14 Things You Definitely Didn’t Know About Spring Cleaning

14 Things You Definitely Didn’t Know About Spring Cleaning! You’ve probably heard the term “spring cleaning” many times. The term is associated with a deep, thorough clean of one’s home. Springtime is considered the optimal time for such an endeavor. Spring is often associated with new life, new beginnings, and a fresh start.

This applies to our homes as well! Spring cleaning is an essential part of keeping your home tidy, organized, and feeling fresh. After the dark days of clutters, everyone can use a good freshening up! Spring is the perfect time to tackle the tasks on your home maintenance list. Getting rid of old clutter can feel invigorating!

Cleaning can be therapeutic. You probably have the basics in mind (dusting, vacuuming, mopping). But there is so much more to spring cleaning if you really want a deep clean! There are places in our homes that often get overlooked. Keep reading for 14 places you might’ve forgotten to put on your spring cleaning list.

Read on – 14 Things You Definitely Didn’t Know About Spring Cleaning!

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Friends and family gather here to cook and share meals. When my kitchen is clean, I feel at ease. A good deep clean of the kitchen is a vital part of any spring cleaning routine. Along with the obvious tasks of washing dishes and wiping countertops, there might be some areas you’re forgetting.

Read on to see some examples of often neglected kitchen chores.

Refrigerator coils

Cleaning out the inside of your refrigerator is probably already on your list. But did you know you’re supposed to clean the coils? These are found on the bottom of the back of your fridge. They are usually black in color and sometimes referred to as condenser coils.

Their job is to cool and condense the refrigerant, or the substance responsible for cooling the refrigerator. It is recommended to pull out your fridge and vacuum the coils once every few months. If too much dust or dirt accumulates on the coils, the fridge will have to work harder to cool your food.

This will also shorten the overall lifespan of your refrigerator. Keeping the coils clean is an easy way to avoid expensive repairs or replacements.

Range hood filter

A range hood is an important part of the kitchen. They are designed to remove odors, smoke, and grease that accumulate in the kitchen as you cook. Both the outside and the filters underneath the hood should be cleaned. You can clean the outside of the range hood by wiping it down with a microfiber cloth and cleaning spray.

The filter above the stove collects a good amount of grease from cooking. You can remove the filters from the range hood and scrub them with water and baking soda. It’s important to keep these clean so there is proper ventilation in the kitchen.

Garbage disposal

With all of the food particles going down the sink, your garbage disposal can harbor unpleasant odors. Deodorizing and sanitizing your garbage disposal should be part of your spring cleaning routine. A lot of food gets trapped underneath the splash guard or the rubber part inside your sink.

You can pull out the rubber gasket and scrub it with a toothbrush or sponge and detergent. Using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the disposal will help neutralize odor. Along with keeping it clean, you can keep the blades of your disposal sharp by grinding up some ice.

Throw a handful of ice cubes down the sink and let the disposal run until the grinding sound stops. This will help sharpen the blades. Placing a lemon in the disposal and turning it on will add a nice fresh scent to the kitchen.

Toaster

I don’t know about you, but I hardly ever remember to empty the crumb trays in my toaster. The open slots on top of the toaster also allow things like dust to get inside. To clean this appliance, make sure your toaster is unplugged.

Then gently turn it upside down over the sink and shake out the excess crumbs. Remove the crumb trays and wash with soapy water. Wipe down the slots and the outside of the toaster with a damp cloth. Let everything dry before plugging it back into the wall. Now you’re ready for some fresh toast!

Dishwasher

To clean the dishes, the dishwasher itself must be clean. Did you know dishwashers have a removable filter? To clean, remove the filter and rinse it under hot water. If there is food buildup, you can gently scrub the filter with a toothbrush and dish soap. You can clean the inside of the dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda.

Place a cup of distilled white vinegar in a bowl on the top rack.

Next, run a normal hot cycle (without any dishes). Once complete, sprinkle a cup of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher. Then, run a short hot cycle. All clean!

Bathroom

A spring cleaning is not complete without a deep clean of the bathrooms in your home. Every person in the household uses the bathrooms. Therefore, they get dirty very quickly. Weekly tasks might include scrubbing the toilets, cleaning the mirrors, and wiping down the sinks. However, spring cleaning calls for a bit more intensive work. Here are two bathroom chores to check off your to-do list.

Showerhead

You may not think about cleaning your showerhead. After all, the shower cleans YOU. But soap scum and grime can easily clog the showerhead. Rust can also build up over time. Mineral deposits such as limescale can keep your showerhead from working properly. You may notice a decline in your water pressure.

To clean the showerhead, grab a gallon-size plastic Ziploc bag. Add 1/2 cup baking soda. Slowly pour 4 cups of white vinegar into the bag. Dilute the mixture with 1 cup of water. Submerge the showerhead into the mixture. Allow it to soak for at least 4 hours. This should remove any build-up and get your water pressure flowing again.

Bathroom exhaust fan

The bathroom can be a very damp place. Your bathroom fan has an important job of helping to keep out mold. It helps to draw moisture out of the bathroom, preventing mold and mildew. Exhaust fans need a good dusting every once in a while. Before you touch the exhaust fan, make sure the power is off.

First, remove the cover and clean it with soapy water. You can use a vacuum with a brush or hose attachment to remove the dust. Remove built-up grime with a damp microfiber cloth. Reassemble the fan.

Laundry room/Kitchen Yard

The laundry room probably doesn’t get as much attention as other rooms when it comes to cleaning. After all, it’s most likely one of the smallest spaces in your home. However, there are very important chores to handle in the laundry room. A spring cleaning is a perfect time to tackle them.

Washing machine

Just like your dishwasher needs to be clean to do its job, so does your washing machine. A dirty washer will not get your clothes clean. This should be done regularly, about once a month. Doing so prevents mold and odors from forming in your machine. Bleach or distilled white vinegar can be used.

Make sure to wipe down the inside of the door and the rubber piece around the drum. To get the inside clean, sprinkle half a cup of baking soda in the drum. Next, pour one cup of white vinegar into the detergent tray. Run the washer on the hottest setting. It’s also a good idea to leave the door open after a wash cycle so that the drum can dry out.

This will help with preventing mold, mildew, and odors. Now your clothes will come out smelling fresh!

14 Things You Definitely Didn’t Know About Spring Cleaning –
Miscellaneous

We’ve covered some of the major rooms in your home. The kitchen and bathrooms for example. These are some of the highest-trafficked, most used rooms in the house. Now let’s dive into some miscellaneous categories that might need some TLC.

Air filters

Some air filters are washable, or reusable. These can be cleaned by simply rinsing with water. But the most popular filters are the disposable kind. These should be changed out every few months. Now that the weather is getting warmer during spring, you’ll want fresh filters when you run the AC.

This ensures that you are not breathing in dust and dander from your air filters. Dirty filters also require your system to work harder, possibly running a higher electricity bill. Changing them out at least once per season is a good idea for your health (and your wallet). You can breathe easy knowing this task is complete.

Pet bowls

You don’t want to eat from a dirty dish, and neither does your pet. It’s important to clean and sanitize their dishes. They are eating from this bowl every day! You can hand wash, or (if they are dishwasher safe) run them through the dishwasher. Fido will thank you!

Keyboard

A clean and tidy office space makes for clearer thinking and better productivity. Most of us are sitting at our computers for a good portion of the day. You might have multiple people using your home computer in a day. Your keyboard might be one example of an overlooked surface. Your hands are constantly touching the keys.

Maybe you eat or drink at your desk and some food particles wind up between the keys. Make sure to dust and sanitize your keyboard to keep your office space feeling nice and clean. If you really want to get down in between the keys, a cotton swab is a great tool to use. A toothbrush would also do the trick.

To disinfect, gently wipe a damp (not soaking wet) sanitizing wipe over the keys. You can do this with your computer mouse as well.

Baseboards

Dingy and dirty baseboards are a tell-tale sign that a house requires a deep clean. Lighter-colored baseboards will especially show wear and tear. A good dusting and wipe-down with a magic eraser will refresh your baseboards. Dusting can be done with a microfiber cloth or a tool such as a Swiffer.

If the dust is really thick, consider using a multi-purpose cleaning spray. A magic eraser dipped in water will remove scuff marks and leave your baseboards sparkling!

Underneath area rugs

This one is definitely not one of the first tasks that come to mind for spring cleaning. It might take some muscle power and require moving furniture. However, lots of dust and dirt are collecting under there! Move any furniture out of the way. Give your rug thorough vacuuming. Then, roll up your area rug.

Next, vacuum the floor where your area rug was placed. Mop the area. After the floor is dry, replace the rug and the furniture. You will feel so much better when it’s done!

14 Things You Definitely Didn’t Know About Spring Cleaning – Conclusion

I hope this list was helpful and included some areas in your home that you may not have thought to clean. Spring cleaning can be fun and rewarding. These may not be anyone’s favorite chores, but once they are complete you can relax in your sparkling clean home!

We hope you enjoyed and learned something new from this article – 14 Things You Definitely Didn’t Know About Spring Cleaning! Have fun and good luck!