Take Your Spring Cleaning to the Next Level

If you’re already a cleaning pro, these expert-level deep cleaning tips and tricks are what you’ve been looking for to take your spring home refresh to new heights.

In the Bathroom

• Add a new sparkle to the bowl with some vinegar. Start by turning off the water supply and then flushing until the toilet is empty. Then cover siphons with duct tape and pour vinegar into the tank. Flush. Let it sit overnight (make sure you don’t do all toilets at once so one will be in working order). In the morning, remove the duct tape and turn on the water again.
• While in the bathroom, spend a little time to clean out the cabinet and toss out old, unwanted or expired products. Also give your bath mats, shower curtain and liner a good once over. Wash them if they still have life in them; toss them if they don’t.

In the Bedroom

• Don’t let yourself think too hard about all the dead skin and dust mites that might be resting where you rest your head every night. Instead, toss your pillows in the washing machine with a couple of tennis balls and run them through a hot water cycle with bleach and detergent.
• Spring cleaning is the one time you want to encourage your kids to jump on the mattress. Let them bounce a bit and bring up the dust, then run the vacuum on the mattress top.
• While your focus is on the bedroom, you can rotate and flip the mattress, too. And make sure to pull all linens, including mattress pads and bed skirts, and wash them or have them professionally cleaned.

In the Kitchen

• Make your sink sparkle by applying a layer of baking soda and then scrubbing with a sponge. Follow up with a scrub using a hydrogen peroxide-soaked sponge. Let it sit for 20 minutes and rinse.
• To clean electric stove burners, remove them, wash them (by hand or in the dishwasher) and replace them. Make sure to remove any food gunk that found its way into crevices before putting them back in place.
• Make stainless steel appliances shine like new by mixing a few drops of water with cream of tartar, and then using that and a sponge to give them a scrub.
• To clean your cabinets, use your vacuum and brush attachment to pick up any crumbs on the inside. Outside, wash with a cloth and warm water and wood soap. You can also wipe cabinets down with a mixture of equal parts lemon oil and white vinegar to make them shine.
• Before moving on to the next room, take some time and declutter cabinets and drawers and replace old shelf paper. Pull appliances away from the wall and vacuum those areas you never see but know are gathering crumbs.
• Clean out the fridge and vacuum the cooling coils.

Elsewhere Around the House

• Vent covers are not an easy target for cleaning because of their narrow-slatted design. To give them the best clean, remove them, wipe them down and then put them in the dishwasher for a short run cycle. They’ll come out shiny and clean.
• While it might not be as easy as tossing them in the washing machine, you can clean your area rugs. Lay them flat, hose them down and then use laundry detergent and a brush to scrub out any stains or to focus on areas where you know your kids spilled or the puppy had an accident.
• Likewise, make sure to clean the carpets by renting a steam cleaner. Before you do so, check your warranty on the carpet to ensure it doesn’t require professional cleaning on a schedule.
• Wash windows on a cloudy day so bright sunlight doesn’t cause cleaning solution to dry too fast, which will leave behind streaks. You also can skip the cleaning solution all together and just use water and a microfiber cloth to get similar results.
• Spray a little foaming cleanser in the tracks of your sliding glass doors and scrub with an old toothbrush. Follow with vacuum to pick up any loose debris and finish with a wet sponge.
• Wash walls, baseboards and door frames with warm, soapy water (dishwashing liquid works great) and a sponge.
• Move furniture and rugs and vacuum the floors. And while you’re vacuuming, grab the upholstery attachment and go over the drapes and curtains, too.
• Frustrated by a dingy looking popcorn ceiling? Use a high-nap paint roller soaked in warm water to grab the dirt and cobwebs.
• Depending on their size and how sturdy they are, run light fixtures through the dishwasher.
• While you’re at it, clean your broom by soaking it in a bucket of sudsy warm water (dish soap is fine). Let it air dry and then spray with disinfectant (which is a good habit to start after every use.)

Outside the House

• Give the exterior of your house a good power washing to remove gunk and grime and to prevent mold and mildew from growing. (Note, if your home is older and you’re not sure your paint or siding can hold up the force of a power washing, check with a professional.)

Now you’re ready to enjoy your home for months to come.

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