Spring is here and it's officially time to clear out the clutter. First, there’s the mental clutter that having extra “stuff” around creates, says Vanessa Garcia, a Los Angeles-based Tasker on Taskrabbit. “Getting rid of things you are holding on to for the ‘just in case’ occasion is a no-go in my book,” says Garcia, who also loves the extra space spring-cleaning creates in clients’ homes. “Instead of things constantly falling on top of each other or behind your pantry or closet,” you can live in a more zen environment, plus, you may save money since “you won’t be buying double or even triple of everything.” “Decluttering and cleaning have many benefits, including mental and physical,” echoes Kristi Lord, co-founder of L’AVANT Collective, a home-cleaning products label based in Seattle. Taking the time to remove items that no longer serve you in your home will go a long way to make spring-cleaning easier each year, adds Lord. Just think, put in a little extra grunt work now, and next year you may be able to breeze through our spring cleaning checklist in half the time. That said, it’s not always easy to get rid of excess clothes and objects you don’t need. For clothes, Garcia says to ask yourself if the item has been worn or used in the past year. If it hasn’t, then it’s time to toss or donate said item. You can apply this same technique to kitchen appliances, linen closet ware, games and any other items taking up precious space in your home. Want more genius strategies to power through your spring-cleaning? Hit that reset button with the best spring cleaning tips and tricks from leading cleaning and organizing experts below. Compile a list of the areas that are often missed before you begin Take stock of the overlooked spaces in your home. This includes nooks and crannies you often skip, like under beds, behind the fridge, inside window tracks and the tops of cabinets, suggests Lacie Nash, co-founder area CEO of Clean Squad in Metro Detroit. Per Nash, having such a list ensures you’re hitting every spot that tends to collect hidden grime. Cleaning these frequently overlooked spaces means your home will feel truly clean when you are finished, leading to an even greater sense of accomplishment. Enhance the air you breathe Nash shares that people often forget about the air they breathe when cleaning. “Indoor air quality is a huge focus in having a truly clean space,” she says. “Replace your HVAC filters and vacuum vents during spring-cleaning to improve your indoor air quality.” Ditto if you have a spiffy air purifier — look up cleaning instructions online and put in a new filter if you’re overdue. Along those lines, Allison Evans, co-Founder of Branch Basics, recommends people open their windows to improve ventilation during spring-cleaning and also use a HEPA filter or air purifier while dusting and vacuuming. “When homes are closed up and poorly ventilated, immune stressors like synthetic fragrances, VOCs, and cleaning chemicals can create a low-level ‘chemical soup’ that continuously pollutes the air,” she says, stressing that improving your home’s air quality is one of the most impactful ways to support your family’s health. Refresh your mattress Nash also notes that mattresses are often neglected throughout the year. “Sprinkle baking soda over the mattress, let it sit for 30 minutes, then vacuum it up,” she says. “For an extra layer of freshness, lightly mist the mattress with [a solution of] water, rubbing alcohol and a few drops of lavender essential oil. It helps kill bacteria and gives your bed a relaxing scent.” For a full breakdown of this task, read our guide on how to clean a mattress, according to pros. Deep clean your dishwasher Over time, food particles, grease, and soap scum can build up — causing odors and even impacting performance. “Start by removing the utensil holder and dish rack,” says Evans, who personally sprays all surfaces with Branch Basics All-Purpose Concentrate cleaner and then scrubs the dishwasher down with a sponge or microcloth before rinsing thoroughly. Pro-tip: Unclog and clean the spray arms, remove and rinse the filter(s), clean the drain, and spray and wipe down the entire interior, advises Evans. Don’t forget to scrub the gasket around the door, she adds, as it’s a common spot for hidden buildup. “Finish by running a full cycle with about one cup of distilled white vinegar to fully clean and deodorize,” says Evans. Clean your walls Did you know your home’s walls can collect layers of dust, mold, pollen, viruses, bacteria, VOCs, and other pollutants? Evans wants everyone to know that, but with the disclaimer that cleaning them is easier than you think. “Start by using a certified sealed HEPA vacuum to gently remove surface dust,” she says, followed by wiping your favorite cleaning solution diluted with water in a spray bottle along your walls. Next: “Lightly spray and wipe with a damp microfiber cloth, working from top to bottom,” she says. Voilà! Sparkling clean walls. What’s more, Evans notes that spring is the perfect time to do this, since open windows help speed up drying naturally. Streamline your cleaning products Want to keep the clutter in your cleaning closet at bay? Shira Gill, organizing expert and author of “Organized Living” recommends investing in just one hardworking all-purpose cleaner. Gill opts for a powerful cleaner that can be used throughout her whole house, then mixes in the targeted products (hardwood floor and glass cleaners, for example) as needed. Purge and store winter essentials “Over the winter you have likely stored coats, boots and things you no longer need,” says Jessica Samson, a cleaning expert at The Maids. “Move these things to your garage, into storage, or get rid of them if you no longer need them." Make a donation plan As you purge, you may round up some items in need of a new home that's not the trash. Gill says that as you prepare to declutter your home this season, identify a few local destinations that accept donations so you can get those bags moving out the door. It doesn’t always have to be a secondhand shop, either. Preschools, churches, theaters, community centers and parenting groups may happily accept donations. Contact the ones in your area to clarify their policies ahead of time. Clean your windows Remove the smudges, water stains and muck from your windows to let in the springtime light. Erica Thompson, home organizing and interior stylist at Organized by Design, advises cleaning your windows with filtered water instead of a traditional glass cleaner. “Not only is it more ecological, it’s also the professional window cleaner’s trick to streak-free glass,” she tells TODAY.com. Get dusting Dust always seems to accumulate in the winter — and for that reason, dusting is a must-tackle task when embarking on your cleaning quest. “You need to do a thorough job of dusting everything before you dive in and start deep cleaning,” she says. Always start at the top and work your way down. Be sure to close windows and turn off fans before you start dusting since they'll double the work, scattering particles as you clean. Turn to a trusty tool Find a tool that works for, well, everything. Take the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, for example. “You can do a lot more than just clean your baseboards and walls with this tool," Samson says. Think: removing soap scum, cleaning microwave messes and getting rid of hairspray residue on styling tools. Let the robots clean for you You don't have to be the only one doing the dirty work this year. Instead, turn to a robot mop or vacuum cleaner to get the job done. “Today’s modern robot mops and vacuum cleaners have come a long way in the last few years,” Samson says. “The battery life, accuracy and cleaning power of these robots have gotten exponentially better." As a result, you'll save time and energy. "They help you clean while you’re sleeping and will make spring cleaning much easier so you can focus on other things to clean in the process.” Break everything down Divide and conquer. To avoid stress, take things drawer by drawer, closet by closet and room by room. "Break it down into sections and clean each section one at a time," Samson says. "This will break down the cleaning process into more manageable pieces and it will take the stress out of spring cleaning.” Get some music going Did you know that spring cleaning can actually be fun? Well, as long as you have the right playlist. In fact, Thompson thinks of music as just another tool in her cleaning kit. "Put five of your favorite songs on a playlist and commit to tackling one tiny zone before the last song is up," she says, adding that you can start with your makeup drawer, under the bathroom sink or the the kitchen junk drawer." Try a '15-minute win' Carve out 15 minutes a day and you'll have your whole house sparkling in no time. Use Gill’s trick, which she calls the “15-minute win.” It’s all about the little things you can do that will make a big difference. Challenge yourself to tackle one small area at a time — the overflowing coat closet, messy medicine cabinet and so on. Use what you already have There's nothing quite like the thrill of perusing the shelves filled to the brim with handy organizing solutions. But as you well know, there's a good chance you'll leave the store with bins, storage containers and other "essentials" that you don't really need. Instead, Thompson recommends finding purposes for pieces you already have. An example: Give your bathroom counter a makeover by storing cotton pads, hair ties and other small necessities in kitchen extras like Mason jars and highball glasses. Clear out your closet If you've got all day, take everything out of your closet and only hang the items you actually wear. “Ditch the duds that don’t fit or flatter,” Gill says. Edit your wardrobe by only keeping clothing items that make you feel good. Toss any "duds" into a donation bag or recycle them if they're too worn. While you're at it, relocate seasonal items to the back of your closet and dust the shelves. Organize your office With Tax Day on the horizon, Thompson suggests using this date as an incentive to get your office and paperwork in order. Organize papers into three main categories: receipts, mail and tax documents. Sort all three, then toss any old receipts, and organize older mail and documents into folders for safekeeping. Do a digital detox Pay heed to your email inbox, too. Gill suggests setting a 15-minute timer and seeing how many "of those pesky sales and spam emails" you can unsubscribe from. "Consider archiving old emails so you can clear out your inbox and start fresh," she adds. Want a helping hand? Services like Unroll.me and Unlistr allow you to easily opt out of email subscriptions. Something to note: Unroll.me works with Google, Yahoo!, Outlook, or AOL accounts, whereas Unlistr only work with Outlook. Plan a party There’s nothing like having company over to encourage you to get cleaning. “Suddenly, you’ll automatically find yourself folding your bathroom hand towels hotel-style, sprucing up your sofa with plumped pillows and throws, and clearing clutter throughout,” Thompson says.
