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Cleaning is a chore that can be quite tedious and exhausting. But if you procrastinate on cleaning the house, it will be overwhelming. Spring is the perfect time to deep-clean your home and set yourself up for shorter bursts of cleaning in the future, and here’s how you can deep-clean your entire house in a day.
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We all have a little hoarder inside of us. While you’re cleaning room by room, look through any old and unnecessary papers or mail and decide whether to keep them or throw them away. In the words of Marie Kondo, “Does it spark joy?” Gather everything you don’t want in a box so you can donate or sell it. But be sure to look carefully at everyday items you should have appraised.
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Your bathroom is probably one of the dirtiest places in your home. You want to make sure you clean every nook and cranny, so start off with the toilet. Clean the outside and inside of the bowl with disinfectant to kill any germs.
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Over time, scum and dust will form in your bathroom, so don’t neglect your bathtub or shower when cleaning. Make sure you scrub the bottom and sides of the tub as well as edges that tend to accumulate dirt. Scrub the walls too and give your shower curtains a good wash. Your shower curtains might be among the things you never thought to clean but definitely should.
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You probably ask yourself how often you should change your toothbrush, but perhaps one thing that hasn’t crossed your mind is how dirty your toothbrush holder might be. Your holder can harbor germs without you realizing it. Use hot water and a pipe cleaner to remove all of the hidden grime and toothpaste. Rinse the toothbrush holder with an antibacterial mouthwash and it should be good as new.
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You use a mirror every day to make sure your hair and clothes are in order, but if you stop and look closely, you’ll see that your mirror is probably dusty and needs a quick shine. You can make your own solution using water and white vinegar to have your mirror sparkling like brand new. While you’re at it, know that white vinegar is one of the best natural cleaners for your home.
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Whether you enjoy washing the dishes or feel like it’s the bane of your existence, you don’t want to have plates and pots piled up in your sink because it can clog the drain or make it more difficult to scrub the residue off later. So don’t put off washing the dishes. Turn on your favorite tunes and follow these tips and tricks on hand-washing your dishes.
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After washing dishes, you may not realize that your kitchen sink might be filthy. Once you’re done using it, wipe down all crevices and the faucet with hot water. Disinfecting wipes may be helpful to kill some germs but it would be better to use a disinfectant spray with bleach to remove stubborn stains.
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One way you’re cleaning your house wrong is by not wearing gloves while you’re cleaning. You’re probably going to use harsh chemicals like bleach to disinfect your kitchen, and gloves will protect your skin from being irritated by the chemicals. Your kitchen counter is where most of the cooking and prepping activity will happen and there’s a good chance there may be juices from raw meat or other foods left behind, so be sure to give the surface a good scrub.
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The pantry isn’t something we tend to give enough attention to when cleaning the house, but your cabinets can accumulate dirt. Wipe down your cabinets using a clean wet rag to get rid of the dust and cobwebs. Then after you’re done, try out these easy dishes you can make with pantry staples.
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While cooking some quick and simple dinner dishes, it’s easy for your stove and oven to get stains from oil splashes or baked-on grease. Using an oven cleaner may not be the healthiest choice, so make an all-natural solution using 3 tablespoons baking soda, 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon water. This can help you remove any grime inside the oven and on the stovetop.
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From reheating last night’s leftovers to heating up frozen dinners, your microwave goes through a lot. There are probably little crumbs left on the plate or splatters on the walls from a sauce explosion, but how do you clean your microwave? Place 1 cup water, a lemon slice and a few tablespoons of white vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl. Put the bowl inside the microwave and turn it on high power for a couple of minutes until the solution boils. Then let it cool inside for five minutes without opening the door and finally, you can take the bowl out and wipe down the microwave with a clean sponge.
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It’s important to know how long meat and other foods last in the fridge and freezer before you start to clean out your refrigerator. This is the best time to get rid of that expired milk in the back of the fridge or that old leftover pasta that found its way toward the back of the shelf. Once you remove everything from the fridge and freezer, wipe down all of the shelves, drawers and small crevices with hot soapy water.
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After you take out the trash, make sure you clean and sanitize the can before you put another trash bag inside. Sometimes food and other things can get stuck on the can without you realizing it and germs start to form. You can simply wipe it down with soapy water or create your own natural cleaning solution. And before you start throwing things in the can again, you should probably learn about recycling mistakes you might be making.
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Make the most of spring weather by spring-cleaning your home from top to bottom. Start off by dusting in high places such as the top of a bookshelf or the ceiling fan, then work your way down. This way the dust and grime from above won’t fall on the surfaces you’ve already cleaned.
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You probably don’t think about it, but every time you sit on the couch, it’s collecting dust and dirt. Remove all of the cushions to vacuum any pet hair or popcorn you find in the creases. Don’t forget about sweeping underneath the couch as well. If you have plastic or wooden furniture, use a clean wet cloth to wipe it down. This would be a good time to pad any sharp corners on tables and other household items that can harm your pet.
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Your rugs and carpet attract dust and dirt from your shoes. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean that right up. But make sure you remember to change the vacuum filter because it is an everyday item that could pose a huge health risk.
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After you dust everything in high places, there will surely be more dust that collects on the floor. Sweep every room and make sure you reach for places like underneath the table or couch. If you’re working from home with kids, get them to assist you in cleaning so it keeps them distracted and makes the work easier on you.
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After sweeping all of the dust on the floor, make your kitchen and bathroom floors shine using an all-purpose cleaner. If you put your back into it, you can also use this as an easy workout to do at home or a way to stay active with a busy schedule.
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Grab that dirty pile of clothes that’s been sitting in the corner of your room for a month and tackle some laundry. Be sure to wash other important things such as shower curtains, mats or rugs and your bedsheets. Don’t throw out the dryer sheets once your load is done — they are one of the many household items you can use for another purpose.
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Days go by, then weeks, and before you know it, months, and you still haven’t changed your bedsheets. But how often are you supposed to change your sheets? After a week or two, your sheets are due for a cleaning because sweat, saliva, skin cells and more get trapped in the sheets and pillowcases.
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Have you ever felt like you’re sinking into your mattress? Is it uncomfortable to sleep because you can’t get the right position? It might be time to change up your mattress. Not by buying a new one, but simply by flipping the mattress or rotating it so you don’t feel like you’re sinking in. This change will hopefully make your bedroom better for sleep.
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Much like mirrors, your windows will get dusty. There’s a good chance that your windowsills could also be filled with cobwebs and dead bugs along the tracks. So wipe them down with a wet cloth. Also, make sure to open windows when using chemicals to clean your house, and remember that fresh air is a better method to remove bad scents quickly than using air fresheners.
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If you’re spending more time at home cleaning, you have time to clean places you probably didn’t think about cleaning before. In between your blinds, dust can easily get trapped. Spray your blinds with white vinegar and wipe them down with a cloth.
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Our hands carry germs wherever we go and even if you wash your hands often, if you touch a dirty doorknob, it’s like you never cleaned your hands in the first place. You can use soapy warm water and a cloth to scrub down the knobs and handles on cabinets and your fridge. This is just one of the habits to steal from people who never get sick.
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It’s easy to just toss things on your shelves, turning what was once an organized space into a mess. What better time to reorganize than when you’re cleaning your entire house? Cleaning and sorting the items on your shelves may even be a relaxing mindfulness activity. If you don’t know how to get started, here are some home organizing hacks to simplify your life.
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