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Spring cleaning is that dreaded task that nobody truly looks forward to. Most of us would rather be outside enjoying the sunshine than stuck indoors cleaning. Since our days are getting longer but it’s not quite ‘spend all day outdoors’ weather, now is the perfect time to get a kick-start on spring cleaning.

These 20 minute cleaning hacks are sure to have your house shining from top to bottom in no time!

Before You Begin Your 20 Minute Spring Makeover…

1. Make sure you have the proper supplies and store them in a bucket

Rubber gloves, microfibre cloths, scrub brushes, paper towels, and microfiber cling dusters are just a few staples you should keep on-hand.

2. Make a list.

Listing all the areas you want to tackle for spring cleaning and creating a plan that will allow you to tackle this monster one small task at a time will help keep you on track…and sane.

3. Gamify!

They’re doing it in business and education, so why not at home? Make cleaning fun by turning it into a game for kids of all ages, like…Who can tidy their room the fastest? Set goals, give prizes, and teach life lessons at the same time.

Cupboards and Walls – 20 minutes per room

Focus on one room at a time. Using warm lightly soapy water or a paint-safe non-toxic cleaner, give walls and the face of cupboards a good wipe down. You’d be surprised at the amount of dust and grime that can cling to these surfaces over time. While wiping walls, make sure to get the baseboards, including the crevices and corners.

Cleaning Hack: A dryer sheet works magic on baseboards!

Light Fixtures and Fans – 10 to 20 minutes per room

Have you ever stood on a chair to look at the top of light fixtures or ceiling fan blades? Yuck! Heat and moisture rise, and with it goes all of the dust and dirt particles floating in the air. Spend some time giving fixtures, ceiling fan blades and even ceiling air vents a good wipe.

Cleaning Hack: Use an old pillow case to encase each fan blade. As you swipe down the length of the blade, any falling dust bunnies will catch inside the pillow case.

Windows – 10 to 20 minutes per room

Nothing spoils a beautiful spring day more than the sunlight highlighting fingerprinted and dirty windows or clumps of dust. Vacuum window sills of any loose debris, then give them a wipe with soapy water. A quality glass cleaner is sure to leave the windows streak-free and sparkling.

Cleaning Hack: Using newspaper to clean windows will leave the glass streak-free but can leave your finger all inky, so try unused paper coffee filter instead.

Toys – 10 minutes

Gather up any durable water-safe toys and stuffies that could use a deep cleaning. Toss them into a large net bag and tie shut. Throw the bag into the wash machine and turn on your wash cycleOnce done, remove any plastic toys from the bag to air dry and throw the remaining stuffies into the dryer. This is another great opportunity to gamify a dull chore if you come up with some fun ways to have your kids put away their clean toys.

Cleaning Hack: For hard toys only, make use of your dishwasher!

Kitchen – 10 to 20 minutes per item

Set your oven to a clean cycle while you tackle the stove top. Flat cooktops can benefit from a good glass-safe scraper tool and stovetop cleaner. Stovetop grills can be removed and placed in a bath of soapy water to loosen any grime while you give the rest a shining. A mixture of baking soda and vinegar will help to loosen stubborn burnt on grime. Then go relax for a bit while your oven clean cycle finishes. Once ready, give it a good wipe and voila! A good cleaning every now and then will help to lighten the load each time.

Have you ever taken a good look at your range hood to see just how much caked-on buildup there is? It’s not pretty. To get grease out, use a few drops of oil on a cloth. It may seem counterintuitive, but buildup will wipe away in no time!

Spend 20 minutes giving your refrigerator an overhaul. Get rid of items that are past expiry and reorganize the remaining items based on how frequently they are used. Storing items in plastic baskets and containers helps to keep them categorized. Keep condiments together in a door basket, fruits and veggies in the crisper and so on. While reorganizing, give all shelves and drawers a good wipe-down.

Cleaning Hack: Did you know your microwave can clean itself too? Yep! On a high heat setting, microwave a bowl of water with sliced lemons and juice for about 3 to 4 minutes. The acidic lemony moisture will release any dried food and grime making it easily wipeable.

Bathroom – 10 to 20 minutes per item

Clear out the vanity cupboard and drawers of any items that are expired or haven’t been used in two months. Stick to the rule that if it isn’t being used, pitch it.

Hard water can leave crusty build-up blocking water flow in shower heads and taps. De-scale fixtures overnight the easy way! Fill a plastic bag with some vinegar and wrap around the fixture so that the faucet or showerhead is submersed. Secure with an elastic band or string and let it sit. Remove the bag in the morning and all buildup should be gone!

Sink and shower drains are notorious catch-alls for hair and lint and can easily get clogged. An unpleasant but necessary first step is to pluck out as much gunk as you can manually. Then skip the harsh drain cleaners and use a mix of baking soda and vinegar instead. Pour about half a cup of baking soda into the drain then top off with vinegar until it foams out the top. Let it sit for about 15 minutes then flush with warm water for free flowing drains.

Cleaning Hack:  Rub shaving cream onto chrome fixtures and wipe with a damp cloth for a sparkling finish.

A deep clean of the entire house might seem like a daunting task. But spring cleaning won’t be such a chore if you maintain a cycle of regular cleaning habits on a daily and weekly basis. Here are some tips to keep your cleaning schedule in check throughout the year.

Daily Clean Cycle

• Spritz shower walls with cleaner after showering
• Wipe down countertops
• Towel dry faucets and taps after every use
• Clean and put away dishes

Once Per Week Clean Cycle

• Vacuum floors
• Wet mop hard floors
• Dust furniture
• Clean mirrors and glass
• Put away clutter
• Clean bathroom toilets, tubs and sinks

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