Do you dread spring cleaning? You're not alone - most people do. Some people skip it altogether (even when it's desperately needed). Try some of these hacks to make your cleaning experience easier and faster:
1. Lint-roller your lamp shades
Bye-bye dust.
2. Deodorize your mattress with baking soda
Sprinkle one box of baking soda on the top of your mattress. Let it sit for at least an hour. Then slowly vacuum the mattress. Your mattress will look and smell wonderful.
3. Use vinegar in your washing machine
Run an empty, hot cycle with a cup of vinegar or a dishwasher detergent tablet to remove mildew and add shine.
4. Clean children's toys in dishwasher
Your dishwasher isn't just for dishes! Get rid of the germs on those slobbery toys.
5. Rubber gloves or squeegee to remove pet hair
Don't have animals? Try it on your bathroom rug and see how much you shed.
6. Clean oven racks in the tub with a dryer sheet
Put your oven racks in your bathroom tub with a couple drops of dish soap, a few dryer sheets and hot water. Soak for several hours and everything will wipe away with no effort.
7. High chair cleanup
Use a 3-1 water to white vinegar ratio in a spray bottle. Spray, let it sit for a couple minutes and the hard, sticky mess will wipe right off. This is a natural and safe disinfectant you can use on eating surfaces and keep stored in a spray bottle for future use.
8. Sweep ceiling corners and dome light fixtures clean
Attach a microfiber cloth on the end of a towel with a large rubber band. Wipe cobwebs and dust away in hard to reach places. This works for the tight spaces between the fridge and wall too.
9. Put a lazy susan in the fridge
Spring cleaning includes going through the fridge. After wiping all of the shelves and throwing away expired condiments and food, put a lazy susan on a shelf to help keep things organized and easy to get to.
10. Using a dustpan to fill a mop bucket
Never wrestle a bucket in and out of a sink again.
11. Use coke to clean your toilet
As gross as it looks, the coke will eat away any unpleasant stains.
12. Fold and store clothes vertically
Sort through all of your clothes. Donate the ones you don't wear anymore. Refold the rest and store vertically instead of horizontally to keep them folded for easy access.
13. Baseboards with dryer sheet
Dryer sheets collect the dirt and provide a layer that repels dirt and hair from sticking in the future.
14. Windowsills with water and white vinegar
Spray a little water and vinegar in your windowsills. Let it sit for 15 minutes and every ounce of grease and dirt will wipe right up with a rag, paper towels and Q-tips.
15. Fight oil with oil
Remove greasy buildup on your steel appliances, stovetop and hood with a couple drops of mineral or olive oil on a paper towel. Rub across the greasy mess. The oil wipes away the gunk, leaves the surface shiny and helps make cleanup in the future easier - with no harsh chemicals.
16. Clean windows on a cloudy day
Sunlight dries cleaners and water quickly leaving your windows streaked.
Now that you have some tips, get cleaning! Remember to spread it out. It doesn't have to be done all at once. It also helps if you work from top to bottom in your house. Good luck and happy spring cleaning.
