Top 5 Tips To Nail Your Spring Cleaning This Year

Spring is just around the corner, which means it's time to break out the cleaning supplies. But before you start your spring cleaning, here are five expert tips from Melissa Homer, resident eco-friendly cleaning expert for ecomaids, the environmentally friendly cleaning franchise. 

Cleaning Tip 1: Cleaning Your Appliances

Keeping your kitchen appliances clean is essential for maintaining a healthy and efficient home environment. 

Microwave and Oven: Start by placing a bowl of water mixed with lemon slices in the microwave and heating it until the steam loosens the gunk inside. Then, use a microfiber towel dipped in lemon-infused water to wipe down the microwave. For the oven, allow the steam from the lemony water to loosen grease and baked-on residue while the bowl sits inside. Afterward, scrub the surfaces with a mixture of baking soda and all-purpose cleaner for a thorough clean.

Stovetop: Baking soda is particularly effective for cleaning stovetops, whether they're glass or gas. Sprinkle baking soda on the surface, scrub gently with a sponge to create a foaming action, and wipe away the grime for a sparkling finish. However, be cautious with gas stovetops to ensure that no baking soda residue interferes with the burners' functionality.

“The fun thing about the appliances is the running theme of lemons and baking soda,” said Homer. “If you want to clean green, lemon and baking soda could do the entire circuit of your appliances.” 

Fridge: Refresh your fridge by sprinkling baking soda on spills and odors before wiping them away. When it's time for a deep clean, focus on one shelf at a time. This method allows for thorough cleaning without removing everything from the fridge at once.

Cleaning Tip 2: Cleaning Your Blinds and Interior Glass

Maintaining clean blinds and interior glass surfaces can drastically improve the appearance and ambiance of any room. 

Rethink Glass Cleaner: Contrary to popular belief, using a glass cleaner might not be the best solution for achieving streak-free glass. The real culprit behind streaks is often residue left behind by low-quality wiping mediums. Investing in high-quality microfiber towels can make a significant difference. 

“Microfiber is your friend,” said Homer. “It holds on to 99.9% of things that it wipes off on the surface with zero redeposit.”  

Optimize Blind Cleaning: For heavily soiled blinds, removing them for a deep clean might be necessary. Soaking the blinds in hot water and using a soft brush can help remove stubborn dirt and grease. Alternatively, consider dry vacuuming wood blinds before wiping them down with a microfiber towel to prevent damage.

Cleaning Tip 3: Cleaning Your Couches and Upholstered Furniture

Maintaining clean and fresh upholstered furniture, such as couches, chairs and sofas, is crucial for a comfortable and inviting living space. 

Invest in the Right Vacuum: Selecting the right vacuum cleaner is essential for effectively cleaning upholstered furniture. Look for a vacuum with HEPA filtration, strong suction power, and a variety of attachments. Canister vacuums or upright vacuums with detachable hoses are particularly useful for upholstery surfaces.

Dealing with Pet Hair: Combating pet hair on upholstered furniture can be a challenge. Mechanical brushes with motorized spin brush attachments are highly effective in removing embedded hair from upholstery. Alternatively, put on rubber dish gloves and use short, quick strokes to gather pet hair into easily disposable furballs. 

“I've even seen people take a bunch of rubber bands and wrap them around something,” said Homer. “So, you end up with a makeshift double-sided tool with rubber bands providing a strong grip. By using short strokes, you can effectively remove even the longest embedded hairs.” 

Cleaning Tip 4: Disinfecting Commonly Used Surfaces

Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces is crucial for maintaining a clean and healthy home environment, especially in light of recent health concerns.  

Pre-Cleaning is Essential: Before applying any disinfectant, it's crucial to pre-clean surfaces to remove visible dirt, grime and oils. Use a mild soap or green cleaner along with a high-quality microfiber cloth to clean surfaces thoroughly.

Choose the Right Disinfectant: Look for disinfectants specifically labeled as multi-surface disinfectant cleaners, as these products are designed to clean and disinfect in one step. Always read the label on disinfectant products to understand their intended use and dwell time for effective disinfection.

Target High-Touch Surfaces: Focus on disinfecting high-touch surfaces in your home, such as kitchen counters, doorknobs, light switches, faucet handles and bathroom surfaces. These are areas that come into frequent contact with hands and are more likely to harbor germs.

Cleaning Tip 5: Decluttering Cabinets and Closets

Decluttering cabinets and closets is a crucial step in achieving an organized and functional living space. 

Let Go of Unused Items: One of the biggest obstacles to decluttering is holding onto items that are no longer needed or used. Challenge the mindset that keeping unused items is virtuous and acknowledge that holding onto clutter only adds unnecessary stress and chaos to your life.

Invest in Organizational Solutions: Invest in organizational solutions that maximize the use of space. Modular shelving units, hanging organizers and stackable bins are affordable options that can help you maximize space and create designated storage areas. 

Why Green Cleaning? 

In today's world, with health and environmental issues taking center stage, the way we choose our cleaning products and methods matters more than ever. 

"Using green products puts me at ease with not having to worry about how chemicals are hurting my family, my pets and our planet,” said Rachel Southard, ecomaids CEO. “Breathing in harmful chemicals has a wide range of negative effects on our bodies, and kids are a lot more vulnerable to the side effects. Using hypoallergenic, non-toxic products minimizes my family's risk of respiratory issues and allergies, giving me peace of mind.”

Ecomaids offers eco-friendly cleaning solutions for homes and businesses, including LEED-certified services for larger buildings. Their products are non-toxic, chemical-free and biodegradable, ensuring effective cleaning without harmful side effects. 

Choosing ecomaids means opting for a greener, safer cleaning option that benefits both your space and the planet.

To learn more about ecomaids, visit: https://ecomaids.com/.