Spring Cleaning Must-Haves

I felt a bit of Imposter Syndrome rising in me as I typed the title of this blog post. Currently, my home looks as if a bomb filled with Easter grass, dirty socks, and ketchup just exploded inside. That doesn’t change the fact that I know how to make a place sparkle. I’ve run my own cleaning business for the past two years and I have seen all kinds of things. Through some trial and error, I have found some products and hacks that maybe you can use to make that inevitable deep cleaning a little easier. (I don’t sell any of these products and I am not sponsored either!)

I’m a big fan of anything you can toss in the wash and reuse time and again because it saves me money in the long run and it is better for the environment than disposable products. I try to incorporate as many reusable items as I can into my arsenal.

Let’s start from the top!

When you clean a space, it is best to start from the top and work your way down, so you don’t have to waste time cleaning a surface more than once. If you clean the counter tops in the kitchen, but then dust your light fixtures, all those dust bunnies come floating right back down to settle on your shiny counter. Then you have to do it again. But this time you will do it with rage. Don’t ask me how I know. 

To easily clean fan blades, especially if you have high ceilings, I recommend grabbing one of these washable ceiling and fan duster tools from Amazon. It will keep you from climbing ladders and swiping dust into your face. This is also great if you have popcorn ceilings since they tend to trap dust in the bumps. 

One of my favorite cleaning tools EVER is the Norwex window cloth. It literally cleans your glass with just water. No ammonia fumes taking your breath away and no streaks! I keep a spray bottle full of just water and you can use it on all your mirrors, windows, and even shower doors! I am a frugal person, so it took me a while to bite the bullet on this cloth, but I promise it is worth it! You can order online, but I recommend buying one directly from a Norwex representative in your area so you can help a fellow mama build her business.

Grab a couple of these glass spray bottles so you can mix your own cleaning products. I put Murphy’s Oil wood soap and water in one to safely clean and condition wood, especially on kitchen cabinets. In another, I put Dawn dish soap, a little vinegar, and super hot water. This is a miracle combination! You can use this in your bathtub and it will save you so much scrubbing. If you’re worried about the smell of vinegar in your home, don’t be! It is a natural deodorizer and that vinegar smell will disappear pretty quickly and leave your home smelling fresh.

I also use the Dawn, vinegar, and super hot water mix to clean baseboards. I fill my mop bucket with this magic concoction and drag it around with me so I can easily rinse my rag. It cuts through sticky kid messes with minimal effort. Ladies, if you use hairspray in your bathroom you’ve probably noticed how your baseboards get gummy and all the dust attaches to it. This takes care of that problem!

Ditch that Swiffer. They don’t truly clean your floor and the refills are expensive! I have used all kinds of mops, but I have found one that has been my loyal sidekick over the years. The O-Cedar EasyWring is a worthy investment. I bought this kit for $30 and it comes with two washable mop heads. They pop right off and you can just toss them in the washing machine on hot with a little bleach or borax and they’re ready to use again. Plus, it is a spin mop so you get to push the pedal and sling the water out. It is kind of fun, in a strange way.

As you dive in, I want you to remember you are not alone. Housekeeping is the great equalizer; we’re all out here just trying to maintain our sanity as we scrape glitter slime off the wall or try to scrub the smell out of the bathroom left by boys who cannot seem to aim. I hope these tips and products will help you fight the good fight in your home.