MK Life Tips: Your Guide to Spring Cleaning

After celebrating the Spring Equinox last week, it is now time to welcome spring fully by giving your home a well-deserved deep clean. Below, you’ll find Better Homes & Garden’s tips to guide you through the spring cleaning process so you can have your home looking and feeling better than ever.

Spring is the perfect time to deep-clean your house or embark on an apartment-cleaning marathon. Work these chores into your cleaning schedule and get ready to face warmer days with a space that sparkles. Before you tackle the project, use our checklist to get organized, or make a cleaning checklist tailored to your home and needs.

Wash Windows

Be sure to pick a cloudy day to wash your windows. "If it's too sunny, the cleaning solution will dry too fast, and you'll have streaks," says cleaning expert Donna Smallin Kuper. Water and a microfiber cloth will typically clean windows more effectively than chemicals. Otherwise, make your own glass cleaner solution with 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, 1/3 cup vinegar, and distilled water.

Clean Sliding Door Tracks

Sliding glass door tracks probably aren't the first spots you'd think to clean, but you'll be glad you did it before the outdoor entertaining season gets going full swing. Smallin suggests scrubbing the tracks with an old, dry toothbrush to loosen debris, then using your vacuum hose to remove it. Finish with a wet sponge.

Wipe Down Overlooked Surfaces

Spring cleaning is an opportunity to address those surfaces you overlook on a daily basis. Once a year, give your baseboards, door frames, and walls a good thorough cleaning. Wash them with a sponge and a squirt of dishwashing liquid mixed in a bucket of warm water.

Deep Clean Carpets

To maintain a new carpet's warranty, you may need to have it cleaned professionally every 12-18 months, Smallin says. Otherwise, you can tackle DIY carpet cleaning by renting a deep cleaner or buying a professional-style model designed for home use. Follow the directions for mixing the cleaning solution, rinsing, and drying carefully to ensure you get the best clean.

Clean Under Furniture and Appliances

Before vacuuming the floors, ask a partner to help you move your sofa and chairs and roll up the area rugs. Move kitchen appliances away from the wall as much as you can. "In some cases, you can pull them out enough that a vacuum hose will reach," Smallin says.

Freshen Up Furniture

Restore smooth leather with an upholstery cleaner and conditioner. Use a suede brush to perk up nubuck leather. For wood furniture, use Smallin's recipe to make an all-natural cleaner and polish: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil and 1/2 cup of vinegar or lemon juice in a plastic spray bottle; shake well and spray onto a microfiber cloth.

Refresh Window Treatments

Curtains and draperies aren't typically dirty enough to launder. So instead, go over them thoroughly with the upholstery attachment on your vacuum. "To remove dust from sheer curtains put them in the dryer on low with a fabric-softener sheet," Smallin says.

Dust Light Fixtures

Use a microfiber or lint-free cloth ($9, Target) to dust fixtures and bulbs you can reach. For ceiling fans, skip the ladder and use an extendable duster ($11, The Home Depot). To clean grimy bulbs, lightly dampen a cloth with vinegar and wipe. Caution: Be sure bulbs are cool to the touch, and your hands are dry. Tackle light fixtures before cleaning the rest of the room, so any falling dust doesn't disrupt already-clean surfaces.

Get Organized

Pick up and eliminate clutter in each room before you start cleaning. If you're feeling overwhelmed by clutter, designate some organizing "power sessions" into your spring cleaning schedule. As you declutter, equip yourself with a few boxes for sorting: one for garage sale items, another for items to donate, and a garbage bag for items to toss. Return the things you intend to keep to their rightful places and rooms.

Source: Better Homes & Gardens