Spring Cleaning Inspiration

There is something about open windows, warm weather and new buds on trees that makes me want to get things tidy. Here are a few bits of inspiration and motivation for your Spring cleaning.

I think wintertime encourages a very visually ‘full’ house; like we are fluffing up our nest for a cozy hibernation. There are holiday decorations, throws for snuggling on the sofa, puzzles and books for indoor entertainment; there’s just a lot of stuff. Then spring comes and you begin to yearn for a clean slate and a more uncomplicated home. I loved Clare Kumar’s thoughts on de-cluttering. In the NBC News article, How to Spring Clean Like a Pro, Kumar suggests that we ban the words ‘purging’ and ‘de-cluttering’ from our vocabulary.

Words like decluttering and purging have a negative connotation, which can devalue your stuff, says Kumar. “I’d rather think of (it as) editing or curating….”

I love the idea of ‘curating’ my stuff. That truly does make it seem more personal and important. To help you with your curating project, check out this list of Things to Throw Away, Recycle or Donate from Simply Kierste Designs. This list goes through your home by room and there are a few items I never would have thought of.

Spring cleaning isn’t just about simplifying your decor though. It’s also a good time to deep clean. Here are a few ideas I thought were quite clever.

Deep Clean Your Microwave

Place a bowl of equal parts water and vinegar. Run the microwave on the highest setting for 5 minutes and wipe it down. Sparkling clean!

Stove Hood Vents

After all that holiday cooking, the underside of your stove’s hood can get quite messy. Did you know many of these are removable? Throw them in your dishwasher and they come out bright and clean.

Clean the Cleaning Machines

You can’t expect the various cleaning machines in your home to do their job effectively if they themselves are dirty. Here’s a few tips to make sure they are in top shape.

Empty and wash out the canister to your Vacuum Cleaner.

Run a hot water cycle with just bleach in your Washing Machine.

Place a bowl of vinegar in the bottom shelf of your Dishwasher and run a hot water cycle (with no dishes)

Replace your Cleaning and Toilet Brushes or soak them in bleach for about 20 minutes. Also replace your mop/mop head.

Sparkling Shower Doors

One of my most dreaded chores is cleaning the glass shower doors. The attempt to keep them sparkling and clear of soap scum is futile; especially with Arizona’s hard water. I think this tip from Leslie Reichert’s  The Joy of Green Cleaning is brilliant. She says using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser with your shower cleaner and your shower doors will be streak free and sparkling! I’m definitely trying this one!

 A Little Product Love

I don’t know about you but I get ridiculously excited when I find a product that actually works. Several months ago I shared my love for Magic Stainless Steel Cleaner and recently I found a grout cleaner that REALLY WORKS!

Aqua Mix Grout Deep Clean

This stuff is awesome! I used it on my kitchen floor where I had grease and chocolate stains on my grout (what? Don’t judge!). The Aqua Mix Grout Deep Clean brought my off-white grout back to it’s original color! Plus, it didn’t have a strong chemical smell. Gotta love it!

Well, I’m off to try that Magic Eraser on my shower door. I’d love to learn your favorite spring cleaning tip. Leave a comment below with your tip or favorite cleaning product. Thanks and Happy Spring!

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