that’s it almost springand you know what that means…spring cleaning! Whether you live in home in Bellevue or an apartment in denverthis annual task is inevitable, but it will leave your place feeling fresh and ready for the warmer days ahead.
Spring cleaning it shouldn’t take all day if you do it right. With these cleaning tips, you can spend less time sanitizing and more time admiring yours immaculate apartment. Before starting, Nerina Cervantes with A clean society says, “A structured, step-by-step approach makes the spring cleaning process manageable and keeps your space feeling fresh all year long.” Here are all the tips and tricks you need to know about.
1. Stock up on essentials
You can’t start spring cleaning if you don’t have the right tools. Consider picking up the following items from a local store or borrowing them from a friend:
- Microfiber towels
- Vacuum with attachments
- Universal cleaner (e.g. Lysol)
- Rubber gloves
- Dry mop
- Bathroom cleaner (eg Clorox, OxiClean)
2. Have fun, play music
The last thing anyone wants is to dread their spring cleaning day. Cody Moore of El Paso Cleaning Pros says, “Music can greatly improve your mood and motivation. Play your favorite playlist to reduce stress and improve focus.”
3. Use a pet hair remover
If you have a dog or cat in your apartment, there’s a good chance your floors are caked with hair. Keep your poor vacuum from instantly clogging with pet hair by enlisting the help of a shower cleaner.
This will remove large clumps of hair from the carpet. Vacuum a second time to finish the job.
4. Go room by room
Sheila Hallek s Minnesota National Association of Productivity and Organization Professionals (NAPO), suggests: “Go one room at a time, or even one drawer at a time. Make sure like items are with like items, ie all the batteries are in one place.” It’s easier to clean just one room at a time. You’ll feel so much better when you can cross an entire room off your list and move on to the next one. Somehow the whole process just seems a lot more manageable that way.
Juan Serrano s Cleaning up the city of Reno shares how when it comes to decluttering, take a “top-down approach to ensure a fresh, rejuvenated home.” This means looking up first and going through each warehouse until you reach the floor.
If you like making lists, you’re in luck. Kim McClure, professional organizer for 360 Organizing Atlanta recommends, “Create a bullet list of the things you’ll need to do and the steps you’ll need to take to complete the project.”
As you go through each room, Candace Evia s Just Minimal Me says, “Start by asking yourself, would I pack this for my future home? If not, why keep it?”
You may want to start with your least favorite room or the space that will require the most effort. Leaving this room until the end is not the best idea because you will be exhausted by the time you get there. You’ll be glad you left the easy spots for last.
The kitchen is easily one of those places where much of the year is spent and the entertaining unfolds. Azalea Rivera, owner of A major cleaning company c Napa recommends: “Organize your pantry by tossing out expired products and stacking shelves for easier access.” Having a tidier kitchen may just make for a more fulfilling cooking experience all year round.
Make sure your closet organization makes your life easier. To do this, Austin Palmer s Ace of organizing space says, “Organize pantry items in clear, labeled containers to make meal prep easy and keep the kitchen organized.”
5. Get rid of the clutter
It will be very difficult to vacuum your floors and dust your tables when there is mess everywhere. Kerry Proctor, owner and professional organizer of BrightHome Organizing says, “Declutter before you clean by decluttering first. Spend time in each room to determine which items you want to carry with you through the end of the year.” As you declutter, or put away, recycle, throw away or donate items.
Stanley Pigott with Patriot Towing and Junk Removal warns, “Check with your local municipalities for a list of your local recyclables and dispose of them according to your apartment. If you find you have larger items that need to be disposed of, Stanley adds, “Contact your local and reputable junk removal companies and schedule an estimate for their services.”
Creating systems will help you stay on track during the spring cleaning process and speed things up. Elaine Kelly s Organized Living by Elaine recommends: “Create three piles: keep, donate, and toss.” Organize your belongings in these three piles until everything is in its place.
During your spring cleaning endeavors, Shannon Parker, professional organizer for Arrange it shares how this applies to clothing. She says, “Now is a great time to clear out any winter clothes you haven’t worn or that are torn or stained.” She adds how by getting rid of these items, you’ll also start to make room to welcome in warm, summery clothing.
Jamie McFaul s Organizing the Tidy Crescent Home recommends, “Start with high-impact areas like entryways, kitchen counters, and bathroom cabinets. If these spaces feel crowded, it’s often because drawers and cabinets are already full.”
But don’t get rid of everything. Carrie Thompson s Organize Luxe says, “Keep the things you just love and adore, but be ruthless with the rest. You probably don’t need most of what you have.”
For those who are afraid to part with something, but understand that it is necessary, Maria Reed with House Cleaning Reno says, “Take pictures of that particular item. You won’t lose the memory and instead gain more space. If it’s something you don’t want to part with, consider giving it to someone who might need it and love it as much as you do.”
6. Store your memorabilia in bins or maximize vertical space
Spring cleaning doesn’t mean getting rid of everything you own. Some items are meant to last a long time. For these sacred pieces, Kristen and Alison s Clean home organization suggest: “Once you know what you’re storing, measure your space and then shop for bins or storage products that will fit perfectly.”
Besides bins, don’t underestimate the power of vertical space. Kristen and Alison recommend using “hooks, shelves or storage to keep things off the floor and reduce clutter.”
Kerry Pascal Davies-Lyons, owner and organizer of Neat corners says, “Containing elements is everything. It creates clear boundaries, prevents clutter from spreading, and makes it easier to maintain an organized space.”
7. Use a shower cabin
Gather all your cleaning tools and place them in a shower stall. That way, you won’t have to go back and forth to your cleaning supply closet to get what you’re looking for. You will have everything you need right at your feet.
8. Enlisting Help
If you live with roommatesthey definitely should be helping you with this spring cleaning. But if you live alone in your apartment, you can turn to friends or family for help. A few people to help you can turn a whole day of cleaning into just half a day.
Of course, no one will volunteer for this task, so you may have to give them something in return. A free lunch, a free drink, or a promise to help them clean their apartment is a good starting point. I’m sure you can come up with something.
9. First clean the ceiling and walls of dust
No matter what room you’re in, always dust ceiling fans, light fixtures and first wall art. William Alejandro s Smart clean building maintenance c Brentwood adds, “Tackling those often-overlooked areas like window blinds, skirting boards, baseboards and vents.” If you leave this task for last, you may end up having to clean your floors twice thanks to flying dust. Use a microfiber dust cloth or the soft nozzle attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean these dirty areas on the walls and ceiling.
Additionally, the team with Austin Skyline Cleaning shares how dusting can contribute to “improved air quality that creates a fresher space.”
Remember to look beyond your eye level when dusting. Reno Custom Cleaning says, “Look up! You’d be surprised how much dust and cobwebs are all over your high places in your home.”
10. Microwaveable mushrooms
You probably use a sponge to mop your kitchen and bathroombut your sponges may be covered in bacteria from previous use. Germs and bacteria tend to thrive there, so you’ll only be spreading dirt around your apartment if you don’t clean them first.
Squeeze all the water out of your sponge and microwave it for about a minute. Of course, if everything is torn and stained, it’s probably time to just buy a new one.
11. Clean screens
TV screens tend to accumulate a lot of dust, but when you use an all-purpose cleaner on them, streaks appear. Forget the cleaning spray and reach for a coffee filter instead. This will wipe away any moss and dust without interfering with your viewing experience.
12. Let the solutions stand
When sterilizing your tub, sink, and shower, you’ll need to apply a cleaning solution. Instead of immediately scrubbing after spraying the solution, let it work to tackle dirt and stains. Wait 10 minutes before rinsing – this way you’ll have to do less scrubbing.
And don’t forget about those pesky floor and background tiles. After you let your decision rest, the team at Austin Skyline Cleaning recommends “tile and grout cleaning to make your home feel brand new.”
13. Take a walk with your landlord
Beyond traditional cleaning essentials, Rose Pulver, co-founder of The thoughtful homesays, “Be sure to ask your apartment manager to do a walk-through and check for potential issues with appliances, HVAC systems, pest control, and door and window security. They should also replace vents, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.”
