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These are my top ten tools for spring cleaning. I don’t know about you, but I need all the help I can to get the job done!
If I could afford it, I would hire someone to clean my house every week. I really hate cleaning. I used to do a much better job keeping my house clean before kids, but now I feel like I spend every week just keeping my head above water.
Don’t get me wrong, we don’t live in a pigsty or anything, but I just never seem to get the whole house clean all at the same time! However, every spring and fall, I get a burst of new energy and the desire to tackle some of those “odd” tasks that build up over time.
So here are my top ten tools for spring cleaning that will make the chores just a little bit easier.
1. Clean window and door tracks with vinegar and a cotton swab.
Over time, dirt, grease and grime build up in those tracks. Aside from just being generally nasty, it makes it difficult to open and close the windows and sliding doors.
To clean them quickly and easily, first vacuum the tracks to remove loose dirt, and then take a cotton swab soaked in white vinegar and run along the surface a few times.
2. Dust ceiling fans with an old pillowcase.
This is one of the best tips I’ve ever used from Pinterest. The messiest part of dusting a ceiling fan is dealing with the piles of dust that start raining on your head as soon as you touch them with a dusting rag.
The easier solution is to take a pillow case, drape it over a fan blade and then pull it back towards you, trapping all the dust inside the case. When you’re done, just toss it in the washer!
3. Drag a rubber squeegee across the carpet and furniture to quickly pick up pet hair.
If you have a hairy pet, this isn’t something that you really do as “spring” cleaning. You should probably be doing it every day. 🙂 But it is a handy tool to have, and it also makes doing windows and glass shower doors a lot easier!
4. Wash the floors with a heavy-duty cleaner to cut grease and grime.
This DIY solution for mopping the floors is inexpensive and perfect for the kitchen floor. It’s NOT recommended for wood laminate floors (I just took the picture on my kitchen floor), but it will clean tile floors beautifully and doesn’t leave the scent of vinegar in the air after it dries.
5. Remove the mildew and mold in the bathroom corners with hydrogen peroxide.
To be honest, I’m not entirely certain what is growing up in the corners of my bathroom over the shower enclosure. I’m assuming it’s mildew. Even though I always run the exhaust fan and there’s a window in the bathroom, the steam and moisture buildup in there just sits on the walls and grows these lovely black patches.
I used to scrub and brush at it with cleaners with little effect. Then one day I used a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle and the spots just wiped clean! I couldn’t believe I had been doing it the hard way for so long!
Mix 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide with 1 cup water and put it in a spray bottle. Spray down all the corners and let it sit for one hour. After an hour passed, wipe down the walls with a wet rag.
6. Use wax paper to line the top of cabinets, making cleanup easier next time.
That dead space up above the cabinets in the kitchen or on top of the random empty niches in the house is a magnet for dust, grease and grime. After getting them clean the hard way, line them with wax paper. The paper will attract dust and grease, and in three months you can just crumple up the paper, throw it away and replace it!
7. Whiten tile grout with vinegar.
My kitchen counters are tiled. I HATE them. They look dated and they are always grimy and dirty because the grout just won’t stay clean. I have used bleach in the past to get it white again, but I know that it will just keep eating away at the grout and creating more holes for the dirt to fill.
So I figured there was nothing to lose when I tried white vinegar instead. Believe it or not, it worked like a charm! You should see my before and after photos!
8. Wash and whiten pillows in the washing machine and dryer.
Yes, the washer and dryer. You can totally wash your pillows! Well, almost all pillows. Read the tag from the manufacturer to be certain. All the sweat, dead skin, grease, and drool (yes, we know YOU don’t drool- just your husband) soaks into the pillow and that’s just gross. Then over time the stains turn yellow. Ick.
Read How to Wash and Whiten Pillows, I give detailed step-by-step directions with photos. If you haven’t washed yours recently, add it to the To Do list!
9. Get stains off microfiber furniture.
- Spray bottle
- Rubbing alcohol
- White rag or sponge
- Stiff brush
- Either pour some rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle, or just screw the spray pump directly onto the alcohol.
- Lightly spray over the soiled area until it’s damp to the touch.
- Scrub gently with a white rag or sponge. Don’t use a colored sponge because it may bleed onto your fabric.
- Allow to dry completely (about 20 minutes) and then brush lightly.
10. Clean and shine glassware with vinegar
White vinegar really is a multi-tasker! My glasses get so cloudy. They come out of the dishwasher looking worse than they went in. I know they are clean, but the calcium deposits from the water make them look awful.
Some white vinegar and elbow grease got them clean, but to keep it from getting this bad again, use a quality dish detergent and a rinse aid! Another trick is to turn off the heat dry in your dishwasher. That keeps water spots and calcium deposits from getting dried onto the glass. You can read more about how to clean cloudy glassware here.
PS-I shared my top tools with you, but I’m super curious- what do you like to use for the odd spring cleaning tasks that you tackle this time of year?
This post was originally sponsored by Finish.
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KATHY says
JUST SOME INFO. THERE ARE 2 KINDS OF VINEGAR FOR CLEANING. ONE IS FOR EATING AND THE OTHER IF IN THE DETERGENT ISLE. I WOULD RECOMMEND USING THE ONE FOR CLEANING WHICH IS IN THE DETERGENT ISLE, DOESN’T LEAVE A STRONG SMELL AND MAY BE EASIER ON THE GROUT SO IT DOESN’T DESTROY IT.
Alice says
Just discovered this one last night. I have a gas stove, the grates on it make me crazy due to I clean them and they still feel greasy. Tried baking soda, works like a charm.
mcsmama says
Some very good tips here, however it is recommended NOT to use vinegar on porous materials, including grout, as the acid absolutely WILL do damage & create more problems than it solves, over time. Probably best to seal the grout well, once it’s clean, to avoid having to be too aggressive with it in future. There are 20-year sealers that cost more, but save you in the long run, both in cleaning time & damage to grout & tile. 🙂
Nicole Burkholder says
That’s a good point. While I’m sure vinegar is still better than bleach as far as options go, it would be wonderful not to have to even deal with it at all!
Shannah says
Great tips! I have major cleaning on my list for next weekend.
Heather says
I have started the spring cleaning process but man, it takes a while!
reesa lewandowski says
This post is really so helpful! I need to get on it!
Miranda @ Cookie Dough & Oven Mitt says
Awesome tips! I think all of my casserole dishes could use a deep cleaning!
Kim @ 2justByou says
Great tips! I will have to try that DIY mold remover. I have a few windows that just always get moldy, no matter what.
The tall glasses are always in need of a better cleaning, because ours get water spots every time. I’ve never used Finish products before.
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says
PS I think tile counters look beautiful! Mine happen to be quartz, which I love for rolling pie crust and ease of cleaning, but I think tile looks great. Don’t worry about it looking “dated.”
Nicole Burkholder says
That’s so sweet of you to say 🙂 It is a pain for rolling dough or fondant I’ve discovered 🙂 When they are clean, they do look nice.
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says
I’ll soon be starting my spring cleaning and will be giving some of these a try (especially the vinegar one)!
Jessica (Savory Experiments) says
These are great! I need to spring clean badly… but I’ve been too busy enjoying the beautiful weather!
Britni says
I have a bunch of glass dishes from my spring party this week that needs to be cleaned!
Angela says
Oh my! I think the worst of the dishes are casserole type baking dishes. They always have something stuck on there!
Cathy says
Great tips – perfect timing! Our spring cleaning will be tomorrow.
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says
I need to get started cleaning…there’s always so much to do, and so little time! I’ve used hydrogen peroxide in the shower and it does work well.
David @ Spiced says
Great post! It’s definitely time to get in the kitchen and do some spring cleaning…starting with the glasses! #client
Joanne T Ferguson says
Great Spring cleaning tips as always makes me feel better after I do!
Cristina Wiyninger says
Power washing the siding is a spring cleaning project that needs to happen here!
As for tips or tricks, I make it a family deal wherein everyone takes part. It goes quicker and makes everyone a bit more mindful of the effort it takes to clean the house.
Melanie says
These are super tips. I always need all the cleaning tips that I can get!
Cathy Mini says
I have a gigantic casserole dish that needs some extra cleaning attention!
christine says
Some great tips here! I’ve never heard the hydrogen peroxide one for in the shower. I’m definitely trying that. I’ve tried just about every single product out there to combat the ?mildew? that is slowing turning my white grout, black! Can’t wait to see if this works!
Nicole Burkholder says
Well if that doesn’t do it, you can try white vinegar and a toothbrush like I have to use for my tile counter tops. Ick. Good luck! 🙂 I use the peroxide for the walls/ceiling in my shower. They get black spots that grow through the paint even!