white vinegar. You can even add in a few drops of one of your favorite essential oils for scent. Pop the bowl in the microwave and zap it for five minutes. When the five minutes are up, your microwave will be steamed and primed for easy cleaning!
Clean stove tops with dryer sheets
According to insurance provider, Nationwide, dryer sheets are “a great way to remove burnt-on food from your stove.” All you have to do is wet a dryer sheet, place it on your stove top and let it sit for 15 minutes before wiping down. This is a great tip because you can start the sitting process, and then move on to knock out another task while the dryer sheet does the work! Talk about time-saving.
