It’s that time of year again, yay! But we know what you’re thinking…

Written  by Daina Renton

 

“How the hell am I going to get rid of all this mess, and who could possibly give me the best advice when it comes to something so difficult?” Ta-dah! Word of Mouth Magazine is sharing the ultimate spring-cleaning tips, tricks and hacks for you to get it…done and dusted (pun intended) sooner than you think.

 

THE HACKS

CINNAMON AIR FRESHENER – Want a sweet smelling home at all times? Then sprinkle cinnamon all over your carpets. Make a mess if you like, then hoover up the sprinkles… your house should now smell super sweet with no harsh chemicals required.

ANNOYING DUSTY LAMPSHADES – Use a lint roller! This is the single most perfect way to clean any complicated designs, and makes a far better alternative than a wet cloth. Cheap, easy and effective. No more unwanted dust, just minimal effort.

USE SHAVING FOAM ON MIRRORS -This trick is amazing because it doesn’t just clean your mirrors – it stops them from fogging when you shower. Squirt some shaving foam onto the mirror and wipe clean with a cloth. There’ll be no smears, and the soap creates a protective film over the glass that keeps it from fogging.

OLIVE OIL FOR STAINLESS STEEL – Another natural alternative for those who prefer it, olive oil will rid your home of stubborn fingerprints and smears. In fact it leaves the surfaces gleaming to perfection. After you’ve rubbed those steel surfaces, use a clean dry towel to wipe off any excess oil so it doesn’t dull the surface.

RUBBER GLOVES FOR PET HAIR – Forget the hoover and use rubber gloves instead. Pet hair will stick to the gloves easily so you can gather up the clumps and bag them if you have a lot of pet hair lying around. This method also prevents your hoover from becoming blocked. Just give your carpet a good rub down, then dip the gloves in water and the hair will fall off easily.

BICARBONATE OF SODA FOR OVENS – Add bicarbonate of soda to water in a spray bottle to create an affordable cleaning solution that eliminates all that unwanted grime. Avoid using harsh chemicals in your oven and instead use vinegar, baking soda and albeit it, a helping of good ol’ elbow grease. Coat the mixture all over the interior surfaces of your oven and allow it to rest overnight. In the morning you’ll be able to wipe it all off with a wet cloth. Then spray vinegar over any remaining soda and it’ll react, making it easier for you to see any excess residue to wipe away.

 

THE ULTIMATE

CHECKLIST

Home remedies are good,

but if you like your springcleaning

to be even more

thorough, Kelly at Imperfect

Homemaking has the

perfect checklist for you to

tick off your chore

checklist…

 

BEDROOMS

Open Windows Dust furniture. For each drawer: remove items, wash drawer, place items back neatly. Donate Items you no longer need. Remove everything from closets. Sweep and wash closet floor. Put everything back neatly. Donate items you no longer need. Try not to store things on closet floor. Move Bed. Sort and put away anything that was under bed. Sweep or vacuum under bed. Try not to store things under bed. Put bed back. Freshen mattress by sprinkling with baking soda, letting sit briefly, and the vacuuming it up. Launder bedding and curtains. Wash pillows and duvet in hot water. Air out mattress pad, if you have one. Dust lights. Clean lamp shades. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens. Wash switch plates. Wash walls and trim as needed. Wash mirrors or dust art. Wash doors and doorknobs. Wash floor registers and other vent covers. Sweep and wash floor or vacuum.

KITCHEN

Open windows. Remove and clean window coverings. Click here for instructions on cleaning mini blinds. For each cabinet or drawer: Remove items, wipe out drawer, place items back neatly. Donate unneeded items. Wash and sanitize cutting boards Sharpen knives Wash cabinet doors and knobs Clean and organize pantry. Check food expiry dates. Clean oven. Clean stove top. Remove elements and drip bowls, if applicable, wash and put back. Clean and organize fridge and freezer. Defrost freezer, if necessary. Check food expiry dates. Clean under fridge and stove. Vacuum refrigerator coils. Clean microwave. Clean crumbs out of toaster. Clean and descale kettle. Wipe down any other counter appliances wash counters and backsplash. Wash and shine sink. Shine faucet. Clean drain. Clean Dishwasher. Dust light fixtures. Wash windows and window sills. Remove window screens and wash

DINING ROOM

Open windows. Wash curtains. Wipe down table and chairs. Wipe down or dust other furnishing. Clean chair pads, if applicable. Polish table, if necessary Create a pretty spring vignette on table! Dust any displayed china or serving dishes. Launder table linens. Shine silverware. Dust art. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens. Wash switch plates Wash walls and trim. Wash doors and door knobs Wash floor registers and other vent covers. Clean floors. Thanks to Kelly, who also made this list printable! Grab the complete version of this checklist if you want to be extra clean, and combine our hacks while you’re at it. Happy spring-cleaning!

www.imperfecthomemaking.com/p/thorough-spring-cleaning-checklist.html