Spring has finally made its appearance! Warm air and sunshine always bring with it that itch to clean and organize. No? Just me? Ha! Well, I’m gonna get you in the mood to make your house shine after you put to use some of these Spring Cleaning Hacks.
Sometimes the thought of cleaning can be cumbersome. Only because we put it off so long and we know what lies hidden. Like the pile of clothes that don’t fit anymore thrown in the closet or the massive clutter collecting behind that schoolroom door. Ahem Yeah, I’m talking to myself too!
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FINDING TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING
A few years ago I had 3 girls under the age of 4 and this mama was stressed with little to NO TIME to do the daily cleaning let alone the deep Spring Cleaning that always seems to come around when you’re knee deep in diapers.
So I needed a system! I prayed for wisdom so that I could find time to clean my home. Here’s what changed everything! The system went something like Mondays – Kitchen, Tuesdays -Bathrooms, Wednesdays – Bedrooms…etc. Make it something that works around your busy mom life.
Keeping up with this schedule changed my life and kept my house looking good! If you stick to this routine, Spring cleaning isn’t such a huge chore. Half the battle is already won.
Kids can help too! Giving them chores grows responsible adults. Check out my Bless Our Home Chore Chart complete with a specific chore guide per age.
All you need is a little motivation and a few cleaning hacks to get your home looking and feeling fabulous.
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” – Ecclesiastes 9:10
SPRING CLEANING HACKS FOR THE BUSY MOM
DECLUTTER AND PURGE THE CLOSETS
Decluttering and purging all the closets and hidden clutter areas can be so freeing! We don’t need all this stuff! Sister friend, you are done having babies, so why do you still have a crib sheet set? Repurpose it or give it to someone who can use it. And all those clothes from 1996 that you have been hoping to fit back into, um…just…no!
Okay, let’s just say you do lose all the weight, and you totally can! I’ve recently lost 28 pounds on the Keto diet and could totally rock some stonewashed jeans, but I probably shouldn’t. Yes, I know all the 90s styles are back, like scrunchies and Birkenstocks, but let’s just leave that decade where it belongs – in the past. Out with the old in with the new! You worked hard now go buy yourself something pretty!
CLOSET SPRING CLEANING HACK #1
Try the reverse hanger trick, put all your clothes hangers backward. When you wear something, put it away with the hanger the normal way. Go through your closet in 6 months to a year and clear out what you haven’t worn.
CLOSET SPRING CLEANING HACK #2
Get 3 boxes and a trash bag. Label the boxes – put away, donate, and storage. Everything has to have a place, no excuses. When you have cleared all the clutter put everything where it belongs.
CLOSET SPRING CLEANING HACK #3
Sheet sets – Find each piece to all of your sheet sets, fold them all and put the whole set in one of its matching pillowcases. Keep only what you need. I have 2 sets per bed in my house, so I always have a clean set when washing bedding. Anything else can be repurposed for painting or cleaning projects, so put them in storage.
DEEP CLEANING THE APPLIANCES
Oh, if my kitchen could talk she would probably have a few choice words for me in years past. Ha! I used to think, well it’s a dishwasher so it cleans itself right? I mean, every time I wash a load, the dishwasher gets clean too? Doesn’t it?
Nope, it actually collects gook and builds deposits that land on your “clean” dishes. EEK!
And if you can’t see it, it’s clean right? Like behind, on top of or beside the fridge? I’m sorry, but no to this one too. Outta sight, outta mind doesn’t work when it comes to Spring cleaning. It’s time to pull everything out and clean all the dirt, dust & fish crackers that collect and build up in the shadows of your kitchen.
APPLIANCE SPRING CLEANING HACK #1
Dishwasher Start with an empty dishwasher. Remove the bottom rack and clean around the drain, remove any filter and rinse, check the spinning arms, and clear holes of debris or buildup.
Next, place a cup of white vinegar on the bottom rack and a half cup of baking soda in another small container on the top rack. Run it through a cycle and let the baking soda and vinegar work its super-cleaning, germ killing, build-up breaking magic.
Then, once the dishwasher cycle has completed, let it sit closed for 20 minutes and continue to steam clean. When the timer goes off, wipe the inside with a soft sponge or paper towel.
APPLIANCE SPRING CLEANING HACK #2
Microwave Fill a microwave safe bowl with 1 cup of water, 1 Tbsp of white vinegar and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Leave it closed for 5 minutes longer and let the steam continue to work. Then wipe it clean.
APPLIANCE SPRING CLEANING HACK #3
Front Loading Washer Clean out any debris or hair that you can see around the opening of your washer. Mix together 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of baking soda add this where you would normally put the laundry detergent. Next, pour 2 cups of vinegar in the drum.
Run your washer through a hot, normal cycle. After it is complete, use a clean scrubber sponge to wipe around the opening, removing all the mold and stubborn residue.
SPRING CLEANING THE CARPETS
Over the winter, carpets can get really dirty. Even if you’ve adopted the “no shoes in the house” rule. With kids, pets, and life still happening, you are bound to get spills, stains, and slime accidents eye roll all the time.
Cleaning the carpets a couple times a year helps to keep permanent stains and troublesome germs at a minimum. And for all of you Rochester, NY moms I’ve heard good things about Belview Floorcare!
Whenever you are working with carpet you ALWAYS want to test a spot that is hidden to make sure it won’t take the color out of your carpet. So be careful!
CARPET SPRING CLEANING HACK #1
Kick butt DIY spot & stain removers are a must for problem areas. Trial and error is your friend when it comes to carpet and the types of stains that accumulate.
- Hydrogen Peroxide & Lemon Essential Oil – Use the dark colored bottle that the peroxide comes in. Make sure it is 1/3 full of peroxide and add 5 drops of Lemon oil and shake lightly. Apply to the carpet and let sit for a minute or so and then scrub until clean. Finally, use a rag to blot out any moisture.
- White Vinegar, Water & a Hot Iron – Add 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water in a spray bottle and shake lightly (1/4 cup vinegar – 3/4 cup water). Spray generously over the entire stain. Next, place a clean, white terry cloth towel on top of the stain. Turn the hot iron to the highest steam setting possible and run it over the stain a few times moving the towel around to a clean area and repeating until the stain is gone.
CARPET SPRING CLEANING HACK #2
DIY carpet cleaning detergent – If you have a carpet cleaner, but don’t want to buy the overpriced cleaning solution, make your own! Mix together in a container, 1/4 cup Fabuloso Cleaner, 1 Tablespoon Oxyclean and 1 teaspoon Fabric Softer and 1 cup of hot water. Wait until the Oxyclean is completely dissolved. Pour the mixture into a gallon jug and then fill 2/3rd of the way with more water. Add a teaspoon Dawn dish soap and then fill the rest with water.
Add 1/4 cup of the concentrated carpet cleaner mix to the hot water tank before filling up the water.
CARPET SPRING CLEANING HACK #3
DIY Carpet Deodorizing Sprinkle – Upcycle any shaker container like parmesan cheese, seasoning salt etc. Make sure it is clean and dry. Add 1 cup of Baking Soda and then 10 drops of your favorite essential oil. I like to use a mix of peppermint, lemon, lavender (helps with allergies) or purify , which is great for eliminating odors and repelling insects.
After you add the essential oils top it off with another cup of Baking Soda. Stir with a butter knife or put the lid on and shake vigorously. Sprinkle on the carpets and let sit for at least 20 minutes or even overnight and then vacuum.
GIVE YOURSELF GRACE WHEN IT COMES TO SPRING CLEANING
You don’t have to put on your red cape and be super-mama to get spring cleaning done. Just add one room a week to your list and power through! Remember that sometimes the best way to make it easier to keep your home clean is to make sure you have the right materials – wood ceiling planks are easier to clean, for instance. Bring in the hubby or kiddos to help you tackle some of the bigger jobs and don’t sweat the small stuff. Pick an area and begin. You will feel so much better with the littlest cleaning job complete.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPRING CLEANING HACKS TO SHARE WITH US BUSY MOMS?
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Forest Rose is a God Loving, Blessed Wife, & Mama to 3 girls. She’s passionate about lifting moms out of the trenches that are discouraged, overwhelmed, or feeling alone or isolated. Her hope is to point them to Christ and equip them to rise up with a newfound hope and joy within, that He alone can provide. Besides blogging, she also loves to create printables!
Such a great post. I liked your idea of having a weekly cleaning schedule tackling a specific room each day. This will definitely help me stay organized and follow a cleaning schedule.
Those spring cleaning hacks are awesome, some of which I can incorporate in my daily cleaning schedule. I also loved all the natural cleaner recipe you have shared with each hack.
Thank you so much for these tips! I really appreciate how you gave three different suggestions for each activity. I might know what I need to clean, but not necessarily the best way to do it.
These are such great ideas! Awesome post! Pinning to H2oBungalow!!