The Very Best Tips for a Successful Spring Cleaning of Your Home

Cast off the winter blues and ready your home for spring’s arrival with the help of these ultra-useful spring cleaning tips:

Plan Ahead 

Cleaning your home from top to bottom can feel like a pretty daunting task when you’re unprepared. Stay on track and prevent overwhelm with the help of a cleaning schedule or to-do list. If possible, make a plan for each room (one room at a time) and spread your list over several days to ensure you can get everything done without feeling overburdened.

Clear Clutter First 

Spring marks a great time to purge. As you move from room to room, take stock of items that may be donated, sold or recycled, paying extra attention to drawers, closets and other clutter-accumulating areas. Decluttering won’t just make it easier to keep your home clean and tidy, it will give you some much-deserved peace of mind!

De-Cluttering Tips:

A place for everything and everything in its place – More often than not, clutter accumulates because items don’t have a designated “home.”

Invest in smart storage – Hooks, shelves, labelled totes and bins, catch-all trays, etc.

Utilize vertical space – If you find yourself short on storage, vertical shelving and storage options will prevent items from taking up counter and floor space.

Go digital – Paperwork is a common culprit of at-home clutter. Consider converting important documents, photos, bills, etc., to digital.

Employ the 90/90 rule – If you haven’t used an item within the last 90 days (or don’t see yourself using it within the next 90 days), it may be time to let it go.

Check out: 20 Things to Get Rid of When De-cluttering Your Home

Ready the Right Supplies 

A tidy home shouldn’t require having to purchase every cleaning product on the market. Here again, you can prevent cleaning overwhelm by sticking to a few basic products such as your broom, mop, vacuum, an all-purpose cleaner, and a glass and furniture cleaner. While you may require a few specialized items (i.e. for surfaces that are easily scratched, pet-related messes, etc.), these few items should suffice.

Work Top to Bottom 

Force dirt down and out by working from top to bottom. If you own a multi-level home, start on the upper floor. As you move from room to room, begin with light fixtures, ceiling fans, upper walls, etc., so that unwanted cobwebs, dust and grime don’t return to surfaces you’ve already cleaned.

Start Simple

Here again, tackling large areas in your home can be overwhelming. So instead of taking on every drawer in your kitchen or your entire bedroom closet, break things down to one item at a time. For instance, start with just the shoes in your mudroom or the utensils in your cutlery drawer. It may not feel like much at first, but even 5-minutes a day will lead to great results.

Focus on Forgotten Places 

Take this time to zero in on areas rarely addressed with regular cleaning. Here are a few examples:

• Under and behind appliances and furniture
• Walls and baseboards
• Medicine cabinets
• Vent covers
• Doorframes
• Switchplates, door and cupboard handles
• Window tracks and screens
• Closets and cupboards
• Etc.

See: 7 Dirty Things In Your Home You Should Clean (and Why)

Clean Your Mattress

Considering you spend roughly one-third of your life on your mattress, giving it a good clean now and then is essential. A magnet for sweat, skin cells, dust mites and stains, experts recommend cleaning your mattress every few months to prevent grime build-up and promote a better night’s sleep.

How to clean your mattress step-by-step:

1. Strip your bed and wash all linens

2. Vacuum the mattress surface and sides

3. Spot clean all stains using an enzyme cleaner, hydrogen peroxide or vinegar.

4. Once dry, apply a liberal layer of baking soda all over the mattress surface and leave it to sit for 12 hours (or as long as possible).

5. Vacuum again.

6. Use a mattress cover

Pro Tip: After cleaning, consider flipping your mattress to prevent wear and tear.

Make Your Shower Shine 

Keep yourself and your shower clean by soaking away any mineral deposits and bacteria that may have accumulated on your showerhead. Because your shower curtain and liner are also prone to amassing soap scum and build-up, now is also the perfect time to throw both in the washer.

Wash Your Washing Machine 

Speaking of the washer, this is yet another item in your home that can quickly accumulate mildew and residue. Over time, soap and dirt can clog your machine, leading to a less effective clean and smelly clothes. Keep things fresh by running your machine’s clean cycle at least once a month and/or running a white vinegar and baking soda mixture through the hottest, longest cycle.

Scour Your Grout 

Despite your best tile-cleaning efforts, old and grimy grout can make your floors/countertops/showers, etc., look dingy. Brighten up these areas by using a specialized cleaner or, if necessary, new grout. In either case, be sure to apply a grout sealer to prevent future mould, stains and water damage. You can also try making your own grout cleaner with a few simple at-home ingredients. 

Polish Pictures and Frames 

Dust and fingerprints can distract from your framed photos and artwork. Address any dust or smudges with a little glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth, taking care to apply the cleaner to the cloth instead of directly on the glass (this will prevent any cleaner from seeping into the frame). Be sure to clean any decorative glass or mirrored surfaces while you’re at it.

Clear the Air 

Your air filter doesn’t just keep your HVAC system clean; it also prevents dust and dirt from circulating in and around your home. Support your cleaning efforts by installing a fresh furnace filter. In addition, a clean filter will help keep pollen and other airborne allergens out of your home while reducing your utility bill through increased efficiency.

Check Your Dryer Vent 

Like your air filter, your dryer vent needs to be cleaned to keep air circulating – in this case, from your machine to the outside of your home. Clogged dryer vents aren’t just hard on your dryer, they can also cause fires and reduced air quality. Though it is possible to clean your dryer vent on your own, we recommend enlisting the help of a professional for best results.

Sanitize Your Garbage Cans 

Despite the use of a liner bag and emptying your trash regularly, your garbage can may get pretty smelly. Over time, a dirty can will create some seriously hard-to-remove odours (and germs) if it isn’t cleaned and sanitized every so often. To clean, let your can’s liner soak in a vinegar/dish soap solution (4 cups vinegar to ½ cup soap) for several minutes before scrubbing and rinsing with the outdoor hose.

Unclog Your Drains

On top of being a nuisance, clogged drains can also lead to trapped odours and expensive plumbing issues if left too long. Improve the lifespan of your pipes and prevent costly repairs by regularly cleaning your drains. Although white vinegar, baking soda and hot water make the ideal solution for treating everyday odours and build-up, more serious clogs may require the help of a professional.

See also: 5 Drain Cleaners You Can Make at Home

Make It A Family Affair 

Lighten your workload by getting other members of the family involved. Even young children may participate in the process by organizing their toys and books, helping a parent dust or putting dirty laundry in the hamper. While not everyone will be eager to help, you can make the process more fun by creating a few playlists and/or offering a few family rewards or incentives.

Form New Habits

Now that you’ve cleaned your home from top to bottom, make sure it stays that way by establishing a few new cleaning habits. Whether it’s simply learning to clean as you go or committing to a quick, daily 15-minute clean, even the smallest efforts will make a big difference over time.

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The Terry Paranych Real Estate Group Buyer Guide – We’ll walk you through the Edmonton home buying process from start to finish. 

20 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Buying A Home – Avoid these costly (and all too common) home buyer mistakes! 

The Terry Paranych Real Estate Group Seller Guide – Everything you need to know for a successful home sale.

A Step By Step Guide To Renovating Your Home (For a Great Sale) – Get the most out of your home with the help of our comprehensive renovation guide!

Related: 

• See these 9 Clever Ways to Organize Your Pantry
• 7 Outdoor (and Indoor) Home Maintenance Tips For This Spring
• 12 Easy Ways to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal This Spring

Originally published Mar 18, 2020, updated April 20, 2022

Photo credits: Shutterstock.com

Categorised in: Lifestyle

This post was written by Terry Paranych Real Estate Group