[:en]Starting off your spring with a nice deep clean of your house just feels right. Your home is left sparkling clean, and you feel like you have a fresh start after a long winter. Spring cleaning has even been linked to psychological benefits like lower stress levels and happier overall mood- whoa!
Sometimes when we’re eager to get our house fresh and tidy for spring, we rush through the cleaning and overlook some important cleaning tasks. It’s better to take your time (even spacing out your spring cleaning by breaking up the tasks and tackling them over a few weekends) and do a thorough job, so you can enjoy a cleaner and more organized home all spring and summer. Here are 6 things we forget to clean when we spring clean:
6. The Oven
Sometimes the oven seems less like an important kitchen appliance and more like the gross place where splattered cheese and grease go to harden and die. Luckily, your oven is most likely easier to clean than you think, and there’s no reason to use those harsh, smelly oven cleaners of yesteryear. If your oven has a self-cleaning option, simply follow the user manual instructions for taking advantage of it. Self-cleaning ovens use extreme heat to burn off old, baked on food and grease. Once your oven completes the cycle, simply wipe away the debris with a soft, wet cloth.
If you have an older oven that doesn’t feature a self-cleaning option, you can actually get your oven super clean with minimal elbow grease using a simple combination of baking soda, vinegar, and heat. There are many variations online, but we like this oven cleaning hack because it includes a helpful video!
5. Pillows and Bedding
You already clean your sheets and pillow cases frequently (well, we hope so), but don’t overlook the importance of also cleaning your pillows and down comforters. Even though they are covered with cases, they need a good cleaning to get rid of yucky dust mites that accumulate over time. A good wash and dry on high heat is usually adequate, but if your bedding is old and worn out spring is the perfect time to splurge on replacements.
4. Refrigerator
Spring cleaning is the perfect time to give your refrigerator a thorough cleaning. Start by emptying the fridge and wiping down shelves and drawers, as well as any condiment bottles or other containers that have gotten sticky. When wiping down the outside of the fridge, don’t neglect the actual coils underneath and behind your refrigerator. Keeping these clean helps your refrigerator run more efficiently and can even help extend its lifespan!
3. Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans keep your home more comfortable in the summer (and can make your heating more efficient in the winter!), but they also gather tons of dust and pet hair that then make their way into your air when you turn your fans on. Luckily, they’re easy to clean: simply grab a warm, soapy rag or spray cleaner and paper towels and a ladder or chair. Don’t forget to lay down a few towels on the floor underneath your ceiling fans, since this cleaning project can get a little messy.
2. Window Screens
Taking the time to clean your windows inside and out during spring cleaning is a great idea, but the impact will be lost if you leave the screens dirty. Popping them out, hosing them off, and leaving them to dry in the sun will get rid of the dirt, dead leaves, and dust that accumulated over the winter. Don’t forget to also clean your window frames and sills with warm, soapy water.
1. Dishwasher
Cleaning your dishwasher is one of those house cleaning tasks that’s easy to overlook, but makes a big difference when you actually do it. Cleaning your dishwasher helps it work more effectively and eliminates any weird odors. It’s also very easy! Start by clearing the drain at the bottom of any old food or other debris. Then, fill the detergent cup with white vinegar and run the empty dishwasher through a normal cycle. Vinegar has natural antibacterial and anti-odor properties that will leave your dishwasher extra clean.
What spring cleaning tasks do you tend to overlook? Let us know in the comments! For more home hacks and security tips, be sure to subscribe to the Fluent blog.[:]
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