We’ve done it – we’ve survived Winter! I’m not sure about you, but this Winter has felt like a looong one. Between the frigid temperatures, blankets of snow, and seemingly endless dreariness, Spring is a much-needed change.
For me, Spring is also welcome because it brings with it a sense of newness and vitality. It feels like a fresh start. And it often makes me spin into a flurry of cleaning, decluttering, and reorganizing.
With that in mind, today I wanted to share some awesome Spring cleaning hacks. I know – “awesome” and “cleaning” in the same sentence may seem strange. But what’s great about these is that they are perfect for the lazy girl – a.k.a. any of us who don’t love spending hours cleaning. These are ways to clean and refresh your space, but with shortcuts that save hours.
Clean house for minor effort? Count me in.
Onto the tips!
#1: Tie a bag filled with vinegar over faucets and shower heads to remove dirt and scum.
This is the ultimate lazy girl hack since all you have to do is set it up and wait for the vinegar to do all the work!
Simply slide a rubber band over your faucet to hold a bag in place. Then fill a plastic zip-top bag with white vinegar, and place it over the shower head or faucet. Use the rubber band to hold it in place. Check after 20 minutes to see if the scum is loosening and the underside of the faucet is getting cleaner. Once it’s clean, carefully remove the bag and rubber band, and wash the faucet with lukewarm water. It will be cleaner and shinier!
#2: Clean your sponges so that you can get more use out of them.
Low on sponges? Get more out of the ones you have! You can clean them to prolong their lifespan. Fewer trips to the store = lazy girl win.
To clean your sponges, either run them through the dishwasher or put them in the microwave for 30 seconds, letting them cool before removing. This will remove any existing bacteria.
#3: Wipe down stainless steel appliances to instantly make your kitchen shine.
So you want a clean looking kitchen but without a ton of work? Focus on the big things! If you have stainless steel appliances, cleaning them will make a big difference in how your kitchen looks.
While there are DIY solutions for cleaning stainless steel, I’ve found it to be way easier to buy stainless steel cleaning wipes since they come pre-moistened with the cleaning solution. These Weiman Stainless Steel Wipes are my absolute favourite. Look at the difference they make!
Fridge before and after stainless steel wipes.
Dishwasher before and after stainless steel wipes.
#4: Use a lint roller to pick up dust and lint.
Dig out a lint roller and use it to clean dust and lint from sofas, throw pillows, lamp shades, and more. Super quick and easy to dispose of.
Lint roller before and after cleaning couch.
#5: Make your microwave self clean.
This hack involves only a tiny bit of work – the heat does the rest!
Grab a microwave safe bowl and pour in equal amounts of water and white vinegar. Throw in a toothpick to prevent the water from boiling. Put it in the microwave on high for 5-10 minutes and then let cool. When you open your microwave, all you’ll have to do is wipe out the inside (use a paper towel or sponge). The solution will evaporate and the steam will help loosen any debris, making it much easier to wipe down.
Microwave before and after cleaning.
#6: …and Make Your Blender self clean.
Just add some water and a few drops of dish soap to your blender. Plug it in, blend for a few seconds, and then rinse. Voila – a clean blender!
Blender before and after cleaning.
#7: Clean more than dishes in your dishwasher.
Did you know that your dishwasher can clean way more than you’re using it for? This article shares 25 things you can clean in your dishwasher, many of which we would never have thought of. Think flip flops, baseball caps, hair combs, garden tools, and more.
#8: Use a trivet or rubber gloves to clean your makeup brushes.
Disinfect your makeup brushes quickly and easily by wetting the bristles, applying some baby shampoo, and then scrubbing on a porous surface. (I use textured rubber gloves but you could also use a silicone trivet if you own one of those).
Check out this article from One Good Thing for full instructions.
#9: Clean your ceiling fan and collect the dust at the same time.
Grab an old pillowcase and slide it over the blades of your ceiling fan, one by one. Pull the pillowcase off, wiping the dust into the case. Dump out the dust and wash the pillowcase. No vacuuming or other clean up required!
Read this post from WikiHow for more details.
#10: Clean baseboards with dryer sheets to prevent dust build-up.
Yes, those dryer sheets in your closet are miracle workers! Use clean ones to wipe your baseboards clean. You’ll be adding a layer that repels dust, making them stay cleaner for longer. Double-duty for the win!
There are loads of other ways to use new and used dryer sheets! This article from TipHero has some great suggestions.
So there you go, 10 spring cleaning hacks that will help you get more done in less time. What are you going to do with your extra time? Leave me a comment and let me know!
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