Image: MirageC for Getty
There’s a reason “spring cleaning,” is a common expression. It’s important to clean when the seasons change, especially from winter to spring, and to wash and store key items like winter comforters, blankets, seasonal pillows, couches and rugs, which ideally should be shampooed using a non-toxic soap such as Truy Free Laundry Wash.
few items to help start a spring cleaning checklist according to Truly Free brand director Maria Mooney are the following:
- Wash baseboards, ceilings, windowsills, doors and walls
- Vacuum and wash vents
- Wash window treatments (drapes, etc.)
- Dust blinds
- Wash windows, inside and out
- Dust and shine overhead lights; replace burnt light bulbs
- Dust and/or vacuum light fixtures and lamp shades
- Wipe down the inside and top of kitchen cabinets
- A few areas of the home that you should be spring-cleaning, but probably forget about:
- Windowsills
- Baseboards
- Fans
- Toilet bases
- Light switches
- Pet areas
- Mudrooms
Now let’s dive into specifics.
Image: Peter Dazeley for Getty
Go one room at a time attention.
“It’s the old saying, ‘How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!’ Spring cleaning your home should be the same. It can quickly become overwhelming to tackle every piece of clutter in your home. Start by tackling one room at a time, and you will feel a fantastic sense of accomplishment seeing the before and after. Plus, it will help you want to maintain the organization as you move from room to room,” says Mooney.
Your kitchen needs the most attention.
Your kitchen needs the most attention as it’s used by everyone in the household multiple times a day. “You can enjoy your kitchen while keeping it sparkling by scrubbing your oven, fridge and sink. Some great advice I received for cleaning the kitchen is clean as you go,” says Mooney. “So many of my friends cook big dinners but leave all the cleaning up for after, which can be exhausting. Two of my favorite products for quick clean-ups and removing grease are Truly Free’s Everyday Cleaner and Truly Free’s Heavy Duty Degreaser. I use these daily to help keep my kitchen grease-free from cooking and sticky-free from my kids’ fingers.”
Clean your sunglasses!
Spring is all about accessories and sunglasses are usually left as a last minute grab as you run out the door or exit your car. “Think about all the grime and grease that fingers leave behind and you’ll want to slow down and give them a good cleaning before spring is in full swing,” says Carol Mehas, founder of arbOUR. “I use Everyday Wipes because they contain antimicrobial cleaning power that neutralizes bacteria on the spot – just wipe them down with a convenient wipe, particularly around the nose bridge where the glasses rest on your face. These wipes are non-toxic, so they don’t irritate the sensitive skin around the nose and behind the ears and they are safe to use on fabrics and leathers, such as your glasses cases, car consoles and anywhere you put your glasses when not in use.”
Give you bathroom space special attention each season.
“First, pull EVERYTHING out of the drawers and cabinets, recycling, donating or tossing items that are not being used. Then, use a cleaner that is antimicrobial (not just antibacterial!) because you want to eliminate stains, get rid of odors and fragrances and most importantly create a surface that neutralizes all that gross bathroom bacteria. Our Everyday Spray is a great choice as it’s safe for all surfaces, including marble and it’s safe and non-toxic.
Once the counters and drawers are sparkling clean, start organizing supplies back into place, wiping down or cleaning off products that have leaked from improper storage. Look at the piles and decide which items are the daily use items, these should go into the top drawer or stay on the counter. Bulky bathroom supplies can go under the sink. For everything else, try to have a specific space designated…such as a ‘drawer for hair’ or an organizing bin for first aid items. Label the space, so they can stay organized in a jiffy without having to overthink what goes where. One fun tip is to recycle glass vessels from small glass yogurt containers (after they are run through the dishwasher) for holders of runaway items such as ear swabs, cotton balls or hair ties,” suggests Mehas.
Cleaning your cool sneakers.
It’s time to put away the heavy boots and start wearing those cute sneakers again. “Unfortunately, with one wear down the avenue, they can get dirty quickly and you need to be prepared at home to keep them looking fresh. Ideally, you’d have a toothbrush and/or a dish cleaning brush kept under the sink to use just for cleaning shoes. Go for a gentle, non toxic stain remover such as this stain remover that won’t alter colors and can be sprayed on any material, including leathers, scrubbed with a brush and/or blotted off with water.
Clean the soles by running them under a strong water stream to loosen and wash away the dirt and use the dish brush to scrub off anything stuck in the treads. Once the outsides are looking spiffy use two spritzes of Odor Remover on the insides of the shoes,” suggests Mehas.
Image: Peter Dazeley for Getty
Cleaning out the mudroom
This is perhaps the most daunting task of any seasonal shift. “This room is used everyday, by everybody and even the dog is privy to all that goes down in this space,” says Mehas. “It’s important to clean out this room because this is where most of the outside world enters your home – shoes, coats, hats, gloves and umbrellas – just imagine all the places you’ve been this winter are now living in your home.”
She suggests starting by pulling everything out of the bins, off the hooks and making piles of items to donate, clean or repair. Then, start cleaning by wiping down the spaces with an antimicrobial cleaner (not just an antibacterial one) because it’s very important to neutralize any bacteria and prevent more from growing and antimicrobial cleaners are the only ones that get rid of odor, not just mask it.
“After your bins and shelves are sparkling clean, you’ll want to take your organized piles and only put back what you’ll need for the season,” says Mehas. “Take all the fleece lined items, down puffers and winter boots and store them in the back of a closet for next year.”
