Refresh Your Home with These Creative Spring Cleaning Tips
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If you find it difficult to stay on top of your home cleaning routine, you're not alone. Even Ree Drummond jokes that a weekly cleaning means "we have one day a week where the house sparkles…instead of zero." But here's the good news: If you commit to doing a deep spring cleaning, it'll make those regular cleanings much more manageable for weeks to come.
The idea of giving your home a spring cleaning may seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn't have to be. We've talked to a variety of cleaning experts to get the scoop on the best spring cleaning tips, and how to get your home looking spick and span—with as little scrubbing as possible. (But be sure to check out our favorite cleaning sponges for when nothing else will do!)
These top spring cleaning hacks are sure to save you time, money, and sanity! For example, did you know you can use white vinegar to clean your coffee maker, dishwasher, and shower head? This guide will even teach you how to clean your washing machine and your microwave! Plus, once you're finished deep cleaning, learn how to keep your home from immediately falling back into what Ree likes to call "Fruit Loop and Greasy Pot Hell." (It's such a great place to be, isn't it?) Because a clean home isn't just for spring—it's for every season. (On a cleaning roll? Check out these pantry organization ideas, kitchen storage ideas, and open shelving ideas too.)
Wash Bed Pillows in the Washer
Revitalize your bedroom this spring by tossing your pillows into the washer. A quick spin removes dust, allergens, and the winter blues, leaving you with fresh, fluffy pillows for a rejuvenating night's sleep.
Polish Stainless Steel Appliances with Olive Oil
Achieve a brilliant shine on your stainless steel appliances this spring by polishing them with a surprising kitchen staple—olive oil. Simply apply a small amount of olive oil to a soft cloth, buff the surfaces, and witness a streak-free, gleaming finish that adds a touch of elegance to your kitchen.
Clean Oven Racks in the Bathtub
Refresh your oven racks effortlessly by placing them in the bathtub for a spa-like cleaning session. Let them soak in warm, soapy water to loosen grime, and easily wipe away grease and residue with dryer sheets, leaving your oven racks sparkling clean for a more enjoyable cooking experience.
Refresh Grout
Clean any tiled spaces with a simple and effective DIY solution: create a paste using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, then scrub it onto your grout. Watch as the powerful combination lifts away stains and brightens your grout lines, leaving your floors and walls looking refreshed and renewed.
Use a Lint Roller to Clean Lampshades and Fabric Surfaces
Simplify your cleaning routine by grabbing a lint roller to effortlessly remove dust and debris from lampshades and fabric surfaces. This quick and efficient method ensures a lint-free, polished look, brightening up your living spaces with minimal effort.
Clean Tall Windows With a Swiffer Mop
Tall windows don't have to be a tall order! Cheryl Sousan, the self-proclaimed "neat freak" behind the blog Tidy Mom, recommends using a Swiffer mop to clean tall or hard-to-reach windowpanes. Simply wrap some paper towels around your Swiffer, spray some glass cleaner, and wipe your way to sparkling clean windows.
Steam Clean Your Microwave
Look no further than your microwave itself for a quick and easy cleaning tip! You'll need to mix two cups of water and two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar in a bowl and heat it on high in your microwave until it comes to a boil. Let it stand inside for about three minutes and use a sponge or cloth to wipe your microwave clean.
Clean Your Bath Mats
If your bath mats are machine washable, this will be an easy one. Simply shake out any debris and then run your rug through a regular wash cycle on the cold setting. Most rugs can also be put in the dryer on low, but be sure to hang dry memory foam mats or ones with rubber backing.
Shake Out Your Doormats
Your doormats, whether indoor or outdoor, get a lot of foot traffic. Give them a good spring cleaning by shaking out debris outside, vacuuming them, and then rinsing them off with a garden hose to remove any lingering dirt.
Polish Your Silverware with a Toothbrush
Is your silverware looking a little less than guest-ready? Remove residue and tarnish easily using a toothbrush and Hagerty Silver Foam.
Wash Your Brooms
Dust bunnies, be gone! To clean your broom, simply take it outside and smack it against a tree to loosen up all the dust and dirt. Then place your broom in a bucket filled with warm, soapy water and let it soak for 30 minutes for rinsing it off with warm water.
Deep Clean Your Washing Machine with Vinegar
Disinfect your washing machine to help it reach its maximum cleaning potential. First run the machine with hot water, then add white vinegar and baking soda, and let them sit for about an hour. Finally, restart the cycle, let the water drain, and wipe it clean.
Wash Your Shower Curtain Liners
Did you know you can wash shower curtain liners in the washing machine? Instead of replacing yours, take a few extra minutes to toss it into your washing machine along with a bath towel or two. After washing, simply hang your curtain back up to dry in your shower.
Give Your Toilet Bowl a White Vinegar Bath
To eliminate hard water stains inside your toilet, soak toilet paper in white vinegar and let it sit on top of the stain overnight. Then simply flush to rinse away the stains!
Freshen Up Your Trash Cans
Make your trash smell a little better by placing dryer sheets on the bottom of the can to help absorb spills and mask odors.
Throw Away Expired Makeup
Using old makeup and tools can lead to skin irritation or infection. Look through your medicine cabinet and toss concealer, eye shadow, foundation, lip gloss, and nail polish that you've had for more than one year. Lipstick and blush last a little longer so you can keep them around for up to two years.
Care for Your Garbage Disposal with Lemons
"For spring cleaning, I like to do the little extras that don’t get done on a daily, weekly or even a monthly basis (unfortunately!)," says Warren Weiss of Scrub!, a cleaning service in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
To make the garbage disposal smell nice and to keep the blades sharp, Warren suggests cutting a lemon in quarters and run it through. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!
Use a Pillowcase to Dust Ceiling Fans
Use an old pillowcase to dust all of your ceiling fans, says Cheryl. Simply slide the pillowcase over each blade and then pull the fabric back, keeping all the dust and dirt contained.
Add Essential Oils to Your Cleaning Solutions
While you're up there wiping down the blades of your ceiling fans, Warren suggests adding an essential oil to your cleaning solution.
"That way, when I turn on the fan, it makes the room smell great," he shares.
Unclog Kitchen and Bathroom Drains
"Did you know that some Feng Shui masters say that clogged drains deplete finances, health, aspirations, travel, clog sinuses, and simply, wreak havoc in general?" asks Cheryl.
Unclog your kitchen and bathroom sink drains the natural way by pouring a cup of baking soda down each one, followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes. Then flush with hot water for two to there minutes. To keep your drains clear and fresh, follow this routine once a month.
Clean Your Dishwasher the Natural Way
"Did you know that you need to clean your dishwasher? You do!" says Becky Rapinchuk, the blogger behind Clean Mama and author of the new book Clean Mama’s Guide to a Peaceful Home. "Luckily, white vinegar is all you need."
Becky recommends pouring one cup of vinegar and running your dishwasher on a quick wash, hot, sanitize cycle. That's it!
Trade in Conventional Cleaners for All-Natural Products
Conventional cleaning products and products with chemicals that emit harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are not good for you or your home. Making the switch to all-natural, plant-based cleaning products like Humble Suds will bring joy to cleaning and simplify your life with their multipurpose uses.
Three Ways to Dust Your Blinds
"Dusty, dirty blinds? Cleaning them isn't as difficult as you think," says Becky. "You can use a special tool, a vacuum cleaner, and/or a little elbow grease and a microfiber cleaning cloth."
Freshen Up Your Mattress with Baking Soda
Need to freshen up your carpet or mattresses while you're spring cleaning? Becky has a simple DIY with baking soda that you can make today. Not only does it work but it looks cute too, thanks to some lavender buds mixed in.
Clean Your Shower With a Dish Wand
Are you not exactly a neat freak until spring cleaning time rolls around? Dana K. White gets it. The blogger behind A Slob Comes Clean and author of the books How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind and Decluttering at the Speed of Life has the hacks for you. She recommends keeping a dish-soap filled, non-scratch dish wand in the bathtub and using it whenever you take a shower. Genius!
Clean Bathroom Exhaust Fan Vents With a Broom
When it comes to spring cleaning, leave no corner uncleaned. If it never occurred to you to clean the exhaust fan vents in your bathrooms, we can't say we blame you. But Warren says it's now or never, so remove the vents, shake them out, spray them, and wipe them down.
"If they’re not removable, use a whisk broom to clean them off," he adds. "They get pretty dirty over the winter."
Wash Your Kitchen Kitsch in the Dishwasher
Kitschy decor can brighten up even the most basic kitchens. Unfortunately those tchotchkes get the worst kind of dust: greasy dust. Instead of trying to clean them by hand, Dana recommends running them through the dishwasher. Talk about a time-saver!
Clean Grout Without Any Elbow Grease
Get the sparkling clean bathroom tiles of your dreams by cleaning grout without any scrubbing whatsoever. Dana discovered the most brilliant trick on Pinterest: Simply soak cotton balls in bleach and place them on grout overnight. You won't believe your eyes when you remove them the next morning!
Declutter by Starting With the Trash
We get it: Decluttering can be overwhelming. Dana recommends breaking the ice with this simple step: Grab a trash bag and start removing trash from all around your home (think: food wrappers, empty packaging, or broken toys). You'll be amazed what a difference it makes, and the results will motivate you to continue decluttering!
Clean Walls Quickly Using a Sock
Who needs microfiber cloths when you have old white socks? Katrina Springer of The Organised Housewife recommends wiping your walls clean with a multi-purpose wall cleaner and a sock on the hand. "This quickly and easily picks up all dirt on the walls and I find it easier to glide the hand flat over the wall," she says.
Clean Your Showerhead With a Baggie of White Vinegar
As you may have surmised, a little vinegar can go a long way when it comes to cleaning.
"It's especially great for lazy cleaning," says Kimberly Button, a certified green living expert and founder of GetGreenBeWell.com. "Just soak something in or with vinegar and let it dissolve the dirt and scum for a few minutes before you come back and quickly wipe it away."
For instance, soak a showerhead or faucet nozzle in a baggie of white vinegar (using a rubber band to secure the bag) for 15 to 30 minutes. Then, easily wipe away the grime and mineral deposits that have accumulated over time.
Descale Your Coffee Maker
You may be cleaning your coffee maker semi-regularly, but when spring rolls around, it's a good time to try descaling. This process tackles limescale buildup caused by hard water, which can affect the taste of your coffee. To keep your cups of joe tasting fresh and delicious, brew a pot with a mixture of water and white vinegar or use a professional descaler.
Clean Cast Iron Pans
There are a few household items you should never clean with vinegar. One of them is cast iron. Instead, scrub your cast iron pans with a paste of coarse kosher salt and water to remove any food bits, and then rinse or wipe them clean with a paper towel or clean cloth.
Clean Your Curtains with a Steam Cleaner
"A steam cleaner is one of the easiest ways to effectively clean with no chemicals," says Kimberly. "High temperatures will kill germs and sanitize."
Kimberly recommends using a hand held steamer for plush toys, curtains, and pillows. Just remember to do a test patch to make sure the fabric or item can withstand high heat!
Dust Off Your Houseplants
House plants need spring cleaning love too! In addition to doing your usual watering and pruning, you can actually dust off your house plants using a microfiber cloth. This will help your plants breathe better, which in turn will help you breathe better.
Buff Leather Furniture With Coconut Oil
Give your leather furniture a glow up with a little coconut oil and a clean, soft rag.
"You'll need to apply a very thin layer, and be sure to gently buff it in over the entire piece," says Kimberly. "You'll notice dirt and oils on the cloth after cleaning. Let the oil absorb into the leather for at least an hour (if not longer) before using."
Clean Your Cell Phone
Cell phones are notoriously germ infested, but most of us probably don't clean them as often as we should. To keep your phone squeaky clean, wipe it down with a microfiber cloth, which is designed to pick up even the most microscopic particles, including bacteria and viruses. Don't forget to power down first!
Trade in Your Broom for a Microfiber Mop
Kiss your broom goodbye! (Okay, don't actually do that because, gross.) Jokes aside, you really should ditch your broom. "It actually moves harmful dust into the air and elsewhere," says Jennifer Parnell, the co-founder of Humble Suds, a line of non-toxic mineral- and plant-based cleaning products. "Instead, choose a microfiber mop to collect dust and get your floor squeaky clean. I really like this version this version where you can collect dust on one side and mop with the other."
Clean Your Baseboards With Used Dryer Sheets
Used dryer sheets can be repurposed to do a variety of household tasks, including wiping your baseboards clean and buffing water spots from any glass and mirrors around your home.
Cut Costs by Using 10% Vinegar
Holli Schaub, co-founder of Humble Suds, says her favorite vinegar hack is buying 10% vinegar and diluting it per the directions. "It’s much more cost-effective," she explains. "Vinegar is an awesome all-natural cleaner but can get expensive when you use it for a rinse-aid in your dishwasher, fabric softener in your washing machine and so on."
Deep Clean Your Kitchen Sink With a Toothbrush
When spring rolls around, Warren knows its time to do a deeper cleaning of his kitchen sink. His go-to cleaner for this task is Bar Keepers Friend, which comes in an all-natural powder.
"Wet your sink. Pour in some Bar Keepers Friend. Use a sponge (I like a Dobie Pad) to make a paste out of the water and powder," Warren instructs. "Use a toothbrush around the drain and the edge of the sink. Use the sponge to wipe down and remove any trouble spots from the sink. And then wipe of the paste with lots of water. The sink will shine!"
Disinfect Sponges in the Microwave
Believe it or not, one of the most proven effective ways to zap germs from your kitchen sponges is to pop them in the microwave! To do this, soak your sponge in water and heat it on high for one to two minutes. This is also a good time to replace any sponges you've used for more than a week. Your dishes will thank you.
Deter Dust Mites With This Natural Spray
If you don't know much about dust mites...you should probably keep it that way. All you really need to know is that this homemade spray from Katrina Springer of The Organised Housewife will keep them away—and freshen your mattresses, carpets, and curtains in the process.
Clean Gunky Stovetops With Old Clothes
This no-scrub method from Holli involves soaking cloths or paper towels in an approved all-purpose cleaner and laying the wet clothes on the surface. Let them sit overnight and wipe clean the next morning.
Clean Your Mirrors With This Vodka Mixture
Conventional glass/mirror cleaners are made with ammonia, a strong irritant to skin, eyes, throat and lungs that damages the mucus membrane. For an all-natural alternative, Jennifer recommends mixing 1 part water and 1 part vodka with 1 drop of castile soap (like Dr. Bronners). "I like to avoid vinegar for mirrors because any spray to local stone surfaces near mirror can cause harm," she explains.
SHOP DR. BRONNER'S PURE-CASTILE SOAP
Clean Cutting Boards With Vodka
Those little grooves that are great for catching chopped vegetables can be a headache when it comes time to clean. Simplify the process by spraying the cutting board with vodka, letting it sit for a couple of minutes, and then rinsing it off.
Open Your Windows
You can improve your indoor air quality by doing something as simple as opening all of your windows! Opening two windows on opposite sides of a house or room creates a cross breeze, letting the bad air out and the good air in.
Clean and/or Swap Out Your Air Filters
Air purifiers may feel like a set-it-and-forget-it kind of appliance, but in order for them to function at their finest, you have to remember to regularly clean and replace their filters. True HEPA filters and carbon filters should be changed once a year and mesh pre-filters should be cleaned every two to four weeks. While you're at it, don't forget to change the filters in your HVAC unit too.
Give Yourself 5-Minute Cleaning Missions
If you feel like you don't have time for a spring cleaning spree, you're not alone.
"None of us have time to take a full week to spring clean like our grandmothers did," says Marla Cilley, the founder of FlyLady, whose FlyLady cleaning schedule has been a hit on Pinterest.
Instead, Marla recommends breaking your home into zones and then tackling each zone with the help of her weekly 5-minute missions, like washing your bathroom rugs or cleaning (or replacing!) your shower curtain.
Habit Stack Your Cleaning Tasks
Once you're finished spring cleaning, you're going to feel amazing— and, let's be honest, exhausted. To make things a little easier on yourself next year, start implementing a daily cleaning routine.
Jennifer Parnell is a big believer in "habit stacking your cleaning tasks," an idea she borrowed from the book Atomic Habits by James Clear.
"I truly believe automation makes everything easier," Jennifer says. "Plan a system where you have a few tasks grouped together that make cleaning easier to master. For example, every morning after you get ready for the day, put any items on the counter back to their space. After that, pop in a load of laundry. Next, start your coffee and while it's brewing, unload the dishwasher. Do this routine daily (or a similar system) and staying tidy will be second nature."
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