Quick and Easy Spring Cleaning Tips
Spring is in full swing- that means it’s time to clean! Spring cleaning can play an important role in your mental and physical health, making you feel a sense of renewal.
The flowers are blooming, the birds are serenading, but does the house still feel like it’s stuck with winter blues? Spring cleaning is a tradition that allows us to freshen up our homes and get a head start on the often hectic seasons of spring and summer. It can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.
Here are eight spring cleaning tips to get you started.
1. The Microwave
Put into your microwave a large micro-wave safe bowl with 1 cup of water and a chopped-up lemon, lime, or orange or several tablespoons of vinegar. Switch it on high for a few minutes until the solution boils and the window steams up. Let it cool for 5 minutes, remove the bowl and wipe the inside and outside with a sponge.
2. Cutting Boards
To get rid of nasty marks run the cut side of a lemon over the board to help remove food stains and smells. For some extra help, sprinkle it with salt or baking soda first.
3. Pots and Pans
Add water and dishwashing liquid to your cookware and let it simmer on the stove to soften any burned-on residue. Use a scrub sponge or pad to remove any remaining stuck-on bits.
4. Shower Drains
To freshen drains and keep them free-flowing, mix ½ cup baking soda with ¼ cup table salt. Pour the mixture down the drain, followed by 1 cup of heated vinegar. It will foam and bubble. Let it stand for 15 minutes then run the hot water for at least 15 to 30 seconds.
This is especially good for seldom-used drains, like in the guest bathroom.
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5. Washing Machine
Before you start to notice an odor in your appliance, do a hot wash, and adding some bleach or a mix of Bicarb and Vinegar for a more natural approach.
Make sure there are no clothes in the machine and do a short cycle.
6. Clean your Matress
Vacuum your mattress, pressing firmly into the crevices of the mattress. After vacuuming, sanitize your mattress with a disinfectant spray.
You can also use a steamer or an iron to kill just mites. Vacuum afterward.
7. Clean our your Closet
Go through your clothes and shoes from the season that’s just ended and remove any, in need of repair, or worn-out items.
Have a look through your spring and summer clothes and try on anything you’re unsure about before giving it closet space.
8. Kids Toys
Choose a quick cycle and skip the heated dry on your dishwasher to clean plastic toys. For stuffed animals, check the care label first and then stick them in a mesh bag or pillowcase before throwing them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle.
Spring cleaning isn’t just about vanquishing those dust bunnies; it’s about rejuvenating your space!
(Gida Sancho)
Source: Adapted from Good Housekeeping