Dive Deep This Spring-Clean

As spring brings blue skies and blooming flowers, people all across the country may feel inspired to freshen up their homes and clear out the mustiness. But even as you prepare for a more rigorous cleaning session than normal, you may still wind up leaving a few critical tasks off your to-do list. Include the following steps in your game plan, and you’ll be well on your way toward creating a healthier and more comfortable living environment.

Gather your supplies

Before you get started, take a moment to assemble your arsenal. Assess your current supplies to see what you already have and what else you may need, considering what specific tools may be essential for hitting any hard-to-reach areas. For instance, a long-handled duster or vacuum extension wand with soft brush attachments is ideal for getting both all the way up in the corners of your ceilings and deep underneath heavy appliances. In addition, try to purchase products suitable for a variety of tasks, such as dish soap, an all-purpose cleanser spray, and reusable microfiber cloths, to help you save money and make the cleaning process more efficient.

Attend to the perimeters

Even with weekly maintenance, dust and grime can gather quickly, especially in spots you tend to overlook. So besides your end tables, coffee table, counters, and other frequently hit surfaces, make sure to tackle your ceilings and walls as well this season. Before you begin, place old but clean sheets over your furniture and on the floor to protect them, and turn off your overhead light fixtures and fans for safety. Then work from the top down, starting in the highest corners with your long-handled duster and working your way toward the floor. Also take care to go over framed photos and other hanging decor as well as get behind your furniture and into every groove of your baseboards.

Don’t forget about your light fixtures either. For glass globes, gently wipe them with a slightly damp cloth or, for a deeper clean, detach them, wash them with soapy water, and dry them with a towel. Conversely, avoid using liquid cleansers or water with fabric shades since this can damage them. Instead, remove them from your fixtures and carefully use a lint roller to lift off debris.

Wash windows and screens

While windows are a common target of spring-cleaning, many people often stop at just the panes. However, your screens, tracks, and frames can have just as much buildup on them following a long winter season, making it important to give them some love as well. Regarding screens, bring them to your tub or shower, spritz them with a dishwashing spray, wipe them with a microfiber cloth, and rinse. As they air-dry, use the time to wipe the tracks and frames of your windows with a solution made of a few drops of dish soap and water, being sure to really get in the creases for a squeaky clean. You can then dry them with a cloth and reinstall your screens.

Circling back to your windowpanes, go beyond just a quick clean with Windex. To make them really shine, scrub them on both sides with a mixture of two cups of warm water, a quarter cup of distilled white vinegar, and half a teaspoon of dish soap. Use a long-handled window mop with a squeegee to simplify washing their exterior-facing surfaces, and switch to a damp cloth for the insides. Finally, wipe the glass with a dry microfiber cloth to eliminate both moisture and streaks.

Deep-clean your mattress and upholstery

Your mattress and upholstered furniture can be breeding grounds for dust mites and bacteria, but you can combat this with a few steps. First, remove all the items from your bed, sofa, and chairs, then use an upholstery attachment to vacuum their fabric surfaces, making sure to also go between your sofa’s cushions and underneath each piece’s base. If your cushions have removable covers that can be laundered, toss them in your washing machine with a mild detergent and dry them according to their care instructions. For your mattress and all other fabric parts of your furniture, sprinkle on baking soda and rub it in with a soft-bristled brush to absorb sweat and odors. Let it to sit for at least twenty minutes before vacuuming it up.

Avoid using baking soda on leather furniture, though, since doing so could damage it. Instead, mix a few drops of gentle dish soap into a bowl of warm water, dip a microfiber cloth into the solution (wringing it out well), and gently wipe the fabric’s surface. Dry thoroughly with a clean microfiber cloth. If the instructions on your furniture’s care tag permits it, finish by applying a leather conditioner with a soft, dry cloth following the product’s instructions.

And don’t forget about pillows and blankets! Generally, you should wash your sheets, pillowcases, and bedding at least once a week, but your throw blankets and accent pillows may get forgotten. Simply wash and dry them on the hottest setting they can handle, then return them to their spots.

Clean up the mess

Even with your precautions, some dust may still get on your floors, so wrap up your cleaning session with a widespread sweep and vacuum. Use the hose or extension wand of your vacuum to help you access hard-to-reach areas behind or underneath furniture and appliances, and consider running a carpet cleaner over rugs and carpeting to really ensure a good clean—you can typically rent one at a local hardware store. And for that extra shine on hard flooring like luxury vinyl, hardwood, or tile, run a mop over them with soapy water. Just be careful not to oversaturate wood surfaces since excess water could cause damage.

This year, go deeper with your spring-cleaning by hitting every overlooked nook and cranny. With such effort, you may soon be rewarded with a home that feels fresher and more relaxing, making it the ultimate haven.