Majorly upgrade your life with these essential spring cleaning hacks — no harsh chemicals or elbow grease required.
1 bathroom
Clean your shower door
Easily remove mold and mildew from your glass shower door using your trusty clothes steamer. Just pass the steamer over the surface, then wipe away any loosened mildew or soap scum.
De-grime your showerhead
Place a sandwich bag filled with white vinegar over the showerhead until it’s fully submerged, secure it with a rubber band and let it soak overnight. Remove the bag and run the water before your morning shower.
Disinfect your toilet brush
Pour an all-purpose disinfectant into the bottom of your toilet brush container to disinfect the brush while deodorizing your bathroom.
2 kitchen
Combat grease
To remove that grimy buildup from your stove, oven and backsplash, point your clothes steamer at those stubborn spots. The steam will loosen up the grease, allowing you to wipe it clean.
Clean your burners and grates
Pour a splash of ammonia into gallon-sized zipper bags, place the burners and grates inside and seal shut. Leave them outside overnight. The ammonia fumes will make it easy to wipe the surfaces clean. Rinse thoroughly.
Steam clean your microwave
Pour ½ cup water and ½ cup vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl. Insert a toothpick into the bowl to prevent explosions and heat on high for five minutes. Cool for an additional two to three minutes, then remove the bowl using oven mitts. Wipe down the microwave with a sponge soaked in the remaining mixture.
3 living room and beyond
Dust those ceiling fans
Slide a pillowcase over each fan blade, then press the fabric along the blade to dust it as you pull off the pillowcase, trapping the dust inside. Give the pillowcases a good shake outside, then throw them in the wash.
Clean blinds in half the time
Wrap each end of a pair of tongs in a microfiber cloth and secure it in place with two rubber bands. Swipe the tongs over each blind, then repeat. For an extra boost, lightly spray the cloths with a household cleaner.
Use a lint roller
Remove dust and pet hair from lampshades, throw pillows and drapes by wiping them down with a lint roller.
Remove pet hair with ease
Use a rubber squeegee to remove pet hair from carpets, upholstery and pet beds.
Dust TV, computer, and tablet screens
Paper coffee filters are an easy (and inexpensive!) way to dust screens because they grab onto dust without causing scratches.
De-germ toys
Disinfect bath toys and Legos by placing them in a mesh laundry bag on the top rack of your dishwasher. Run a cycle using your regular dishwasher detergent. Drip dry and you’re done!
Set a timer
Before tackling the most-dreaded chores, set a timer for 10 minutes. Not only will you be more likely to stay focused with a timer running, but seeing how long each task takes will make it seem much more manageable.
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