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43 Spring Cleaning Tips From Cleaning and Organizing Experts

It’s never too early to get a head start on your checklist.

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Mike Garten

Nothing beats that feeling of accomplishment when you get a head start on spring cleaning. If you space out your spring cleaning list over a couple of weeks, it might not seem like such an overwhelming task. The easiest way to start is to take it room by room or appliance by appliance with our cleaning tips from organizing and cleaning pros. Grab your cleaning tools, stock up on winning products from our 2022 Cleaning & Organizing Awards, and make sure the battery on your favorite cordless vacuum is charged before you rev it up.

Whether you have only five minutes to freshen things up or you happen to have an entire weekend to dedicate to full spring cleaning days, our pros are here with their best spring cleaning tips to help you out. Learn how to give your home's nooks and crannies a refresh with these 47 cleaning how-tos from Jeffrey Phillip, organizing expert, and Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab. Read on for tips to help you clean the usual spots more quickly and effectively — and for reminders to tackle harder-to-reach (and harder-to-remember) spots around the house too.

1

Keep crumbs out of hard-to-reach places

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If there's a gap between your stove and your kitchen counters, there's a good chance food bits have made their way into this tight, dark space. Use the crevice tool on your vacuum to reach into this space, then place a stove gap cover between the counter and stove to cut down on the debris that falls out of view.

2

Freshen white sneakers

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A bright new pair of white sneakers goes well with almost any outfit, but those cool new kicks can also be magnets for dirt and debris. Here's how to clean white shoes, like Vans, using a simple DIY mixture:

In a small bowl, mix one tablespoon of baking soda, a half tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and a half tablespoon of warm water until it forms a thin paste. Use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the shoes, then rinse well with a damp cloth and allow to air-dry away from the sun. For leather sneakers, skip the hydrogen peroxide.

3

Organize the fridge

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Large refrigerators are great for big families, but they can get cluttered fast. To keep your fridge organized, remove the packaging from multipacks of drinks and single-serve yogurts, use roll-out refrigerator bins to keep small items together and, to help reduce food waste, rotate older food items to the front before adding new groceries.

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4

Keep storage spaces organized

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If you use your garage or an outdoor shed as a storage space for things that don't fit inside the house, consider adding this step-by-step strategy to your spring cleaning checklist. Start by organizing all your items into three piles: keep, donate and toss.

After you've removed the donate and toss items, vacuum and clean the floor thoroughly. Then begin sorting the things you'll be keeping. Organize smaller items by product type in labeled bins and store them on shelves along the walls to maximize floor space. For more organization tips, check out these genius garage storage ideas.

5

Clean your doormats

green front door with gold wreath and doormat

Trap more dirt by using two mats at exterior/outside doors: one mat outside and one inside. Vacuum indoor mats on both sides. Going over the backs of the mats will push trapped dirt out onto the floor, where it will be easier to pick up. To refresh outdoor mats, hose them off, then air-dry.

6

Spray down the windows and dust the blinds

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Wait for an overcast day to clean your windows, and start on the shady side of the house. (Choosing a sunny day is one of the most common window-cleaning mistakes to avoid.) "Raise blinds or shades and wash windows with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth," Forté says. "Then lower the blinds or vinyl shades and dust them with a duster. Finish by vacuuming the fabric shades and drapes."

RELATED: How to Clean Blinds Fast

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7

Wipe down the walls

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Rid painted walls of greasy fingerprints, dust and stains by wiping them with a damp microfiber cloth or a clean, damp microfiber mop. Be sure to start from the top and make your way to the bottom; bonus points if you wipe the doorframes and baseboards too. In between springtime deep-cleans, do spot-cleanings with a damp microfiber cloth whenever you see stains and marks. Tile walls in bathrooms can be cleaned the same way, though you may want to pair the damp microfiber cloth with a disinfecting bathroom cleaner to take care of any germs too.

For walls with vinyl wallpaper, make sure to wring out the damp microfiber cloth or the clean, damp microfiber mop well to avoid damage. Skip the water altogether if you're dealing with paper, fabric or grass cloth wallpaper. For more in-depth instructions, take a look at our guide for how to clean your walls.

8

Freshen up musty carpets

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Refresh your carpets between deep-cleanings by using a portable carpet cleaner with a rotating brush. To rid your carpet of odors, sprinkle baking soda or carpet deodorizer on your carpet. Using a soft brush, work the baking soda into your carpet and let it set for 15 to 30 minutes. Vacuum the baking soda off the carpet with a fresh bag or clean dirt cup.

If you notice unsightly stains on your carpet or it's time for a deeper clean, check out our expert guide to how to clean carpet the right way. Or consider investing in an at-home carpet cleaner appliance to get the job done without having to call a cleaning service.

9

De-stink the kitchen sink

stainless steel kitchen sink with white counters yellow flowers and lemons

Got kitchen stink you just can't kick? You might already have the necessary ingredients to freshen up your sink in the fridge right now. Try dropping a couple of lemon rind slivers into your garbage disposal, and turn it on for 15 to 30 seconds. Follow with cold water to flush out any bits of lemon rind that remain.

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10

Steam clean the microwave

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Clean up those pesky tomato stains once and for all. To clean your microwave, fill a large microwave-safe bowl with one cup of water and a lemon, lime or orange cut into thin slices — or several tablespoons of vinegar — and stick it inside. Turn the appliance on high for several minutes or until the solution boils and the window is steamy, then let it cool for five minutes before opening the door. Remove the bowl and wipe the inside and outside of the microwave with a sponge.

11

Wash those reusable bags

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Reusable grocery bags cut down on wasteful plastic, but they can get grimy over time. Look at the care label on your reusable bags to determine the best way to clean them. If they're not machine washable, clean them thoroughly with a sponge or cloth dipped in sudsy water. Rinse with a clean cloth and let air-dry.

12

Spruce up granite countertops

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Dig out the granite polish to help restore shine and repel stains on your kitchen surfaces. For daily wipe-downs, use a specialized granite cleaner, like GH Seal Star Weiman Granite & Stone Disinfecting Wipes. The mild formula cuts grease and removes surface stains without the damaging effects of vinegar or ammonia, and it won't leave behind a dull film like ordinary dish soap can.

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13

Give Your Home a Refresh!

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Discover brilliant ways to get organized, declutter and make over any room. These downloadable digital guides make it easier than ever to give your home a refresh. Visit our store to find dozens of ideas from Good Housekeeping and our sister brands.

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14

Bring stained cutting boards back to life

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With regular use, even the best cutting boards can become stained. If you think that nasty mark on your cutting board is permanent, you could be wrong. Run the cut side of a lemon over the board to help remove food stains and smells. For extra oomph, sprinkle it with salt or baking soda first.

15

Deep-clean the fridge

refrigerator with fruits and vegetables

In addition to wiping down your fridge's interior shelving on a regular basis, give the removable bins and shelves a deep-clean every now and then. Pop out the door shelves and bins and wash them in warm, soapy water to help get rid of food bacteria and spillage. Don't forget to rinse everything well before putting the shelves and bins back in.

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16

Shine up pots and pans

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Soften burned-on residue by adding water and dish liquid to your cookware and letting it simmer on the stove. After it's cooled a bit, use a scrub sponge or pad to remove any remaining stuck-on bits. Ketchup (yes, really!) helps dissolve tarnish on copper pots and other copper cooking accessories. Just massage the sauce over the surface, and add a pinch of salt if you come across exceptionally stubborn spots.

RELATED: How to Clean a Cast-Iron Skillet

17

De-gunk your oven

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Cleaning your oven is an essential part of spring cleaning. Use the appliance's self-cleaning function to remove stubborn, baked-on grime. If your oven doesn't have one, place a hot, wet cloth on top of burned spots to help soften the gunk. Then apply an oven cleaner (like one of the best oven cleaners we've tested) and let stand for as long as the manufacturer recommends. Rinse with a wet cloth and wipe dry.

18

Scrub down kitchen cabinets

kitchen sink with white counter and bright window

Unsightly kitchen grime is a mix of dust and grease that builds up over time. Run the exhaust hood over your range every time you cook to keep grease from settling. To de-gunk, use a cabinet cleaner to cut through dirt and leave wood moisturized. Do an extra pass around any places where grease collects, like door and drawer pulls.

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19

DIY a stainless steel cleaner for sparkling appliances

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To clean stainless steel appliances and sinks, mix a solution of one teaspoon dish detergent and one quart hot tap water. Using a microfiber cloth, rub the solution onto the marks in small sections, going with the grain. Rinse with clean hot water and dry immediately with a clean cloth.

20

Reorganize the junk drawer

organized drawer filled with junk

Once you empty out your drawer, suck out dust and crumbs with your vacuum's nozzle. "Toss or relocate any items you no longer need or that don't belong there," Forté says. Everything else goes back, but this time in an organized manner. Repurpose pretty plates and bowls to store cords, stamps and other odds and ends, or consider a drawer organizer like the Cleaning & Organizing Award winner from Poke-a-Dot that can also be taken on the go. A nonslip liner helps keep everything in place.

Headshot of Caroline Picard
Caroline Picard
Contributing Writer

Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and dreams of the day Northwestern will go back to the Rose Bowl.  

Headshot of Amanda Garrity

Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more. 

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