{"id":17459,"date":"2021-03-16T11:44:47","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T15:44:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/?p=17459"},"modified":"2024-04-22T10:22:32","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T14:22:32","slug":"11-tips-for-deep-spring-cleaning-in-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/your-space\/cleaning\/11-tips-for-deep-spring-cleaning-in-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Tips for Deep Spring Cleaning in 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"mom<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Spring\ncleaning comes right on cue this year\u2014so many of us have been hunkered down over\nthe past twelve months and we\u2019re beyond<\/em> ready to shake off the cobwebs and\nfling open our doors to a fresh new season. But given all those hours spent\nsheltering in place our homes may need an especially deep scouring right now,\nwith extra attention to the places we might ordinarily overlook. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We talked to cleaning experts\/cleanfluencers, Jessica Haizman<\/a> and Brandon Pleshek @CleanThatUp<\/a> for some tips on creating the ultimate 2021 spring cleaning checklist. It\u2019s likely you already have a basic top to bottom routine for cleaning your home that involves going room by room which is why this is not a cleaning checklist organized in that manner. Instead, it\u2019s a list to help you go beyond the surface\u2014or at least the usual surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Don\u2019t Even Think of Decluttering<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pleshek\u2019s\nbig rule of thumb for successful spring cleaning is to avoid doing any\ndecluttering while you clean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m\nspeaking from experience. It’s a big trap you can easily fall into, going down\nall these rabbit holes in every room while you\u2019re supposed to be cleaning,\u201d he\nsays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why risk\noverwhelm and a half-finished job? Save your organization<\/a> and decluttering<\/a> for another day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Windows, Upholstery, and Rugs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"man<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When you\nthink of spring cleaning, most likely you think of washing windows and beating\nrugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter\nwhat cleaning hacks and trends have come and gone, those old-fashioned staples\nare still key for getting a deep, fresh clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese are\nthe places that get the most traffic and you\u2019d be surprised at the amount of\ndirt that accumulates there,\u201d Haizman says.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haizman,\nfor one, will be spending plenty of time on her couch this year, using\nupholstery cleaner on the couch itself and thoroughly cleaning between and\nunder cushions and beneath it to get at a year\u2019s worth of hanging-around debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThink of your carpet and rugs as the biggest air filter in\nyour home,\u201d Pleshek says. \u201cYou should really do a deep clean on your carpet,\nwhether that’s hiring a professional or doing it with a machine. You\u2019re not\njust cleaning but you\u2019re improving the air quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Inside Jobs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"cleaning<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On your weekly and monthly cleaning routines, you\u2019re getting the countertops and floors. Spring cleaning is the time to tackle the cracks and crevices where crumbs and dust are hiding. We\u2019re talking cabinets, drawers, pantry shelves. Remove all of the contents and use a hand vacuum to get at any loose debris. Then make a solution of 50\/50 vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle and mist, wiping down all surfaces with a soft cloth. If they\u2019re extremely dirty, add a bit of liquid dishwashing detergent to the mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Look Up Top<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve tackled the inside of storage areas it\u2019s time to grab a step stool and look at the top of the cabinets. Out-of-sightline areas are great at collecting dust. The same goes for the fridge, the uppermost surfaces of bookcases, and lighting fixtures. Use the same spray and a clean cloth or an old-fashioned hand duster to reach farther-flung areas. Another trick is to attach a microfiber cloth to a broom with a rubber band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. \u2026And Down Below<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next, you should be crouching down to the areas that time and your vacuum forgot. That means the under-side of chairs and tables\u2014particularly in dining areas, particularly if you have young children. Go deep to get all <\/em>the dust under the bed (another good use for that broom with the microfiber cloth). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pleshek is\na fan of cleaning under the refrigerator which not only removes a truly icky\nlayer of gunk but which will improve the operation of the appliance by opening\nup the airflow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBehind\nthe fridge is an air vent. If you pull the fridge out from the wall and unplug\nit. Remove the vent and vacuum out all the sticky film in there. That will make\nyour fridge run more efficiently,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Think Outside the Frames<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All of the pretty architectural features that make homes distinctive can also be excellent at collecting dust over time. Use a microfiber cloth, Swiffer, or vacuum to attack doorframes, doorjambs, baseboards, chair rails, and any other decorative moldings that might otherwise go ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Clean the Cleaners<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The number\none item on Haizman\u2019s deep house cleaning checklist is appliances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople\ndon’t think of cleaning their appliances. But when the filters in your\ndishwasher and dryer build up, they start to become a huge problem,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Really, she says these are optimally cleaned once a month\nbut if you\u2019re not hitting them regularly once or twice a year is better than\nnothing. Refer to your manufacturer\u2019s instructions for how to best clean these\nbut both should be simple tasks that only take a few moments and don\u2019t require\nany special tools or cleaning products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clean your washing machine using the self-clean function if it has one or simply run an empty cycle using two cups of white vinegar instead of detergent and hot water. Rinse out your mops in hot water and bleach; vacuum then wash brooms in warm water with liquid dish soap; run your sponges through the dishwasher with a heated dry setting. While you\u2019re at it, your trusty vacuum cleaner can always use some care and maintenance.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Get Ready for Your Appliance Glow-Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We consider cleaning out the inside of your refrigerator and freezer\u2014getting rid of old food and condiments and then giving the whole thing a thorough scrub down part of the regular routine, but if you haven\u2019t done that in a while, it\u2019s a spring cleaning must. Give small appliances\u2014coffee maker, stand mixer, microwave, toaster, food processor, and any other well-used items\u2014a thorough cleanse according to manufacturer\u2019s directions. Here are some of our favorite hacks<\/a> for small appliance cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Tend to High Traffic Touchpoints<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"wiping<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During the pandemic, you might have already developed a habit of wiping down countertops and door handles with Lysol. While it\u2019s turned out that these are not the main vectors for COVID-19 spread, keeping these areas disinfected is good household cleaning practices. During spring cleaning, consider adding remote controls, stair rails, and light switches to the list.  That might also include your home computer or home office setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you\u2019ve\nbeen working from home this past year, you\u2019ve been spending a lot of time in\nyour home office. You should clean your computer and keyboard and mouse as you\nare touching those things very frequently,\u201d Haizman says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Other Places You May Be Neglecting<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Truly, there\u2019s no shortage of tasks for a thorough spring cleaning, but here are some other places where long-hidden filth resides: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Lampshades<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Shower curtains<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Trash cans<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Mattresses<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Under the sink<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Shower caddies<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Showerheads <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    \n\nPleshek likes to remind people to pay attention to the backside and around the base of the toilet, areas that tend to get neglected. \n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    11. Air It Out<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The best\npart of the job is being able to open up your windows, a symbolic beginning to\na warmer and brighter season. For Pleshek, who lives in Minnesota, this can\u2019t\nhappen a moment too soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cAs soon\nas you can, open it all up. Get the stale air out, and get some\nfresh air in.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Spring cleaning comes right on cue this year\u2014so many of us have been hunkered down over the past twelve months and we\u2019re beyond ready to shake off the cobwebs and fling open our doors to a fresh new season. But given all those hours spent sheltering in place our homes may need an especially deep […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":17485,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[654,639],"tags":[577],"class_list":["post-17459","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cleaning","category-your-space","tag-spring-cleaning"],"yoast_head":"\r\n11 Tips for Deep Spring Cleaning | CubeSmart Blog<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read through our 11 tips for the best spring clean to go beyond the surface from the cleaning experts Jessica Haizman & Brandon Pleshek from @CleanThatUp.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17459\" \/>\r\n<meta 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