10 Spring Cleaning Tips to a Cleaner Home in One Day

I get so excited for springtime.  Opening doors and windows to let that fresh air in, going on walks and having picnics, and swapping out my sweat pants for razors…oh how ready I am!  Springtime isn’t just about weather changing, but those often-dreaded two words…“Spring Cleaning”.

While standing in the checkout line at the grocery store, I’m the lady perusing the magazine stand to see what the latest trends and colors are.  I will use any excuse to change out my home décor…I’m pretty sure my husband doesn’t even try and keep up with all the things I change around in our house anymore.  I should probably go to some sort of “home décor anonymous club”.

I look forward to new seasons because that means out with the old and in with the new.  I get to swap out décor, move around furniture and often times find things under cushions that should probably be sent off to a science lab for testing.  For some reason, my house always seems to be in the worst shape after winter.  After all the new things accumulated after Christmas, the amount of days huddled in the house during those snow storms and getting in that late winter funk where you stop cleaning, my house starts looking a little rough.

So, if your house sounds like mine and needs a little TLC, check out my 10 quick fixes to spruce up your home in a day!  I combined a little of my own experiments with tips and tricks I learned from my mom.

      1. Double the size of your pillows and clean them up! You don’t need to take them to the dry cleaners!  Your pillows should be washed every few months, and if you’re a pillow in my house…maybe more often then that.  I use color safe bleach along with my regular laundry detergent as well as some Downy Unstoppables to get a long lasting clean smell.  Wash your pillows on a normal cycle using warm water.  Once your pillows are done in the washer, remove them immediately and put them into the dryer.  You will need to dry them on a low setting, which may take a few hours to completely dry.  It’s really important to get all the moisture out.  So a low setting for a long time will work a lot better than a fast hot setting.spring-cleaning-tips-pillows spring-cleaning-tips
      2. Did little teethers and puppy paws take a toll on your wood this winter?  Don’t throw out your coffee table just yet, I’ve figured out how to get those scrapes out.  Mix one part apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar with two parts vegetable oil. Use a soft cloth and rub the mixture over the scrapes.  And that’s it!
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      3. Stainless steel appliances look awesome…the first day you get them.  And from then on, its downhill.  Those stainless steel cleaners in the store just don’t cut it.  But I’ve found an odd household item that cleans, shines and dries streak free!  WD-40…as weird as it sounds, it works better then any product I’ve tried.
        spring-cleaning-tips-stainless-steel
      4. Bring a whole new look to your couches by adding new throw pillows.  A great way to save money is to use your old pillows, and just purchase/make a new cover for them.  Or, you can purchase a ribbon, like I’ve done below, and iron it on with the no-sew tape.  Reusing items you already have in your house is a great way to save money, and get more use out of those perfectly good pieces.
        spring-cleaning-tips-home-decor

      5. Less is more.  Clearing out clutter in rooms gives the appearance of a cleaner and larger space.  If you have clothes flowing out of your closet, it may be time to pack the winter clothes away (and donate any you haven’t worn in six months).  Using clear bins allows you to easily find what you’re looking for next time you need it.  For blankets, coats and larger items, purchase some vacuum bags to save on space by condensing the items so they take up less room while storing.
      6. Dryer sheets work wonders on baseboards, around picture frames, and other items that quickly build up dirt and dust.  Using a dryer sheet reduces the amount of buildup in the future and smells good…double win.
      7. Do you have dusty curtains?  Try taking a lint roller to them.  And while you’re at it, roll on over to your lampshades and bed skirts as well.
      8. Instead of leaving your windows and mirrors streaky, swap out your paper towels with newspaper to clean them.
      9. Too many toys in your game room or kids room?  If donating or a garage sale isn’t in the future for the toys, try purchasing a few bins and swap the kids toys out every few months.  It’ll give them something to look forward to, and it’ll give your rooms more space!
      10. Give your pans and cutting boards a little cleaning love by wetting the surface, sprinkling a little coarse salt over the spots or stains you want to remove, and scrub with a lemon half.  Rinse and enjoy your clean cookware.
      11. BONUS TIP: Remove water marks from wood furniture in seconds.  You’ll need a can of denatured alcohol (available in most hardware stores) and a soft cloth.  Dampen a small spot on the cloth with the alcohol, and quickly swipe over the stain area (do not rub or overdo this).  You should start to see the stain lighten and/or disappear.  *Make sure to test in an inconspicuous area first.  It may take 1-3 quick swipes depending on the stain.*

What tips would you add to this list?

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Aubrey Proctor
I’m Aubrey! A wife who makes her husband watch chick flicks, owner of the largest lap dog named Handy, and mother of an adorable roly-poly baby boy Emerson Creed. I live just out of reach from Target and Starbucks in the small town of Ada, OK. I’m a professional photographer and former Marketing Director. A New Mexican at heart, I put green chili in just about everything I cook. In my not so spare time, I love trying to be crafty, drinking generous amounts of coffee, stashing candy, dancing & singing around my house like I’m in a musical, and sporting yoga pants whenever and wherever I can. I truly love being a mother and have come to the realization that I will probably embarrass my son at some point (or points) in the future.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Those are awesome tips! I just did my kitchen cabinets with the oil/vinager mixture. I was shocked at how well that worked ! I can’t wait to do the lemon and salt cleanse on my muffin tins…they need it. Thanks for putting this list together and a pep in my step 🙂

    • I didn’t think the vinegar/oil trick would work that well either! Thanks for your feedback, so glad it worked for you!

  2. These are such creative and easy tips Aubrey. Thank you for sharing them, I can do this! I especially like the picture of the blue eyes little one chewing on the wood!!!! These will become my favorite cleaning tips for sure! Thank you!

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