4 Spring Cleaning Tips to Refresh Your Home
Spring cleaning is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Even if you’re not a neat freak, throwing open your windows, getting rid of old junk, and scrubbing away winter mud and salt for good can contribute to that sense of freshness we associate with spring. This year, why not do a bit of deep cleaning? With a few nifty gadgets, your home can look and smell like new again. We’ve compiled a list of 4 spring cleaning tips to help you get started. All of the gadgets we’ve suggested come from Target, where you can use our Target promo codes to save a bundle on your spring cleaning crusade.
Deep Clean Your Carpets
We all know to vacuum our carpets at least a couple times a week, but how many of us know to shampoo them as well? Vacuuming picks up only surface dirt. Deep-cleaning your carpets with water and soap picks up dirt and all sorts of other gunk that accumulates deep within the carpet over time. Your carpet will not only look brand new; it’ll also be softer to the touch, and make your home smell so much better. After all, your carpet is the most absorbent item in your home.
You can hire professional carpet cleaners, who charge by the square foot, or save a good chunk of change and invest in a personal carpet shampooer. The Bissell ProHeat Deep Cleaner ($139.99) is one of the more reasonably priced models on the market today. It’s large enough to easily clean any size room, and the shampoo it comes with contains Febreeze for added freshness. All you have to do is fill the tank with warm water and shampoo, then use it like a normal vacuum cleaner. Just be sure to let the carpet dry before you walk on it!
You only need to shampoo your carpets twice a year. But you can keep them looking fresh with frequent vacuuming, so dirt doesn’t accumulate. When you don’t feel like lugging out the big vacuum, keep a small cordless model like the Eureka Quick Up Cordless Vacuum ($34.99) handy. It’s light and cordless, so you can zoom around the house in no time.
Deodorize Your Rooms
Deodorizing is one of those spring cleaning tips that’s often overlooked. Most people think you can open a window or light a candle and call it a day. But those are just temporary fixes. True deodorizing involves constantly trapping and eliminating odors.
Install an electric deodorizer in high-use rooms like the living room or bedrooms. Even something small like this Hamilton Beach Plug-In Odor Eliminator ($18.99) that plugs into an outlet can keep your home smelling fresh 24/7. Instead of masking smells with an artificial scent, this deodorizer works by filtering air through a carbon filter, which traps the particles that create odor.
Also consider investing in a heavy-duty trashcan. Trash cans are the number one cause of household odor, so if you really want to crack down on stinky smells, buy one that’ll help you out. You can’t get any better than the iTouchless 13-Gallon Deodorizer Trash Can ($81.99). With thick, stainless steel walls, a tight-fitting lid, and a built-in carbon filter, there’s no way odor can escape this trash can. And
at 13 gallons, it’s big enough to handle even the largest family’s trash. As an added bonus: Its high capacity and odor-trapping properties mean you’ll be taking out the garbage much less often.
De-mildew Your Bathroom
Mildew thrives in any warm, wet environment. So it’s no surprise that it’s a constant problem in bathrooms. Wiping down the bathtub and tiles after a shower or soak is an everyday solution. It’ll prevent mildew from growing in the grout around your bathroom, which will save you a lot of time in the long run. But it doesn’t solve the problem entirely. Both your shower curtain and your bathmat are also breeding grounds for mildew.
It would be unreasonable to throw your shower curtain and bathmat into the dryer every time someone took a shower. The secret to keeping your shower curtain milew-free is to pair it with a shower liner. A shower liner is a thin sheet of plastic that keeps moisture away from your shower curtain. Simply attach it behind your shower curtain using the same rod and rings. There’s no reason to spend a lot of money on a liner, especially since they should be replaced at least once a year. AMedium-Weight Shower Liner ($5.79) from Target’s home brand Threshold will do.
As for your bathmat, you should wash and dry it at least once a month. If you suspect that your current mat is beyond redemption, splurge on a high-quality one like this Fieldcrest Luxury Bath Runner ($39.99). This bath runner is made out of microfiber, which is famous for its ability to quickly absorb moisture, meaning it will dry faster. It’s pretty soft on the feet, too. Plus, investing in a bath runner, instead of your standard mat, allows you more room to distribute water, which also leads to faster drying.
De-Clutter Your Closets
Never underestimate the peace of mind that comes with a clean closet. Cleaning our your closet not only allows more room for your new spring wardrobe. It also lets you clean in the nooks and crannies that are usually occupied by clothes or shoes.
First, one of those universal spring cleaning tips: Decide what stays and what goes. If you haven’t worn an item for at least a year, throw it away or donate. With everything that’s left, determine whether you’ll wear it in the next 6 months. If not, pack it away in a storage box. This set of 4 Sterilite Clip Boxes ($11.99) are ideal because they’re air-tight, meaning your clothes will stay fresh while stored away. Store these boxes in a storage unit or in the attic. With their heavy duty plastic, you don’t have to worry about any bugs or water getting into them.
You should be left with only the clothes, shoes, and accessories you plan on wearing in the near future. Hang as many clothes as you can on hangers, and put the rest on the shelves. Ultimately, you
don’t want anything on the floor, even your shoes. Buy a hanging organizer like this 10-Pocket Hanging Shoe Organizer ($9.89), which you can use to store shoes and/or accessories. Keeping things off the floor makes them easier to find, and also keeps dirt and dust at bay. It’s easier to vacuum a bare floor than a cluttered one!
This year’s spring cleaning can be made easy with the right equipment. Our spring cleaning tips show that choosing the right products can make your home fresher in ways you never realized before. Target is already known for its great bargains. But our Target promo codes can help you out, too. Just remember to type them in before checkout.