Spring Cleaning Tips (from the girl who hates to clean)

I hate cleaning. I’m really not great at it. Growing up, my room was always a complete disaster. Like tornado style. Just ask my close friends. Now as I’ve grown older, I realize how much I love having a clean house to call my own. But… I still can hate the process.

With the warm weather arriving here in Illinois, it has me thinking all about spring cleaning. I’m going to share my tips and tricks here, not because I’m a clean freak pro by any means. But I feel like if I can handle this, you can too.

1. Declutter your life. Do you need it? Does it bring you joy?  Does it bring joy to someone else in your home?  If you answered no to all, then get rid of it. If you answered yes to any one of these questions, find a place for it. If it doesn’t have a place, and you can’t find one to dedicate to it, then bye. I know this sounds so much simpler than it actually is, but I promise this is great advice to live by. When you remove all the extra noise from your living space, you can truly appreciate everything you love around you. Make it your mission to sort and organize this spring.

2. Clean out the fridge. This is a space in your home that you’re using at least once (if not MORE) each day. Why not make it more organized? When we first moved into our house, I realized that I really had no idea how to determine what went where. You know you’re adulting when you google ‘how to organize your fridge’. So here’s what I’ve learned…

• Condiments in the doors since this area is the least cold
• Leftovers, drinks, herbs and easy-grab items in the top shelves
• Dairy, meat and eggs in the bottom shelves
• Place fruits and veggies in separate drawers. Veggies should be at high humidity to keep them crisp and fresh. Fruits at low humidity to keep them from spoiling too quickly.
• Don’t store wine, bread or produce on top of your fridge or it will spoil due to the heat released from the refrigerator.

If you’re like me, you probably aren’t quite sure the shelf life of many of the items currently in your fridge.  Here’s a great printable chart to reference which breaks down expiration dates for both the fridge and freezer.

3. Give your microwave some love. I don’t know about you guys… but my poor microwave gets pretty beat up. I’m not the best cook in the world, so I’m constantly warming up leftovers and such. (I’m working on getting better 🙂 This has to be one of my favorite Pinterest tips…

1.  To get your microwave squeaky clean combine 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of water in a microwave safe bowl.
2. Microwave on high for 5 minutes, then carefully remove the bowl. It will be very hot!
3. Wipe down using a paper towel and voilà… cleaning made simple!
4. OPTIONAL: Then if you’re feeling super ambitious, you can use this remaining liquid to clean your shower. Just add 3 big squirts of blue Dawn dish soap.
5. Then pour it down the walls of your shower and splash it all over a bit.  Let sit for a few minutes.
6. Then turn on your shower, and let it run on hot for a few more minutes.
7. Then wipe down… soap scum doesn’t come off any easier than this.

***Now, if you’re not a big fan of a strong vinegar smell, I would recommend adding a few drops of essential oil to tone it down a bit. Personally, I don’t mind the smell, but I know it can be a little strong for some.

4.  Keep your closet in check.  I may not be a clean freak, but for as long as I can remember, I have color-coded my closet. The toughest part is getting it started… but once you do, you just have to maintain it every time you put your laundry away.  It will change your life and make getting ready in the morning so much easier.

Another closet tip I have is that whenever you go out and buy something new, you must eliminate one item.  If your closet becomes too packed, you lose sight of what you actually have.

5. Wipe it all down.  Even though you may think that spring is here, and we’re all in the clear, the flu is still running rampant.  Sick… literally.  Keeping everything wiped down and tidy can only help to keep it from spreading in your own home.  In true Spring Cleaning fashion, I’m planning to wipe down all door handles, cabinets and trim next weekend.  I also heard about a fun tip that I’m going to test out… you can repel dust and pet hair from baseboards by wiping them with a dryer sheet.  I’ll keep you posted if this is a success or Pinterest fail.

So I want to know…. what are some of your best tips when it comes Spring Cleaning? Do you have any life hacks worth sharing? Let me know in the comments below.  I’d love to hear from you.

xo,

lauren

P.S.  If you haven’t entered already, you’ll want to head over to my Instagram page @theholtzhouse where I’m hosting my very first giveaway.  If you’re in the mood to get springy, I’ve got two adorable Easter mugs by Magenta up for grabs.  But hurry up, the contest runs through Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at 7 p.m. CST.

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