Shoutout to Spot Shot® Instant Carpet Stain Remover for sponsoring this article. All the opinions below are my own, and I only recommend products that I use and think will benefit others! Make Spring cleaning a breeze with Spot Shot®.
When this time of year rolls around, I have this uncontrollable urge to declutter and clean the house.
I am not alone…this is the yearly ritual known as SPRING CLEANING. It’s one of my favorite times of the year!
Spring Cleaning Can Be Easy!
There is nothing better than being able to tackle something that can make your house feel so clean and well kept that only takes a few minutes to handle. Making sure that the house looks really clean is in the little details, right?
Check out the following Spring cleaning ideas that help you keep your house sparkling clean without having to spend hours and all your energy getting it done! From deep cleaning the microwave to the washing machine, tackle the forgotten chores to keep your household running smoothly and efficiently.
This article is inspired by our sponsor, Spot Shot® Instant Carpet Stain Remover. One of the reasons I am so excited to be partnered with Spot Shot is that I have been a power user of Spot Shot for exactly 24 years.
How do I remember exactly how many years I have been using Spot Shot?
It was one of those situations that I remember like it was yesterday. We had just bought our first house. It was an exciting time! I was planning how I would decorate, what furniture I would buy and all the family we would host in the big open kitchen. We closed and were handed the keys.
We drove to the house that was now OURS!
Unlocked the door, opened it, and gazed at the light beige carpet that displayed black boot prints from the front door to the kitchen, up the stairs, to the bathroom, down the stairs, and then out the back door.
Our perfect first house was a big mess.
I cried.
And then I called the builder…and cried a little more.
They assured me that they would fix it, but when I looked at the marks on the carpet. They weren’t just mud, but they looked like they were actual dark stains. I didn’t see how anyone could make this right without replacing the carpet.
Help arrived with a can of Spot Shot.
I was skeptical but watched carefully to make sure they fixed ALL THE SPOTS.
And they did.
When they left, the carpet looked new and I stopped panicking! In fact, I picked up Spot Shot on my next shopping trip and have been using it ever since.
Spring Cleaning Tips & Tricks
1. Spring Cleaning Hack To Use Year-round: 2 Minutes to a Clean Sponge
This is one of my favorite cleaning hacks because it is so easy. Soak your kitchen sponge in water and microwave it for 2 minutes killing off the icky stuff that lurks inside. Make sure that you disinfect your sponge regularly, and replace them regularly as needed.
Obviously, you don’t want to use it until it cools. This may be something that you want to do as often as once a week.
2. Quick Spring Cleaning: Wash the Washing Machine
As the mom of three boys, I have more than my share of smelly laundry! It seems that the washing machine should always be clean…BUT that is not always the case. In fact, there is nothing worse than opening the empty washing machine to a foul smell.
The easy cure is vinegar. You can wipe down the inside of the door with a lightly diluted vinegar solution on a washcloth and then add a cup of vinegar in the drum and run it for a cycle on hot. That’s right! You can keep your washing machine working and smelling great without harsh chemicals! And the best part is that the smell of vinegar will evaporate and will leave your washing machine smelling fresh! You may also be able to add a few drops of essential oil in with the vinegar if you want to make sure that your machine smells extra nice when you are done cleaning it.
3. Spring Cleaning: Erase those Old Carpet Stains
When you have carpet (or rugs) in the house, you are bound to have old stains! It is inevitable. I find that the worst place is on our stairs. No matter how many times I yell at kids to take their shoes off at the door, the stains magically appear!
The good news is that Spot Shot® Instant Carpet Stain Remover will solve the problem. Just like it did for those black boot prints in my brand new house. Follow the directions on the Spot Shot can for the best results. All you will need is your handy dandy bottle of Spot Shot® and a towel to get your rugs and carpets clean and spotless.
4. Spring Cleaning Tip: Shine that Stainless Steel Sink
After a lot of use, even stainless steel can dull. But a common kitchen ingredient can come to the rescue…baking soda!
Simply sprinkle baking soda over a wet sink and then scrub with a sponge. It will take just a moment to restore the shine (and clean)!
To maintain the shine on the sink spout, grab a sheet of wax paper and rub it well. This will keep the water spots from sticking and will keep your sink looking clean and shiny after you clean it.
5. Dust Screens and Wash Windows with Coffee Filters
This is one of those tips that is pure genius. Coffee filters are just the perfect texture to dust TV and computer screens without scratching. With a gentle touch, you can wipe away fingerprints. Just be careful not to press too hard! If using any cleaners, make sure to spray them on the coffee filters and not directly on the electronic screen. Only use a cleaner if needed, a dry coffee filter should suffice for regular cleaning purposes.
You can also use coffee filters to clean your windows without streaks. Amazingly and almost unbelievably, newspaper sheets are actually the best thing to wash windows with!
6. Spring Clean Toys with No Fuss
When it comes to kids’ toys, don’t overlook the two cleaning machines that are in your house – the dishwasher and the washing machine!
To clean in the dishwasher, try the top rack and run as usual. Keep in mind that the bottom rack can get very hot and melt things, so stick to putting plastic toys in the top rack.
Think sturdy and plastic toys like:
- Building Blocks
- Dolls
- Action figures
- Plastic Roller Skates and larger toys
To clean in the washing machine, secure toys in a lingerie bag, and wash away! This works well for things like stuffed animals and smaller plastic toys. Make sure that everything is sealed securely inside mesh bags before washing.
7. Take Time During Spring Cleaning to Refresh that Plastic Shower Curtain
Place it in the washing machine with a small load of soiled towels and wash as usual. If it is a clear material, consider adding a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. You may want to do this more often than just once a year. If you notice that it is moldy, it might be better to just get a new one.
Once washed, hang it back up to dry! Can’t get any more simple than that, right?
8. Quick Spring Cleaning Tip: Clean and Sanitize Your Microwave Quickly And Easily
The microwave is one of the most used appliances in the kitchen, and it’s usually also one of the most neglected. You don’t need to whip out harsh chemicals or break your back scrubbing to get it clear of all of the baked-on junk.
You can use the power of steam to do the heavy cleaning for you! Take a microwave-safe bowl, preferably a glass one, and fill it with a few cups of water. You can then add either some slices of lemon or a few drops of vinegar and the microwave for 5 minutes.
Once it stops, leaves the microwave closed to allow the steam to work its magic. Once the 15 minutes are up, simply wipe down the sides and you’re done!
Bonus Tip: Eliminate Pet Stains Quickly and Easily During Spring Cleaning
One of the reasons I have been so loyal to Spot Shot is because over the years we had several indoor pets – 3 cats and a dog.
The ONLY product I found that could reliably fight against pet stains is Spot Shot.
And that’s it! There are 7 Spring Cleaning Hacks that you can get done in 5 minutes or less!
Let us know which one of these is your favorite in the comments! Got any Spring Cleaning Hacks? Share those with us, too!
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