Spring cleaning tips for your home include many things including finding the right time to schedule it into your busy schedule. Having the right tools ready and the right mindset will make these chores go by much quicker and more efficiently.

Prepare

As with any job, prior preparation prevents poor performance. Start out with a good breakfast and have plenty of water ready to drink as you go about doing your spring cleaning. It is easy to overdo it and end up depleted of energy to enjoy the rest of your weekend with.

1. I always make a list of what I want to accomplish (it feels good to cross things off as we get them done).

2. Start early

3. Work from top to bottom.

When your environment is CLEAN you feel happy, motivated, and healthy.

MOTIVATION

Cleaning your home does ALL of these things for you too…

Reduces allergies, asthma, and respiratory issues.
Reduces harmful bacteria that cause illness.
Reduces stress by knowing things are clean and organized.
Saves time. A clean home saves time looking for items.
It sets a good example.

Tools you will need for most cleaning jobs include…

Bucket for water
cleaning rags (you buy these by the bundle at Sam’s Club or Walmart)
cleaning product (Murphy’s oil soap is great for almost any cleaning project)
Broom/dustpan and mop bucket
oven cleaner/ SOS pads
window cleaner & squeegee(either soap and water or Sprayway Glass Cleaner)
scraper utility knife
toothbrush
spray bottle
scrubbing bubbles/magic eraser

Windows

Windows are best done on a cloudy day. When the sun is shining on a window it dries it too quickly leaving you with streaks. Besides, save the sunny days to go out and play!

I have found over the 30 years in this business, that it is easier to tackle windows with a warm bucket of water with a few drops of dish soap in it and a squeegee.

The framework of the window and inside sill.

I clean the outside framing of the window and the sill with rags dipped and rung out in warm water with either dish soap or Murphy’s Oil Soap. I use a toothbrush to get into the grooves and inside areas of the window to remove any dirt, grime, or bugs. I then clean my screen with a fresh warm rag to remove any dust or dirt. Once these have been done, I will do the glass on the window.

Dip the squeegee into the bucket and squeeze excess water. Wet the window and then use your scraper utility knife to remove any stickers or other grime buildups.
Using your squeegee, start from the top of the glass and go directly down to the bottom. Start again at the top but move the squeegee over slightly, so that the next path slightly overlaps the last path you took. Repeat until you’ve removed all water from the glass. Dry any remaining water with a microfiber cloth.

Stove

Move out the stove and clean under.
For the inside, I always use Easy Off Fume Free oven cleaner.
Lay a newspaper under the stove door to catch any drippage.
Spray the entire inside of the oven including the wire racks, ceiling, walls, and bottom with oven cleaner.
Let this set for half an hour while you work on the sides and top of your stove or another chore.
Begin wiping off the grime with reusable rags or paper towels. You may need to remove the racks and rinse at the kitchen sink.
Keep a scraper utility knife with you to scrape off burnt-on areas that didn’t t loosen with the spray application.
Finish by cleaning the glass with Sprayaway glass cleaner.

Wood stove glass

TIP: Clean the wood stove glass with the ashes that are inside. These provide enough grit when added to a wet rag to remove smoke stains.

Refrigerator

I use this time to remove everything from the fridge and go through all of my condiments in the process. Why put it back if t is expired or isn’t being used?

Clean the inside of your fridge with warm soapy water, but most importantly remember to vacuum and clean the back and underneath of the fridge of debris and pet hair to allow the fridge to run more efficiently.

Dryer

Each year thousands of fires start from improperly cleaned dryers. Everyone knows that you need to clean the link from inside the dryer with each load, but you also need to have the ductwork to your dryer cleaned.

Make space behind the dryer and remove the hose. With the dryer away from the wall, unscrew the vent clamps or remove the tape attaching the vent to the back of the dryer. You may need a screwdriver to remove the clamps.
Using a dryer cleaning tool such as a brush, push debris out from inside the vent and then vacuum to make sure the vent is clean.
Clean the exterior vent of lint.
Re-attach the dryer hose with a clamp.
Move the dryer back into place and run on an empty cycle for 10-15 minutes to remove any excess dust from the system.

Washer

Select the hot water setting. …
Select the “extra rinse” option if your washer has that choice.
Add ¾ cup of white vinegar
Allow the cycle to run until it has been completed.
Clean the door and gaskets with a rag to remove any leftover gunk and debris.

Heat Pumps

These are newer items for most homes and many people don’t even know what they require for cleaning.

Each month check the filters of your indoor unit. Rinse them off if needed and wipe clean the top of the indoor unit with a dry or slightly damp rag. Air returns at the top of your indoor heat pump unit and the filters inside catch any dust that may be in the air.

These units should be professionally cleaned once a year. Both the outside and inside units should be cleaned at this time to keep your system running optimally.

Furnace Cleaning

Just like everything else, your heating system needs an annual cleaning too. The company that you get your fuel through should be able to set you up on a yearly cleaning and maintenance plan. These are essential to keeping your system running efficiently.

Bathrooms

I cleaned bathrooms for decades before the change of building materials and newer products. What used to work would now scratch a tub surface so when it came time to ask what seems to work best, I had to ask a younger generation of professionals what products are the safest and work best for them. It turns out that Scrubbing Bubbles and Magic Eraser are gold! I had to try it myself to see, and they really remove everything. I even used this combination to remove food coloring from my kitchen mixer!

The other thing that I use now to clean my bathroom is Lysol Disinfection wipes. I use these to clean the surface and surrounding area around my toilet. These are a great way to remove any hair or fur while disinfecting the surface.

Dishwasher

Clean the dishwasher filter weekly. Wait, what?! Who knew this was a thing?

The filter is found below the bottom spray arm; you’ll need to pull out the bottom rack to get to it. If you’re not sure how to remove it, check the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website for details. To clean it:

Unlock and remove the filter and rinse it under hot running water.
Using a soft toothbrush, scrub the mesh screen and plastic frame to remove any grease or particles stuck in the crevices. Then rinse it clean.
Lock the filter back into place.

Expert Tip: Do not operate your dishwasher without the filter properly locked, as you can cause severe damage to your machine and possibly void the warranty.

Final thoughts

So, there is more than enough here for you to work on in the coming days ahead. Remember that you are awesome! Leave that to-do list hung up for all to see! If you are like me, everyone will walk by that too, but that is ok, you know what you did and you rocked it