Spring Cleaning Tips/Tricks

When spring arrives, it feels good to shake off the winter doldrums by giving our homes a good cleaning. Are there rooms in your home you feel like you should be cleaning better? We’ve got some tips and tricks for spring cleaning that will maximize the effectiveness of your efforts!

• Start at the doorways. Spring is a great time to switch out your doormat. When you do, put a doormat inside the door as well as outside to help keep dirt out of your home. To clean doormats, hose off the outside doormat and let it dry in the sun. Vacuum the indoor doormat, then flip it over and vacuum the underside to help free trapped dirt so you can vacuum it off of the floor.
• Do your windows. Windows are best washed on an overcast day because direct sun can cause streaking. Wipe with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth, then dust the blinds or shades.
• Head to the kitchen. Spring clean your kitchen by tackling the following areas:
  • The kitchen sink: if your kitchen drain smells bad, run some slivers of lemon rind through the disposal and follow it with cold water, or pour in some vinegar to refresh it.
  • Microwave: Clean your microwave by filling a large microwave-safe bowl with a cup of water and some chopped-up citrus or several tablespoons of vinegar. Microwave it on high until it boils, then let it cool for five minutes before opening the door. You should be able to quickly and easily wipe away stubborn stains with a sponge.
  • Granite Countertops: From time to time, use granite polish to restore the shine to your surfaces and help repel stains. Daily, wipe them down with a specialized cleaner.
  • Refrigerator: Deep clean removable bins and shelves by taking them out and washing in warm, soapy water.
  • Pots and pans: Remove burned on residue by simmering water with dish liquid on the stove, then wiping away anything that remains. Here’s a hack: ketchup, with a pinch of salt, will remove tarnish from copper cookware.
  • Oven: If your oven isn’t self-cleaning, place a hot, wet cloth on the burned spots to soften them, then scrub with baking powder and a heavy duty pad before rinsing and wiping dry.
  • Cabinets: Kitchen grime, a mixture of dust and grease, often coats cabinets. Running the exhaust hood while you’re cooking can minimize this, but while you’re spring cleaning, use special kitchen cabinet cleaners to cut through dirt without damaging the wood.
  • Stainless steel appliances: A solution of 1 tsp dish detergent and 1 quart of hot water, rubbed on with a microfiber cloth, will bring the sparkle back to your stainless steel surfaces. Rinse with hot water and dry immediately.
  • Junk drawer: Empty the drawer, then vacuum out the dust and crumbs. Sort through the contents before returning them in a more orderly fashion.
• Freshen up your living spaces. Vacuum the whole house, pulling furniture away from walls and vacuuming behind and underneath it. Vacuum the woodwork and the air vents, then switch to the upholstery tool and vacuum the furniture. Toss your window treatments and throw pillows into the dryer for 15 minutes on air-only, and then hang quickly so they won’t wrinkle. Take everything off the bookshelves and organize it, dusting the shelves before putting it back. Give the ceiling fans, hanging and recessed lights a good cleaning, and dust your molding.
• Move on to the bathrooms. Wash plastic or vinyl shower curtains in the washer on the gentle cycle with a few bath towels, then let them hang dry before showering. Declutter your makeup cabinet by tossing out expired items, then wash your makeup brushes with baby shampoo or Dawn dish soap and warm water. Spray cleaner on your grout, allow it to sit for several minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush and rinse. Then, pour a mixture of ½ cup baking soda and ¼ cup salt down the drain, followed by heated vinegar. Let it stand for 15 minutes, then run hot tap water for 30 seconds or so.
• Deep clean your bedrooms. Clean pillows and comforters, carefully reading the care label first. Vacuum your mattress, then sanitize it with a disinfectant spray, or use an iron or garment steamer to kill dust mites near the surface, then vacuum. Pack away the winter clothes in your closet and get rid of anything stained, damaged, or worn out. Do the same thing with the warm weather clothes you’re bringing out of storage, trying on anything you’re not sure about before putting it into your closet.
• Some of your personal items could probably use a deep clean. Power down your phone before cleaning it with a microfiber cloth, then a disinfectant wipe. Let it air dry for a few minutes, then wipe it dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Do this to your TV remote, computer mouse, and other electronics, too. Clean out your purse, throwing away trash and organizing everything else. Wipe the exterior if it’s made of a durable material.
• Clean your cleaning tools. Freshen the washer by running a cycle with bleach or a washing machine cleaner. Use the crevice tool on your vacuum to deep clean your dryer’s lint filter, then vacuum under, around, and behind it. Clean out your vacuum and snip any threads or hairs snarled in the brush. Rinse your broom in warm soapy water or vacuum it with your vacuum cleaner hose.

If you need a place to store your things while you’re cleaning, or ready to find somewhere to pack away your winter gear, choose Pouch Self Storage. We’ve been operating mini-storage facilities since 1979 and we’re committed to keeping our clients’ belongings safe. Founded by John Yelland, who hails from Australia, Pouch Self Storage is named in honor of the kangaroo’s pouch- nature’s safe and secure storage spot. We’re an industry leader in design, building, and maintenance of self-storage facilities, and we strive to give our occupants the most advanced security systems available. At our nine Southern California facilities, you’ll find state-of-the-art computer monitoring systems that allow our self-storage managers to monitor the opening and closing of every storage unit door, 24 hours a day. For more information, call (800) 378-4598 or contact us through our website.