Late Spring Cleaning Tips

Spring sure has taken its time coming this year. The good news is that if you haven’t finished (or even started) your spring cleaning, it’s not too late to get to it with these late spring cleaning tips.

11 Tips for Faster, Easier Spring Cleaning

My late spring cleaning tips will help you get your home in tip-top shape fast – so you can get out there and enjoy the beautiful weather now that it’s finally here.

Zoom, zoom. Remove clutter from floors, coffee tables, and other horizontal surfaces before you start cleaning so you can zoom through each room. A quick way to do this is to collect everything in a laundry basket to be put away when you finish cleaning.

Skip it. Spot clean visible dirt and smudges – skip cleaning entire walls, inside windows, hardwood floors if they look okay. What I love for spot cleaning scuff marks on baseboards and removing crayon and grease from painted walls – Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. The “magic” is actually a melamine foam that works like fine sandpaper to lightly sand away grime. Always, always test it on an inconspicuous place first.

Call in the pros. Consider hiring out carpet, window and screen cleaning. Pros do it faster, better and for less than you might think. A few years ago, I had all of the windows in a two-story house cleaned inside and out for $125 and that included cleaning the screens! They were done in less than two hours and it was worth every penny.

Start high. Remove cobwebs from ceiling fans and corners, door and window moldings, and lighting fixtures with a long-handled duster or broom. Now would be a good time to remove and clean those lighting fixtures if you can see insects in there. While you’re at it, give (cool) light bulbs a wipe  to remove grime. FACT: A dirty light bulb emits 20% less light than a clean one.

Believe in miracles. Wet a microfiber cloth and wring it out completely – or spritz it with water. Use to wipe all mirrors and glass surfaces for a streak-free clean. I use microfiber cloths designed specifically for glass for that job. For larger jobs like kitchen and bathroom, I use larger microfiber cloths to get the job done quicker. Use different color cloths for bathroom and kitchen to avoid introducing germs from one room to the other. Microfiber cloths are also my choice for dusting and cleaning everything from computers and cell phones to window blinds and chair legs.

Walk away. When it comes to cleaning the shower/tub, bathroom sinks and toilet, let cleaning products do the hard work for you. Spray cleaning product and let sit for 5-10 minutes to loosen soils. To clean a dirty microwave, set a microwaveable bowl of water in your oven and heat on high for 5 minutes. The steam produced will soften hardened-on gunk, making it easier to wipe clean.

Follow the one-tool rule. Grab what you need to tackle a specific cleaning project throughout a room or even your entire home. Done? Put that tool away. Grab the next. So, for example, do all of your dusting, then all of your wet cleaning chores (think kitchen and bath), and then finish up by vacuuming.

Clean while you sleep. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to wake up to a clean house? You can – sort of. Before going to bed, set your oven to self-clean. Pour toilet cleaner in toilet bowls, then just brush and flush in the morning.

Get moving. Move furniture and large appliances so you can vacuum underneath and behind. Roll up large area rugs and vacuum underneath. Don’t forget to get after those dust bunnies under your bed! Those “critters” only sound cute – they’re actually made up of a mixture of tiny fibers shed from feathers and fabrics, pet dander, food particles, bacteria, mold and fungus spores, and insect parts. Dust bunnies also contain dust mites, the microscopic creatures that feed on dust and their waste products. Yuck.

Give me 30. If you want to dedicated an entire day or weekend to your spring cleaning, go for it. Otherwise, plan to clean for just 30 minutes a day until the job’s done.

Reward yourself. Treat yourself to fresh flowers for your table, a massage or pedicure, or dinner at your favorite restaurant when you’ve spring cleaned your home to your satisfaction.

If you already finished your spring cleaning, congratulations! Maybe it’s time to tackle the garage!

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