My Best Spring Cleaning Tips

These are my best spring cleaning tips to get your home in tiptop shape for summer.

Below are some of the areas you might want to incorporate into your spring cleaning schedule.

First, make a checklist so you can count each task off the list as you go before beginning another. This is the most efficient way to spring clean.

Start with your ceiling fan, as it’s the highest up in your ceiling.

Clean The Ceiling Fan:

First spread a sheet or large drop cloth on the floor to catch the dust. Position a ladder so you can see the top of the fan blades. Remove light globes.

You can remove loose dust with a duster. But you can also use a long-handled U-shaped brush.

Moisten a cloth with all-purpose cleaner and wash each blade. You can also use disinfecting wipes.

Do not spray cleaner directly onto the blades. Use a light touch so as not to bend the blades. Let the blades dry thoroughly.

Hand wash light globes and let them dry before reattaching.

You can also slip an old pillowcase over the blades one by one. Then pull it back to remove dust and dirt.

Another spring cleaning tip is to wax the blades using car wax to prevent dust from sticking again.

Wipe Walls & Ceiling:

Our walls gather marks over time that eventually you want to clean up and perhaps retouch with paint.

Use a vacuum to first remove dust from the walls and ceiling. For tough surface grime, use a solvent-free de-greaser that is usually used in kitchens.

Dust Light Fixtures:

Disassemble glass light fixtures and clean separately. Soak the glass in a sink of warm soapy water for several minutes.

Wipe the glass down and rest it on a soft dry surface. Reassemble once all parts are dry.

Clean Window Blinds:

Grease, dust, pet hair and particles floating in the air can combine to make blinds grimy. To clean them, start by dusting them with a microfiber cloth. (Never use water on wood blinds.)

Make a solution of 50/50 warm water and white vinegar in a bucket. Mix in a little bit of dishwashing soap.

Dip a sponge or cloth into the solution and wipe down each slat. Then wipe each slat again with clean water.

Let the blinds air-dry or dry with a cloth.

Clean Mini Blinds:

To clean mini-blinds, use the same solution. Put a sock over your hand and dip it into the solution. Wipe each slat.

Rinse the sock in clean water as needed.

For window coverings like curtains, wash per the instruction labels.

Clean Baseboards:

Go over the baseboards in each room with a vacuum attachment or broom to remove the first layer of dust.

Next wipe them clean with a mixture of warm water and a small amount of vinegar.

Dry them off with a clean cloth. Use a dryer sheet on the baseboards to reduce future dust.

To keep from marring the paint on baseboards, mix warm water and a little dish soap in a bucket. Dip a sponge or cloth into the solution and gently wipe down the baseboards.

It is best to work in sections. Dry each area at once to avoid any water damage. This is especially true near wood floors.

Clean Upholstered Furniture:

First take the cushions outside and use your hand to beat surface dust out of them.

Use a vacuum’s crevice tools to clean under seat cushions.

If there are stains check the care label for cleaning instructions. If there are stains you can’t remove, you might consider paying for a company to come in to clean it professionally.

Wash Windows:

Choose a cloudy day to wash the windows in your home. If it’s too sunny the cleaning solution you use will dry too fast and leave streaks.

Using water and a microfiber cloth will clean windows more efficiently than using chemicals. Make up a solution of 1/4 rubbing alcohol, 1/3 vinegar, and distilled water.

Clean Sliding Door Tracks:

For routine cleaning, use a broom to sweep the area around the exterior of your door.

Scrub the tracks with an old, dry toothbrush to loosen debris. Then use your vacuum hose to remove it. Finish with a damp cloth.

You can use a homemade solution of half vinegar and half water with a soft cloth to wipe down the track and bottom of the door. Then clean the rollers on the bottom of the door with the same method.

Routine light cleaning should be done every week or even daily to prevent buildup from forming.

Deep cleaning means you’ll have to remove the door from the frame, which is a more intensive job.

Dry thoroughly and apply a thin layer of lubricant oil or spray lubricant to the track.

Deep Clean Bathrooms:

Throw anything that can be machine washed into the washer, then wipe down all your products and items.

Take this time to check prescriptions to see if any are out of date. If so, toss them.

For quick cleaning showerheads, wipe down with an all-purpose cleaner. But, for something deeper, you should consider soaking it in vinegar to remove buildup. 

To clean the showerhead without removing it, click here for instructions.

Wipe down shelves during spring cleaning.

Scrub your tub or shower working from top to bottom. You can use plain dish soap with a scrub brush to clean these areas.

Don’t forget to scrub the shower door, checking for soap scum or mineral deposits.

Clean the grout, taking special care in dirty or moldy areas. You can use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda for stubborn grout grime.

After scrubbing, spray the surfaces with water.

How long has it been since you flipped your mattress? Spring might be a time when you can put this on your to-do list and get it done as well.

Now your home is clean and the air is fresh. Sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and be proud of a job well done.