No matter how hard you try, there are nine spring cleaning tasks that homeowners overlook because you’re blind to what you see and use every day in your own home. Summer is almost here and the school year is about to end, but is your home ready for the next few months? Before you say yes, check to see if you missed any of these tasks:
#1 Clean and Inspect Your Vacuum
While most people worry about their vacuum getting jammed up with fibers, a dirty vacuum is more likely to emit odors. So, sprinkle baking soda into the bag (or container) to absorb odors.
Now, as I just mentioned about jamming up with fibers, pull debris from the vacuum’s brushes and wipe out the underside as much as you can.
#2 Clean the Undersides of Surfaces
The bottoms and underside edges of dining tables, kitchen countertops, and high-chair trays can get pretty sticky. And definitely make sure you clean under the hood when wiping down your stove. In fact, let’s make that its own category.
#3 Clean the Crevices in Kitchen Appliances
Even if you wipe your appliances daily, gunk and crumbs can hide in nooks and crannies — like behind the knobs and under the grill on the range, and cracks around your dishwasher buttons. You shouldn’t need more than some baking soda and soapy water — along with an old toothbrush to reach into crevices — to banish the eww factor.
#4 Pitch Outdated Pantry Staples
Basics like flour, vinegar, and sauces that are past their expiration date lose flavor, and anything containing oil, like nuts, can go rancid. To bring a bigger bang to your recipes, also replace any dried spices that have been open longer than a year. Going forward, you can buy smaller portions where bulk spices are sold, so you always have a fresh supply.
#5 Dispose of Dried-Out Paints, Adhesives, Etc.
Give your neighborhood a good Google to find out where you can dispose of dried-out cans of adhesives, varnishes, paints, and finishes clogging up your storage space. In Houston, you can just click here.
#6 Give Houseplants a Shower (and Clean the Spots Where They Live)
Take all your plants outside for a nice cleansing shower on a drizzly day. Then inside, tackle the spots where they live: the floor, shelf, countertop. Clean the walls and baseboards, too. And check for water damage. A cracked pot or chronic overwatering can allow moisture and dirt to leach out.
#7 Sanitize Trash Cans
Is this a spring cleaning task? Honestly, you should be doing this all year.
#8 Disinfect Door Knobs and Light Switches
In our quest to clean the deepest crevices of our homes, many of us forget the stuff right under our fingertips all day long. Literally. Light switches, door knobs, cabinet handles, and remotes are some of the germiest places in your house. You almost can’t clean them enough.
#9 Wash Grocery Totes
Post-Covid, you may have been doing this already. But if you don’t know when the last time you cleaned your reusable grocery bags was, do that TODAY! Studies have found bacteria easily moves from your bags to your fridge, countertops, etc. — increasing the chances of food poisoning and cross-contamination. Throw them in the washer or wash by hand with hot, soapy water.
Spring cleaning tasks aren't just for inside your home. Don't forget to do the outside too!