Spring Cleaning Hacks: Your Annual Deep Cleaning – Done!

 

 

Who doesn't love the scents of spring? Spring air tempts us to take a deep breath and inhale the blooming flowers' scents and fresh, warm breezes. Springtime is also a great time to bring freshness into your home.

An annual deep clean will leave your home tidy and spotless, help reduce stress, boost your productivity, and improve your mood. But you may be asking yourself: Where to start? And what cleaning products do I need? A few tips and tricks can make the task easier.

Erin Chase, the $5 Dollar Dinner mom of four and "Cleanfluencer" for AlEn USA, shares her top spring cleaning hacks to clean up quick, make larger tasks more manageable, and keep your house smelling fresh every day.

 

 

1. Make a Cleaning Checklist

 

 

Spring cleaning is the perfect time to clean everything that you wouldn't usually clean regularly.

Few projects are executed successfully without a list and a bit of pre-planning. Take it room by room and create a cleaning checklist for each – the bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathrooms, garage. This will help keep you focused and remind you of the spots that need extra attention.

Some chores to consider are cleaning windows and frames, cupboards, kitchen appliances, refrigerator coils, drawers and closets, floors and baseboards, walls and doors, light fixtures, filters, furniture, and window treatments.

Remember, you don't have to do it all at once. If you struggle to carve out a long block of time, tackle projects in bursts of 15-30 minutes each day instead.

 

 

2. Organize Your Supplies

 

 

Create cleaning caddies with all your supplies and store them in strategic spots throughout your house. This makes it easy to handle quick touchups while saving you time. You’ll be amazed at how often this comes in handy!

Every home needs the essential cleaning supplies: rubber gloves, a vacuum cleaner, broom, dustpan, paper towels, microfiber cloths, duster, toilet brush, mop, and bucket.

 

 

3. Make It Fun

 

 

While cleaning may seem like a daunting task, here's a little secret: most people don't mind it!

According to a recent national survey of consumers conducted by AlEn USA, almost 90 percent of participants admitted that they find a way to distract themselves to make cleaning enjoyable. Nearly three-quarters say they like to listen to music they scour and scrub. Spotify even has an Ultimate Cleaning Playlist. So, turn up the tunes and get going!

 

 

4. Clear the Clutter

 

 

For many people, decluttering is their biggest challenge. Organizational experts recommend sorting your stuff into 4 categories—trash, give away, store, or put away.

Pack up winter clothing, bedding, decor, and other items. Then pull out your spring items to give your home a refreshed look. Move the clutter out as soon as possible, so it doesn’t pile up and weigh on your mind. Donate it or schedule a yard sale.

For an extra burst of freshness, add fabric softener to a washcloth and place it in drawers or linen closets to create instant happiness as the scents waft out every time you open them. Ditto for the bathroom; add your favorite aromatic multipurpose cleaner to a couple cotton balls and place them inside the toilet paper roll. With every use, the room gets a little fresh blast.

 

 

5. Choose Cleaning Supplies That Make “Scents”

 

 

Motivate yourself by choosing products with scents you love. 79 percent of respondents to the AlEn national survey say they prefer scented products. The two most popular aromas are fresh scents, followed by citrus.

For superfast touchups, keep a canister of Art of Green® wipes with naturally derived cleaning formula on hand. These eco-friendly cleaning wipes cut through scum and come in amazing scents. Best of all, they can be used around kids and pets and are safe for sensitive skin. They're also great for stubborn handprints, dirt, and marks on doors and walls.

Want an extra fresh smell? Add a couple drops of your favorite scented cleaner or fabric softener, like Ensueño® Max, to cotton balls and place between the trash bag and can. Smells great every time it’s opened.

 

 

6. Stop the Scum

 

 

Grease and soap scum accumulate in the bathroom over time. Spring cleaning is an excellent time to tackle these surfaces.

We recommend using CLORALEN® Bathroom Cleaners with Bleach to deep clean your bathroom sinks, shower doors, bathtub, and tiles. Also, the pine oil in PINALEN® Original Multi-Purpose Cleaner

 

 

7. Get Down with the Floors

 

 

To really deep clean non-porous floors like tile or concrete, add 1/3 cup of CLORALEN® Disinfectant Bleach to 1.5 gallons of water and mop or scrub. Then take another pass with plain water. You’ll be surprised what comes off and how much your floors will sparkle. After cleaning your bathroom floors, dump the dirty water into the toilet bowl, brush, and flush. Two for one clean!

 

 

8. Blast Those Baseboards

 

 

Use a rubber band to secure a microfiber cloth over the bristles of a broom. That way, you eliminate bending and crawling. Since it’s a large area to cover, spray the cloth with your favorite cleaner and scrub. No aching back!

 

 

9. Always Prioritize Safety

 

 

Tackling once-a-year projects often involves using new or unfamiliar chemicals and equipment. Some cleaning products, like an oven cleaner, can be dangerous if mishandled.

Make sure you are using proper safety precautions for using and disposing of cleaning solutions. Read the instructions and follow the precautions carefully.

 

 

10. Clean Your Tools

 

 

Don’t forget to clean your cleaning supplies and tools, which can get gross with use.

Put a capful of your favorite multipurpose cleaner into the toilet brush holder to keep the brush and the room smelling great. Deodorize your mop by adding 3/4 cup of PINALEN® Original to a gallon of water, soak for an hour, scrub, and rinse. Put on your gloves and start scrubbing.

A refreshed, beautiful home is just a little elbow grease away!