Spring cleaning season is here! Regardless of whether spring cleaning is something you typically do, we recommend adding it to your life this year. More time at home due to the COVID-19 lockdown means that we are exposed to the dust and allergens that collect in our homes for much longer periods of time each day. It’s so important for your physical and mental health to open up the house, declutter, air it out and clean.
Furthermore, while gyms are closed and social isolation is still happening, we need to get our workouts in. Did you know that cleaning and organizing also counts as cardio? Doing physical activity clears your head and produces dopamine, the “feel good” chemical in the brain. The following cleaning activities count as cardio:
- Mopping floors can burn 170 cals per hour
- Sweeping burns up to 156 cals per hour
- Cleaning surfaces can burn up to 136 cals per hour
- Vacuuming for an hour burns 170 cals
- Carrying the shopping up the stairs can burn up to 440an hour
- Ironing burns up to 80 cals an hour
- Dusting for an hour burns 166 calories
- Washing the car burns 314 calories an hour
- Cleaning windows for an hour burns 231 calories
We were recently given the opportunity to contribute to a great Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks list from Redfin! You can check out our response, plus view some of our favorites below:
Credit for all proceeding content to Redfin and their contributors:
Remove scuffs and marks on doors and walls
While most scuffs and marks on doors and walls can be removed with a little elbow grease, for stubborn stains use a magic eraser with barkeepers friend. In some cases, this winning combo can remove permanent marker! You will have your doors looking brand new in no time. –Maid in Bastrop
Create a Cleaning Schedule
Feel more productive in your spring cleaning by creating a weekly schedule. Start by renting a dumpster to help purge large/unwanted items. Week 2 follow up by decluttering one room at a time. Remove gunk, grime, and dust on week 3. Focus week 4 on the miscellaneous rooms, hallways and cleaning the floors. A clean house calls for a happy and healthy homeowner. –Luke Hancock, Bin There Dump That
Brighten up your home
Begin by making your home brighter. Wash windows, inside and outside, and replace all burnt out or missing light bulbs. It will make it much easier to see what things need your attention. Also, when everything is sparkling clean and well organized, all the extra light coming in during the day will make you feel energized. –Emily Anderson, MLE
Give your kitchen a cleaning and organization overhaul
Springtime is the perfect time to give your kitchen a cleaning and organization overhaul. Deep clean your refrigerator and pantry. The first step, pull everything out and check for expired, inedible or stale items. Don’t forget about the chips, oils, spices, and cans- these items are often overlooked. Toss anything that is bad, and donate items you’re not using but still have a shelf life. When empty give these areas a good cleaning with water and vinegar. Sort like items into groups and use dividers or bins to help make categories. Be sure to add labels to help maintain the system and keep things organized for the year ahead. – IT’S ORGANIZED
Do a maintenance check on appliances
It’s always a good idea to include a maintenance check on your appliances and electronics when spring cleaning, to prolong their life and catch problems before they happen. We call this “inspection for detection and correction.” This might mean spraying your computer fans with compressed air, checking cords and wires for frays, oiling your garage door, or cleaning the inside of your toaster oven. –Madeline J. Lewis, Organizers Northwest
Freshen up carpets and upholstery
The most common issues with rugs and upholstery items are odors and traffic stains. To help control odors on your carpets and upholstery, in a spray bottle, mix hot water, a cup of fabric softener, and vinegar. Shake well and you will have a natural odor-controlling solvent that will work on any fiber you choose to use it on. –Carpet Cleaning NYC
Wash the exterior of your home
Consider washing your home yearly, a practice that is often overlooked. You wouldn’t believe what an exterior cleaning plus a window cleaning can do to make your home feel like new again, and keep your new home looking its best for years to come. For best results make sure to use experienced contractors. –Time Machine ATX
Repair and clean your windows
Spring cleaning is a great time to clean and repair your windows. Making sure that your windows open and close properly and that all hardware is operational. Also, maintaining any weather stripping, and cleaning the tracks and frames will ensure that you can use your windows when summer comes around. We recommend having your windows and screens professionally cleaned at least twice a year to keep them in tip-top shape all year long. –Peak Window Cleaning
Be symmetrical
When getting organized, make it a goal to be symmetrical. Having matching bins brings harmony and uniformity. Take time to label each bin as it provides structure, and by using white bins, it brightens up a room. –Marie Jackson, Organized Marie
Focus on one room at a time
Spring cleaning can feel overwhelming and daunting but it doesn’t have to be. Focus on one area at a time over the course of a few weeks. Your kitchen, bathrooms, living spaces, bedrooms, garage, and your basement. You will feel defeated if you tackle the entire home in one day and it doesn’t all get finished. –Dashing Maids
Clean gutters and downspouts
Spring is coming and with it plenty of rain. Ensuring that the water is running freely throughout your gutters and downspouts is a must to discourage stagnant water. You want to make sure you eliminate that damp environment where mosquitoes tend to breed. –C Clearly Pressure Washing
Make an all-purpose cleaning spray
For spring cleaning. Follow our professional spring cleaners recipe that will make nearly every surface gleam, especially kitchen counters, appliances, and inside the refrigerator. You will need baking soda, a Reusable spray bottle, and a sponge. Combine 4 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of warm water, and use this mixture with a sponge to wipe messes away. –Sydney Local Cleaners
Happy Cleaning and Organizing!
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