20 Things That Didn’t Make Your Spring Cleaning Checklist
/
20 of the most commonly missed places
and how to clean them
Let’s face it, spring cleaning is no fun.
I don’t know about you but the thought of doing a deep cleaning on my house has me calling my local cleaning services because I know they can do a better job than I can.
When they’re through my house feels fresh and new again. Now, before you click through assuming this is an article about traditional spring cleaning, it’s not. I am fully aware that you can find a thorough Spring Cleaning List online and take care of your spring clean up yourself. So can I.
However, even after a deep cleaning by a cleaning service or myself, there are still things that get overlooked and I’m here to share the most overlooked places that a traditional list for spring cleaning would miss!
I’ve reached out to some of my favorite local experts for tips AND created a printable checklist (scroll down to grab your checklist) for you to keep handy while you’re doing your spring cleaning tasks.
House Plants - believe it or not your plants will love a spring refresh just as much as your home will. Plant pros at Palmers Garden and Goods suggest dusting off your plants leaves with a damp, soft, cotton cloth, removing any dead leaves, and give the plant a bit of fertilizer/nutrients according to the plants needs.
Remotes & Gaming Controllers - Lightly spray a microfiber cloth with a vinegar & water solution and gently wipe down remotes and game controllers. Make sure they’re turned off first!
Keyboard & Mouse - Turn off your computer, then gently blow off dust and crumbs from your keyboard and mouse. For keyboards that are a little more grimy use a damp microfiber cloth to rub off any excess smudging or oils.
Reusable Grocery Bags - I love my canvas grocery bags but they do get pretty dirty! Throw cloth/canvas bags in the washing machine with mild detergent. If you have bag that can’t go in the washer spray it with disinfectant spray and allow to air dry.
Yoga Mat/Gym Bag - Whether you’re a fan of traditional yoga or hot yoga, your mat could probably use a wipe down. The pros at Warrior One suggests using a spray of vinegar and water and a damp cloth to gently clean the mat. Avoid using soaps which can leave a residue and cause the mat to be slippery. They also reminds us to always carry our mats in a travel bag to avoid picking up dirt while in the car or trunk.
Pet Toys - Our friends at Magic Pet in Baldwin Park gave us some tips for caring for your pet toys! Soft dog toys can be washed in your washing machine on gentle with a mild detergent and dried in dryer low heat. Do not use chemicals such as Lysol, bleach and or other laundry treatments. Soak plastic toys in diluted vinegar as a natural cleaner and pat dry. Outdoor heavy duty toys might need to be scrubbed while cleaning to remove residues and hidden bacteria.
Pet Bedding - Wash bed covers using washing machine (read fabric instruction attached to bed) if the interior part is clean, there are certain pet-friendly natural spray products available in the market, to clean dirty spots and preserve the natural smell. Inside bed-pillow if washed; needs to be aired and completely dried out before covering
Car Steering Wheel/Car Keys - I know this one is not in your house, but your keys go everywhere with you. I suggest using a microfiber cloth sprayed with a cleaning solution of vinegar and water and wiping the steering wheel down as well as your car keys. If your keys are also a remote don’t spray the keys directly as you could damage the electronics.
Door knobs/locks/house keys - Spray a microfiber cloth with vinegar and water and wipe down all door locks, door knobs, and house keys.
Washing Machine - Front loaders: Remove detergent tray/cup and wash that thoroughly, wipe down the inside of the detergent area and remove any detergent build up. Spray the gasket with a bleach solution of 50/50 bleach and water. Add 1 cup of vinegar to the drum and another cup of vinegar to the detergent tray and run the cleaning cycle. Once the cycle is done remove detergent tray and allow to air dry. Wipe down gasket and leave door open to dry completely. Finally, remove the front panel from your washer and open the clean out pipe and remove all items that have built up in there. For complete instructions on this refer to your owners manual.
Dryer Vent/Exhaust Hose - first clean the lint guard inside your dryer and wipe down the dryer door/gasket. Pull the dryer slightly away from the wall and detach the dryer exhaust hose. Remove any lint build up by hand then using a vacuum remove any further lint within reach. Reconnect the dryer hose and put the dryer back in place.
Dishwasher - Wipe down the gasket around the dishwasher door, then add 1 cup of vinegar to a dishwasher safe cup and place on the top rack of the dishwasher. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher. Run the clean cycle or the sanitization cycle (the hottest cycle possible). When complete open the dishwasher door and allow to air dry.
Garbage Disposal/Splash Guard - This is my least favorite and possible the grossest spot in the entire house. Use gloves. Gently lift the points of the rubber splash guard insider your drain and using a cloth to wipe underneath and remove any build up of food/grime. Push the points back in. Then use an old toothbrush and clean around the topside of the splash guard. Finally, add a few tablespoons of baking soda followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar into the drain. Allow to sit for a few minutes then run the disposal. Tip: a few lemon peels in the garbage disposal will help remove oil buildup and leave a fresh scent.
Wooden Cutting Boards - Wooden cutting boards are fantastic for knives but can build up bacteria when not cleaned and treated properly. Clean your wooden cutting board with lemon and salt to avoid leaving any soap residue. Sprinkle the board with a good amount of coarse salt, use the cut side of a lemon to scrub the salt into and around the board, allowing the lemon juice to seep into the board. Let sit for 5 minutes then rinse off and pat dry. Once the board is dry treat it with mineral oil, use a soft cloth to apply oil to the board and buff it in. Allow to sit overnight then use a clean cloth to wipe off excess oil.
Pot Holders/Trivets - Put soft pot holders in the washing machine and run on a hot cycle to remove all food/oils. Silicone pot holders can be washed by hand with dish detergents. Trivets may be wiped with a soft cloth or gently washed by hand.
Clothes Hamper/Laundry Basket - For hampers with a cloth lining, simply untie the lining and wash along with items like towels. Wooden or plastic hampers: spray the inside of the hamper or laundry basket with a disinfecting spray or a solution of vinegar and water. Wipe down with a cloth and allow to dry. If your hamper has a funky smell, sprinkle baking soda in the bin and let it sit for a day. Vacuum or wipe it out.
Mattress Cover - Wash your mattress cover in your washing machine on a gentle or delicate with standard detergent. Tumble dry on low to avoid melting the elastic. If it’s still damp simply put it back on the bed and allow to finish air drying before making the bed again.
Toilet Brush Holder - add a little bit of water and 2 cap fulls of bleach to the brush holder while the brush is still in it. Let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse with hot water and allow to dry before putting the brush back in place.
Throw Pillows/Blankets - If your throw pillows have removable covers take them off and put the blankets and pillow covers in the washing machine. Wash with mild detergent on a cold gently cycle. Tumble dry low long enough to leave them damp. Remove from the dry and lay the pillow covers flat to finish drying. Allow the blankets to finish drying on low. Check all tags on blankets and pillows prior to washing.
Light Switches - Spray a microfiber cloth with a solution of vinegar and water and wipe down light switches. Do not spray the light switches directly.
I hope you found this helpful, be sure to print out your checklist. Feel free to share any tips you have on spring cleaning with me!
