38 Easy Spring Cleaning Tips

Trap more dirt by using two mats, one outside the door and one inside. To refresh, hose off and air-dry outdoor mats. Vacuum indoor ones on both sides — going over the back will push trapped dirt out onto the floor where it will be easier to pick up.

Wait for an overcast day to clean your windows and start on the shady side of the house (direct sun can lead to streaking). “Raise blinds or shades and wash windows with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth,” says Forte. “Then lower the blinds and vinyl shades and dust with a duster and finish by vacuuming the fabric shades and drapes.”

Keeping your walls free of greasy fingerprints, dust and stains is as easy as wiping them with a damp microfiber cloth. Be sure to start from top to bottom, and bonus points if you wipe the door frames and baseboards too!

Refresh your carpets in between deep cleanings by using a portable carpet cleaner with a rotating brush. To rid your carpet of pet odors, sprinkle baking soda or carpet deodorizer on your carpet. Using a soft brush, work the baking powder into your carpet and let it set for 15 to 30 minutes. Vacuum the baking powder off the carpet with a fresh bag or clean dirt cup.

Got kitchen stink you just can’t kick? Try running a couple of lemon rind slivers through your garbage disposal and follow with cold water to get rid of any unwanted odors.

Clean up those pesky tomato stains once and for all. To clean your microwave, fill a large microwave-safe bowl with 1 cup of water and a chopped-up lemon, lime, or orange or several tablespoons of vinegar and stick it inside. Turn the appliance on high for several minutes or until the solution boils and the window is steamy, then let it cool for five minutes before opening the door. Remove and wipe the inside and outside with a sponge.

Reusable grocery bags cut down on wasteful plastic, but they can get grimy with time. Look at the care label on your reusable bags to determine the best way to clean them. If they’re not machine-wash safe, clean them thoroughly with a sponge or cloth dipped in sudsy water. Rinse with a clean cloth and let air dry.

Dig out the granite polish to restore shine and help repel stains on your kitchen surfaces. For daily wipe-downs, use a specialized granite cleaner, like GH Seal Star Weiman Granite & Stone Daily Cleaner & Polish. The mild formula cuts grease and removes surface stains without the damaging effects of vinegar or ammonia, and it won’t leave behind a dull film like ordinary dish soap can.

If you think that nasty mark is permanent, you’re wrong. Run the cut side of a lemon over the board to help remove food stains and smells. For an extra oomph, sprinkle it with salt or baking soda first.

In addition to wiping down your fridge’s interior shelving on a regular basis, give the removable bins and shelves a deep clean every now and again. Pop out the door shelves and bins, and wash in warm, soapy water to get rid of food bacteria and spillage.

Soften burned-on residue by adding water and dish liquid to your cookware and letting it simmer on the stove. Use a scrub sponge or pad to remove any remaining stuck-on bits. Ketchup (yes, really!) helps dissolve tarnish on copper pots and other copper cooking accessories. Just massage the red sauce over the surface and add a pinch of salt to your polish, if you come across exceptionally stubborn spots.

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Cleaning your oven is an essential part of spring cleaning. Use your appliance’s self-cleaning function to remove stubborn, baked-on grime. If your oven doesn’t have one, place a hot, wet cloth on top of burned spots to help soften the gunk. Then scrub with a sprinkle of baking powder and a heavy duty pad. Rinse and wipe dry.

Unsightly kitchen grime is a mix of dust and grease that builds up over time. Run the exhaust hood over your range every time you cook to keep grease from settling. To de-gunk, use a cabinet cleaner to cut through dirt and leave wood moisturized. Do an extra pass around any places that grease collects, like door and drawer pulls.

To make your stainless steel surface sparkle again, mix a solution of 1 teaspoon dish detergent and 1 quart hot tap water. Using a microfiber cloth, rub the detergent solution onto the marks in small sections, going with the grain. Rinse with clean hot water and dry immediately with a clean cloth.

Once you empty out your drawer, suck out dust and crumbs with your vacuum’s nozzle. “Toss or relocate any items you no longer need or that don’t belong there,” Forte says. Everything else goes back, but this time in an organized manner. Repurpose pretty plates and bowls to store cords, stamps and other odds and ends. A nonslip liner will help keep everything in place.

Stick plastic or vinyl shower curtains along with a few bath towels in your washing machine on the gentle cycle with your favorite laundry detergent. Let it hang dry before showering. To keep the curtain cleaner longer, spritz it a few times each month with a bleach-containing all-purpose cleaner. Then just let the shower rinse it off (before you hop in, of course).

Getting rid of expired makeup, skincare and hair products is a quick way to declutter. Not all products note an expiration date, but many say how many months the product will last after opening. “To stay on top of their expiration date, use a thin-tipped permanent marker to write on the date you opened it,” suggests Phillip.

To free makeup brushes of oil-based foundation and concealer, squeeze a few drops of baby shampoo or Dawn dish soap into your palm and rub the bristle tips into the soap, then gently work the suds through them. To rinse, hold the brush (bristles down) under warm running water. Gently shake over the sink to remove excess water, and lay the brush down on a paper towel to finish drying.

To freshen drains (not unclog them) and help keep them free-flowing, mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup table salt. Pour the mixture down the drain, followed by 1 cup heated vinegar. It will foam and bubble. Let it stand for 15 minutes tops. Follow by running hot tap water for at least 15 to 30 seconds. This is especially helpful for seldom-used drains, like in guest bathrooms.

Hard water buildup can cause unsightly stains and even affect your shower head’s water flow. If scrubbing with a sponge doesn’t clear the debris from the holes, you can clean your shower head and restore its flow using a few kitchen products you already have in your home. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a plastic bag and tie the bag around the shower head, making sure to immerse the shower head entirely in the mixture. Tie the bag around the shaft for up to an hour, then wipe away any residue left behind and run the hot water of the shower to rinse the vinegar out of your shower.

“Pull furniture away from walls and vacuum behind and under it,” Forte says. “Do the woodwork and air vents while you’re back there.” Then switch the upholstery tool on your machine to go over both sides of cushions and underneath them. The crevice tool is a great way to remove any gunk along the trim and stitching.

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