Complete Guide to Spring Cleaning Success

What exactly is spring cleaning in relation to general housekeeping? At what point does regular cleaning turn into the seemingly more massive task that is “spring cleaning”?

For me, spring cleaning actually happens a couple of times a year. When we moved to Oakland, I continued the every other week cleaning schedule my former housekeepers in San Diego were on……only this time I’m the one doing the cleaning.

Ugh.

Because I’m no professional, this system works pretty good for a while, but eventually all the places that I sort of loosely wipe down start to really show their dirt build up (screw you shaker style cabinets with your decorative ridge!) It’s at this point when “spring cleaning” commences!

Spring cleaning to me is that week when I actually move the furniture to clean underneath. It’s when I scrub the walls of the shower instead of just cleaning the glass doors and the shower floor. It’s when I use every single vacuum attachment.

It totally sucks, but is totally necessary at the same time.

In San Diego I had the greatest housekeepers ever, and they introduced me to a few things that I swear by and I thought I’d share them here with you all in case you’ve got spring cleaning looming over your head.

***This post contains affiliate links****

Method All Purpose Cleaner

This is my go-to cleaner for everyday use. It’s an environmentally friendly cleaner that works great on most surfaces. Plus, it comes in DELICIOUS scents (I like honey crisp apple the best). This is a great cleaner for most surfaces in your house and is totally pet friendly so I don’t have to worry about the doggies getting sick from it.

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers

Raise your hand if you have a black stove top (*raises hand). These bad boys are clutch in getting off all that baked on, caked on crap that seems like it’s going to be there forever.

The magic doesn’t end there. These might be the greatest cleaning product ever made. If you have something you can’t seem to get clean, try a magic eraser. I bet it will work.

Don’t forget they also:

Clean your white sneakers

Remove all that baked on cleaning product from your flat iron

Cut straight through that grease on your oven glass

I also use mine on my white doors and door frames, baseboards and cabinet fronts.

Sprayway Glass Cleaner

This was the only product my San Diego housekeepers asked us to keep on hand. They brought their own stuff otherwise. This stuff is AMAZING. If you have a glass enclosed shower like we do, this stuff will take off EVERYTHING and create a totally streak free shine with minimal effort.

Spray on. Wipe off. That’s it. Perfectly crystal clear glass.

Simple Green Stainless Steel Cleaner

I know stainless steel appliances are all the rage on HGTV but I’m kind of over mine. Why are they so hard to clean?! Why do they smudge so easily?! I really don’t think of the outside of a fridge something that needs constant cleaning, but guess what! It does.

We use simple green because of it’s non toxic-ness for the dogs, but I’ve read that other people use vinegar or even baby oil.

BarKeepers Friend

Oh hey barkeepers friend! Maybe, possibly, my actual best friend. Ok, best CLEANING friend. I’m not desperate enough to declare a cleaning product my best friend…..yet.

This stuff still requires a bit of elbow grease for use, but wow does it ever clean my cookware with ZERO scratching. If you ever get cheese or grease baked on, this will get it off. Pinky promise.

Not only that but it also gets stains off my white quartz countertops that are supposed to be stain resistant. Hard lesson learned: coffee will stain anything, so get yourself some barkeepers friend if you’re planning to drink coffee in your fancy white kitchen.

Barkeepers friend will also remove rust from almost anything so if you’ve abused some metal objects that you’ve since dubbed “ruined”, try barkeepers friend before throwing them out.

Method Wood Floor Cleaner

I have two dogs. They are gross. They run around outside in the mud and who knows what and then they walk around the house on our wood floors. I am also guilty of being barefoot outdoors quite a bit and probably track in all kinds of grossness.

I mop the wood floors in our house every other week but once spring cleaning rolls around, I actually move the furniture and mop under that too. Once again, pet-friendly method cleaner to the rescue. Instead of a nasty mop, I bought a mop handle with a clamp at the end and roll up a couple microfiber cleaning rags in the end to mop with. Then I can throw the whole mess in the wash when I’m done.

Oxiclean 

Oxiclean is a great alternative to bleach. Don’t get me wrong, I still use bleach for certain jobs (cleaning the kitchen sink is one) but beyond being a laundry hero, Oxiclean is great for mopping tile floors and grout, and for cleaning items like patio furniture. Remember, Oxiclean needs HOT water to truly activate so add a scoop to a bucket of hot water and get to scrubbing.

Pro tip: Mix oxiclean and hot water to make a paste. Thickly spread it on those nasty pit stains on your t-shirts. Roll it up to ensure it stays put and wait at least an hour. Wash as normal and pit stains should be gone or greatly diminished!

That’s it! Now we’re all geared up for spring cleaning so let’s get down to business.

Gooooooooooooooooo team!

While you’re at it, don’t forget to

Clean your window tracks

Wash your pillows

Clean your microwave

Buy wine because you deserve a reward when you’re done!