cleaning
Spring cleaning often signals the start of a new beginning, so welcome it by preparing your house with these top tips! pixabay (CC0)

Now that 2020 is over and winter is leaving, it’s time to roll up your sleeves, bring out the cleaning materials and purge your home from any lingering bad vibes and baggage left behind by the year… and just in time for spring!

A good, deep spring clean-up not only promotes wellness by keeping your house organized and clean, but also helps you press the restart button in your life. But spring cleaning isn't an easy task! So to help you out, we compiled some of the best spring cleaning tips we have on our arsenal, along with some of the best products that can help you out. Dig in!

Tip #1: Create a schedule

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Before you start the actual cleaning, take a few minutes to scope out your house and check what’s what. Which area needs the most cleaning? Which doesn’t? Where is the best and most convenient place to start? Having a plan and schedule will streamline the process and make it less stressful for you.

For this step, we recommend using a cleaning planner like this one. Useful not only for spring cleaning but also weekly cleaning, this paperback planner should help make tidying up more organized.

Tip #2: Marie Kondo-up your space

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Turns out less is actually more. Once you’ve mapped out your home and scheduled your cleanup, start by decluttering your drawers, closets, wardrobes and cabinets. Believe it or not, you're bound to find a few items in those places that you neither need nor use. These include T-shirts you rarely (or never) use, old trinkets and other odds and ends. If they’re in good condition, consider donating them, or storing them in a box if you really can’t let them go.

To help you sort through your things, consider listening to the audiobook version of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo," which focuses on only keeping things that bring you joy. Best of all, it’s an audiobook, so you can listen while you declutter.

Tip #3: Invest in a HEPA Vacuum

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Time to vacuum! But don’t just use a regular one. Instead, invest in a high-quality HEPA vacuum that will help you catch tiny airborne particles that you can’t see. It can also catch pet dander, allergens and other household particles that can trigger health problems.

For our recommendation, try giving the Atrix HEPA backpack vacuum a go. Highly ergonomical and powerful, this budget vacuum features various attachments to cover all of the bases when it comes to cleaning your house’s nooks and crannies.

Tip #4: Think Green, Think Steam

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It’s time to clean the surfaces, and since you’re doing some spring cleaning, it’s best to stay away from chemicals and go green by using a steam cleaner.

Easily one of the best products for spring cleaning, a steam cleaner only uses hot water vapor to clean surfaces, tiles and even outdoor areas. If you don’t have one however, then it’s time to upgrade with the BISSELL Steam Shot Deluxe Hard-Surface Cleaner. Completely chemical-free and easy-to-use, this steam cleaner is perfect for all types of hard surfaces.

You can also use this for cleaning walls and windows.

Tip #5: Protect yourself

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(photo from amazon.com)

Spring cleaning means exposing yourself to tons and tons of dust and other particles, make sure you protect yourself. Regardless of whether you have allergies or not, a good pair of rubber gloves and a facemask should keep you safe. Best of all, this set from Amazon comes with a handful of sanitizers.

Tip #6: When life gives you lemons, use them to clean stains

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Water stains are common in bathrooms, but hard to get rid off. These need a good ol’ scrubbing down, so save the lemonade for later and use the juice to clean them.

The citric acid in lemon is effective in removing pesky stains, and it’s as easy as rubbing it over the affected areas and letting it sit for 10 minutes before wiping it dry. Oh, and you can get your fresh bag of high-quality lemons delivered straight to your doorstep.

Tip #7: Keep your wooden furniture shiny

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Wooden furnishings need a polish every now and then, so make sure you don’t miss them while cleaning. To help maintain their luster, use a wood polish like this Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish & Conditioner.

Specially made for all types of wooden furniture, this polish covers your antiques with a protective coating of Carnauba Wax and beeswax to help maintain their soft luster, while the added conditioning oils help “feed” the wood to keep it from drying and fading.

Tip #8: Give your bathroom a bath

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Well... not exactly a bath, but changing your shower curtain, throwing away any expired items in your medicine cabinet and unclogging your shower drain with good ol’ vinegar will go a long way.

Additionally, consider replacing your bathroom fan, or even upgrading to a new one. For our pick, we recommend the Amazon top-seller Broan-NuTone 668 Ceiling and Wall Ventilation Fan. Incredibly easy to install, this fan is great for ventilating moisture during showers and removing any odors, helping you keep the bathroom in tip-top shape.

Tip #9: Guard your house from creepy-crawlies

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The last thing you want to see after a deep spring cleaning is a bunch of cockroaches, beetles and bugs roaming around your house, so make sure you stop them from settling in by sealing any cracks with sealants.

This Gorilla White Silicone Sealant is particularly effective in doing so, and works on various surfaces. Best of all, it’s affordable, and should last you a long time.

Tip #10: Kitchen cleanup

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Kitchens are bound to be one of messiest places in the house, so make sure you give it appropriate attention when cleaning. Make sure you go over your fridge and food expiration dates, defrost the filter, clear the cabinets before wiping them out, and checking your stocks in the pantry.

Kitchens are also bound to have lots of stains, so get yourself this Fridge & Freezer Baking Soda 12-Pack from Arm & Hammer to wipe them down. Simply mix it down with one part water and wipe it on kitchen sinks, faucets and even stovetops. Let it sit for 15 minutes before giving it a good scrub and your kitchen’s shine will be back in no time.

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