While we’re adding BBQs and pool parties to our calendars as soon as the school season ends, we’re usually finishing up our Spring cleaning to-do list as well and looking for the best Spring Cleaning Tips. Tidying up those closets and cupboards Mari Kondo style feels good, but there are usually a few overlooked places we’ll want to add to our cleaning plan of attack before beach days outnumber the rest, and we’ll feel even better about floating in the pool with a sweet summer sip.
I want to say this though, it’s OKAY to have help. It’s okay to want it, need it and ask for it. In fact, one of the very cool things about being an adult is getting to make choices and decisions like this.
Growing up, it wasn’t always acceptable to pay my brother to do my chores for me, haha (and I didn’t actually try very often), but now? The choice is mine. While I’m actually that crazy Monica-type person that actually likes to organize and can rarely function in a mess, meaning I like to clean and keep things that way… I’m ALSO pregnant, have four kids and a business, all while writing a book. So lately my choices have been more about what’s most important with the time that I have and while a clean space is SUPER important to me, so is spending time with the people I love, and having a little bit of fun too.
So, yep, we are STILL cleaning out our closets (and hopefully it’ll happen before the babies arrive!), but we also enlist help about once a month or so to get a deeper clean and give us a base to continue to clean from. Outsourcing home cleaning to Merry Maids helps to open up some of that time in a busy schedule and offers peace of mind, especially because they conduct extensive background checks and screenings for their team members AND they offer a Worry-Free Guarantee: If a customer isn’t happy with the service, they can contact the location within 24 hours to have someone come back and take care of what they weren’t pleased with. So, rather than spending your time cleaning, they give you time back in your day to focus on and enjoy the things you love.
While my local Merry Maids’ team in Tampa was here this past month, giving our home a good once over (especially in the kitchen and bathrooms!) I asked them about those oft-forgotten or overlooked places in the home, and we’re spilling the goods and spring cleaning tips below.
7 Surprising Forgotten Things to Clean in Your Home – Spring Cleaning Tips
Clean The Air Vents and Bathroom Vents
Between the air filter returns, the bathroom vents and even the exhaust fan over the stove, there are some major opportunities for cleaning. Things like vents, filters, and exhausts are often those “out of sight” areas of your home, yet they do the heavy lifting of pulling airborne grease from the kitchen or removing steam from your bathroom. Without regular cleaning, dust, mold, and grime can build up and a clogged filter can cause more harm than good to your home, appliances and even family health over time.
Change out disposable air filters, wipe down vents and if you haven’t taken a good look at your bathroom exhaust fans in a while, it’s probably a good time to do it. For the exhaust over the stove, pull out the filter and either run it through the dishwasher to break up the grease or give it a good spray down.
Dust Your Light Fixtures and Fans (even the lightbulbs!)
The weather is heating up and those fans will be moving air around, it’s time to make sure it’s not moving around dust as well. For us, these are really hard to reach places with our vaulted ceilings, so an extension rod or ladder is a must (or we leave it to the licensed and insured pros).
While you’re at it, it’s a great time to dust un-noticed areas, like the tops of door frames and make those light fixtures shine. You can even place most glass shades and globes inside your dishwasher to wash easily!
Rotate and Clean Your Mattresses
The changing of seasons is a great time to give your attention to a few tasks in your home that you usually put off, like cleaning and rotating your mattress. In fact, it’s recommended to rotate your mattress quarterly! While you’re in the cleaning mode, you might as well deodorize that place you lay your head every night it and give it a good cleaning as well.
While washing the sheets, use this method to clean your mattress, and then give it a good vacuuming as well. It’s my favorite way to get a fresh, clean mattress to sleep on! Then, since most mattresses are one-sided and shouldn’t be flipped, just rotate it to allow for even wear.
Don’t Forget the Blinds.
When Merry Maids gave our blinds a good wipe down, the rags were filthy! Ugh. I mean, I can’t remember the last time I have cleaned them, and I consider myself a pretty thorough cleaner… but it’s just one of those places in the home that is a little out of site, and if you tend to leave them open, you won’t really notice the dust settling there. Needless to say, wipe those blinds down.
Sanitize Curtains and Linens
We only have one bathroom now that has a shower curtain, thanks to our recent Master Bathroom Makeover with this walk-in feature (seriously LOVING it!), but our main bathroom still shows off a shower curtain, and I don’t mind it either. We’ve kept most of our bathroom linens white, and even our shower curtain is as well, so it can be thrown in a sanitizing cycle (and a little bleach or soaking in baking soda won’t hurt it!) and come out good as new. If your shower liner is beginning to change colors though, it’s time for a new one.
Freshen Garbage Cans
Naturally, garbage cans get filthy just because of the nature of what they do… they collect and hold garbage! Unpleasant odors can linger, even after the trash has been taken out, whether it’s from spills, drips or hidden grime. Even though this task should be done more often, it’s an easy one to get overlooked, especially because it’s one no one wants to do. While the temps are rising and the sun is shining, give them a thorough washing with a bit of dish soap or a spray of a vinegar solution and then a good spray down from the hose before drying completely in the sun.
Keep Your Tools Working Properly
By tools, I mean your vacuum cleaner! Yes, it’s a good time to weed through cleaning supplies and use up those almost-empty containers and sort through cleaning rags… but many times we forget to really take care of the tools that help us maintain and clean our homes. When we do, they last longer and give us a better clean.
For our vacuum, we often remove hair and build up from the beater bar, but a thorough cleaning will truly help with proper air flow. This means washing the filters, cleaning the canister and making sure the hoses are clear, just make sure to let everything dry completely before putting back together. Here’s a great step-by-step on how to clean a vacuum.
Friends, whether you choose to call in some professionals for help (seriously, no shame in that game!), or tackle it yourself, these are some neglected areas that need a little TLC during your weekend warrior projects as well.
I feel like adulting means choosing your battles at times, and when I look back, I want to remember spending my time building or creating something of value or those sweet memories with family and friends… but I don’t want to sacrifice a clean home in the process. Because of that, I’ll happily admit that I do call on professionals at time to help step-up my house-cleaning game, and then we take over from there.
One of the things I was impressed with about Merry Maids is that they bring in all of their own, custom products and supplies, I don’t have to have anything ready or stocked AND they offer customized home cleaning and organizational services specifically to meet a customer’s unique needs… need a fridge cleaning? Help with a closet or cupboard organization? Talk to your locally owned location and let them help you out.
Marta Rivera says
REALLY great cleaning advice! I totally forget to rotate my mattresses!
Tabitha Blue says
It’s such an easy one to overlook!
Kathi says
Great tips.. going to wipe down those areas over the doors right now, along with light fixtures. So glad you got help. It’s nice to start out with a clean base.
Tabitha Blue says
I agree!! And especially in the summer when pregnant! haha. I don’t think I’ve ever cleaned the space over the doors before!
Paula @ I'm Busy Being Awesome says
Really great tips, I always end up forgetting something
Crystal // Dreams, etc. says
These are all great tips! Especially the vents! Sometimes you look at those and realize it’s been awhile.
Sharon says
So many things that I miss when Spring cleaning! I love the reminder to flip mattresses and clean those curtains too.
Jen says
This was an excellent reminder and great list of areas to tackle in my home. I’m always shocked at the dust build up on the baseboards behind furniture so I add that to my list too.
Christine says
This is a great list! I never ever remember to flip my mattress.
Shayla says
I hadn’t thought of the bathroom vents! This is a very good list of reminders of things to clean.
Vanessa says
This made me realize that I’ve totally neglected my mattress!! I geez, now I need to do it! haha
Dawn says
Great reminders! I always forget about these tasks, and really need to do them more often.
Francesca says
Brilliant blog post! Particularly loved the reminder to clean your light bulbs. Thanks for sharing.
FreyaEmily@ Dirt2Tidy says
Great tips.. going to wipe down those areas over the doors right now, along with light fixtures. So glad you got help. It’s nice to start out with a clean base.
Mom211 says
These are wonderful tips! Thanks
Monika M. says
Great tips! Especially the reminder to clean vents and fans, always forget those.
Oaklan Clening says
But you should agree – Mattresses are the hardest ones to clean and keep dust-free!
Pollard says
Wow, this article really hit home for me! As a busy parent juggling multiple responsibilities, it’s easy to overlook these forgotten cleaning tasks. Reading this reminded me of the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy home environment for my family. I’ll definitely be adding these tips to my cleaning routine, and considering calling in some help for those tougher tasks. Thanks for the reminder.