It's that time of year again - time for a good, thorough, deep clean throughout the house. I'm always searching for the best spring cleaning tips and hacks at this time of year. This year I decided to gather the best ideas, many that I practice myself, and bring you some top-notch tips and cleaning hacks to make the job easier, safer and sure to provide a great end result. Who doesn't love a sparkling clean home?

ECO FRIENDLY CLEANING WITH NATURAL INGREDIENTS

Store bought cleaners work well, and I do have my favourites on hand most of the time. However, I'm really enjoying some awesome homemade cleaning products that give me cost-effective solutions to a lot of my dirt and grime. I tried a store bought product recommended by a neighbour on our windows last year. It left so many streaks and a nasty film that I'm still working at removing it. This led me to search for something tried and true, homemade like what my grandma and mom tended to use, and most importantly, that does the job!

HOMEMADE HOUSE CLEANING PRODUCTS

Here’s a short list of some great natural ingredient cleaners that you can make at home, often with ingredients you already have around the house, and for a fraction of the cost! They’re almost always gentle on your skin and can be used on multiple surfaces.

These cost-effective solutions will save money without skimping on effectiveness. You can clean smart and spend less at the same time.

DISCLAIMER: Always test Hydrogen Peroxide on a small unseen area to be sure your surface is colour safe.

SPRING CLEANING SAFETY

It’s a good idea to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.
Be sure to label all of these wonderful homemade cleaners and keep them in a safe place away from little ones and pets.
Always have good ventilation when handling cleaning products, especially for these deep clean days.

GET THE TUNES ON!

Spring cleaning isn’t the most fun job in the world. It’s a lot of hard work, but oh so worth it when you get to enjoy the end results. To help you get through the task at hand, try putting on some fun, upbeat music to keep energized and working efficiently. And who doesn’t like to dance with the floor mop when no ones looking?

WHERE TO START YOUR CLEANING

A good rule to follow is to start at the top and work your way down. The idea is to have the dust and dirt fall so it gets caught on the next sweep. Using your all purpose cleaner, dust and wipe things down with a rag.

Start with ceiling fans and ceiling light fixtures.
Move down to shelves.
Wipe down trim and baseboards - a good hack is to use dryer sheets for dusting baseboards - said to leave a dust repellant layer.
Cleaning your windows might be a job done on a separate day.
Finish with floors. Now is the time to move your furniture, sweep under rugs, and mop the floors with a mixture of hot water and your homemade cleaner. Give your carpets a good clean, again, using your homemade cleaners.

DETAILED SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST:

Declutter your space.
Dust all your surfaces.
Clean glass and windows.
Move to kitchen and bathrooms - baking soda and vinegar are a good deep cleaner to get at any mold or mildew.
A good oven cleaner - Remove any big chunks. Spray a 1:1 or 1:2 mixture of Thieves concentrated cleaner. Give it a good spray, let sit overnight, and scrub it good in the morning.
Wipe down light switches, door knobs, cabinetry and handles, remote controls.
Take down light fixture globes and wash throughly.
Finish with floors - wood floors should get some warm water and a bit of dish soap, and for tiles get your vinegar and water mixture. Don’t forget to dry as a last step so you don’t damage the floor or leave any water spots.

This process will help keep you on track. Remember, it doesn’t all get done in one day. Make your own list(s) and break the jobs into manageable chunks that have you doing different areas of your home on different days.

When you’re going through the process, don’t forget to clean your appliances, as well as behind them. Pull out the oven, the fridge, the washer and dryer and clean them and behind them. No doubt you’ll find some little treasure you’ve been missing.

ORDER OF PROCESS FOR CLEANING YOUR HOME

DECLUTTERING TIPS
It’s time to be ruthless in your purging decisions. If you haven’t used it in a year, generally it’s safe to let it go. Systematically go through each room and sort your items. We all know this - make three piles; things to keep things to donate things to toss. Honestly, this sets the stage for easy cleaning and makes your feel pretty great too.

ORGANIZE
Follow up with organizing, which is key to any good spring leaning job. Use baskets, clear bins, organizers of any form that appeal to you, and label everything. You’ll save so much time when you go looking for things and your space will be nice and tidy.

Here’s a list of some great natural cleaners that you can make at home, often with ingredients you already have around the house, for a fraction of the cost! They’re almost always gentle on your skin and can be used on multiple surfaces.

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER RECIPES

1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon lemon or a few drops of your favourite essential oil for scent

This one works almost anywhere!

1/4 cup rubbing alcohol

Put in a spray bottle and use with your squeegee or microfibre cloth

(I haven’t tried this one myself, but it sounds pretty great with the rubbing alcohol in the mix.)

DIY WINDOW CLEANERS

Equal parts vinegar and water
A little dish soap to cut grease if needed

Warm water
A squirt of Dawn dish soap

2 cups water
1/2 cup white vinegar

Pour into a spray bottle and you’re set to go. Paper towels work pretty well, but don’t forget to try old newspapers. Better yet, a good quality flat weave micro fibre cloth assigned just for windows cleaning works like a charm.

DOG PEE STAINS IN CARPET

Hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle!
Soak the stain and let it sit for about 10 to 15 minutes
Finish with a clean rag

CARPET CLEANER

1 teaspoon Dawn dish soap
1 cup warm water

DEEP CLEAN CARPET SOLUTION

Rug cleaning machines are a great help for this time of year. This deep cleaning mixture is safe to use in your rug cleaning machine.

3/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons dish soap - I always use Dawn
5 drops of essential oil
2 tablespoons of liquid fabric softener
1 gallon of hot water

You’re good to go!

BATHROOM SHOWER STALL/TUB - SPRAY AND GO CLEANER

This is one of my very favourite cleaners. It’s great to use after every shower to keep things fresh and clean. There’s no scrubbing or squeegee needed. Just spray it on and leave it. In a large container mix:

4 ounces hydrogen peroxide
4 ounces rubbing alcohol
3 cups warm water
2 teaspoons Dawn dish soap

Transfer to a spray bottle, gently shake and spray your shower after each use. It really does dry on it’s own, leaving everything sparkling clean and smelling fresh between more thorough cleanings.

WALLS AND CEILINGS

Our walls and ceilings get pretty grimy over a year. Microfibre cloths are wonderful things. Dampen and wipe down the walls and any marks on the ceiling. It’s always a good time to assess whether things need a fresh coat of paint as well.

DIY DRY ERASER for those more stubborn spots:

Mix a bit of baking soda on a damp cloth
Work it in circles
Rinse well with clean water
Do a final wipe with a clean, dry cloth to avoid watermarks

REMOVE PET HAIR FROM UPHOLSTERY AND CARPETS

Use a little squeegee and the hair comes up easy/peasy.

HOMEMADE FURNITURE POLISH

Try some olive oil mixed with a little lemon juice. This makes a great natural wood furniture polish. Be sure to test it in a hidden spot first.

WRAPPING THINGS UP

I hope you try some of these best spring cleaning tips and hacks at your house. I'm gearing up and will be starting soon.

Open your windows on a nice, sunny spring day, and enjoy a fresh, clean space after all your hard work is done!

Jill Carty Designs Blog Posts

Spring Cleaning Hacks & Tips