Spring Cleaning 101: What to Tackle Yourself and What to Leave to the Pros
Is that a blue sky we spy? With spring officially here, we’re hoping the weather will get the memo soon! But with or without sunshine and rising temperatures, spring is hands-down the best time of year to get your cleaning on.
From decluttering the knicks and knacks that have accumulated over the winter months (we’re looking at you, Christmas decorations) to resealing grout and scrubbing those baseboards, there’s plenty to keep you busy all spring long.
Feeling overwhelmed yet? Don’t! We’ve broken down the spring cleaning tasks to tackle yourself and those best left to the professionals – plus we’ve got a few suggestions on how to get your springiest clean yet.
Spring Cleaning: You Got This
Some tasks are just better handled yourself. Here’s what to tackle:
Decluttering: Decluttering might be the foundational task of spring cleaning. After all, no one’s deep cleaning anything that’s brimming with who-knows-what. Plus, only you will know what to keep and what to toss (pro tip: if you have to question it, go ahead and toss it).
Decluttering will make your deep clean that much easier, so before you don your rubber gloves and Not Paper Towels, grab those donation boxes and get to work.
Tip: Many thrift stores and donation centers provide free pickup services, so you won’t be living with those boxes in your car for the next year (or whenever you finally make it to the donation place).
Dusting/De-griming: When we say “do it yourself,” we definitely mean assign the kids to do it. That’s because cleaning surfaces around the house is something literally anyone can do – and if you have kids, you’ve got an army of dusters at your disposal. Break up the work by room or by surface type, but always include shelves, tables, countertops, baseboards, windowsills, furniture, door and window casings and (if you’re feeling ambitious) light fixtures and ceiling fans.
Pro Tip: Our Not Paper Towels are the perfect way to pick up grime and polish surfaces while keeping things sustainable.
Washing Windows: You can spend a whole lot of moolah hiring window washers, but if you’ve got a ladder, a bucket and a squeegee, there’s no reason not to tackle this yourself – and with the wet, icy weather we’ve seen around the U.S., we’re guessing your windows are begging for it.
Start by popping those screens out and giving them a good rinse on the grass with a hose before letting them air dry completely. In the meantime, polish those windows til they shine, inside and out, with a mild cleaning solution and a soft cloth or squeegee. Keep in mind that if you have very high windows or feel unsafe on a ladder, you may want to hire a pro for the higher windows.
Pro Tip: Our Bar Towels are the perfect size and fabrication to make those windows shine!
Floors: While you might consider hiring a pro to deep clean wood or stone in your home, you can get the ball rolling by prepping your floors with a thorough dusting and cleaning. If you’re like us, you’re constantly vacuuming or sweeping debris from your floors, but in the spirit of deep cleaning, move all your furniture out of the way so you can get down and (hopefully less) dirty.
Spring Cleaning: Leave it to the Pros
Carpet Cleaning: While you can vacuum your carpets on your own – and you can even rent or buy a carpet shampooer – getting them professionally cleaned is almost always the better option. Professional carpet cleaners use specialized equipment and cleaning solutions to remove dirt, stains, and odors from your carpets. Often, they can clean using just water or other non-toxic ingredients to make sure your clean floors are something you can feel good about all year long.
Upholstery Cleaning: If you’re like us, your furniture takes a beating every year. Give it a face lift this spring by having is professionally cleaned. Since different fabrications and leathers require different types of care, it’s important to have a pro take the lead if your goal is to enhance and extend the life of your pieces. What’s more, professional upholstery cleaners are trained in removing ground-in dirt and allergens that can help keep your family healthier as allergy season commences.
Air Duct Cleaning: Say what? If it’s been a while since your air ducts have been cleaned, don’t take a deep breath – it might be full of allergens or other harmful particles! Over time, your air ducts accumulate dust, dirt, and other allergens, which can affect the air quality in your home.
Professional air duct cleaners use specialized equipment to remove these from your home and keep your air clean – and your peace of mind intact.
Pressure Washing: Winter weather does a number on your home’s exterior. A pressure washer can safely remove built-up dirt and grime without damaging your siding, stucco or other exterior materials. But don’t stop at the walls; pressure washing can be effective on decks and driveways and patios too.
There ain’t no clean like a spring clean, but don’t feel like you need to go it alone! By tackling the tasks you can complete easily and effectively and saving the rest for the pros, your home is sure to be cleaner and healthier with a whole lot less stress involved.
