It’s officially spring whether or not it feels like it where you live. That means you're probably seeing the spring cleaning articles (like this one) reminding you of your grownup chores pouring in to your social media feeds. If you’re just as excited as me about it (read: not very), we’re here to make it a little easier. We’ve scoured the web to find the best spring cleaning tips that will save you both time and money. That way it’ll still be spring when you’re done.
This is a great way to save money and your health while scrubbing up. When you’re getting into heavy duty cleaning, chances are you’re breathing in a lot of fumes. Making your own cleaners means you know what went into it. Here are a few how-tos:
This is a homemade soft scrub that I have made twice so far. It’s simple and worked like a charm, turning my bathtub sparkly white again.
Sanitize your sink sans bleach, with baking soda, vinegar, soap, and water. Apartment Therapy tells you how, with great steps for cleaning your in-sink disposal too. (I've done this one as well and while it takes some time, it's definitely worth it.)
AARP has an article on natural cleaners that clean and disinfect and The Daily Green shows you even more you can make at home.
Have some really grimy stuff to clean, especially anything waxy or oily? Or do you just not want to buy anymore rags? No need! Turn old t-shirts you no longer wear into rags by cutting them up (after they’ve been washed!). Or maybe cut up that splotchy towel you discolored with hair dye…
Save money and time by cleaning windows (or any glass surfaces) with a squeegee. You always see them at gas stations but have you used one on your home windows? I’m an admitted paper towel waster when it comes to cleaning inside my house so I was happy to come across this tip, one professional window cleaners swear by. Not only will it save paper waste and money in the long run (not immediately since a squeegee costs more than a roll of paper towels), it also saves time! Here’s a tutorial on eHow.
Organize and spruce up your office/craft room and vanity with recycled materials.
Pasta sauce jars become pencil holders
Glass soda bottles become bracelet holders
Plastic bottles become a jewelry stand
I’m sure there are tons more on Pinterest but I felt like I was having too much fun browsing Pinterest for it to count as work. If you have other awesome upcycling organization ideas, add them in the comments!
Have you ever vacuumed your refrigerator coils? Me either. I didn’t know it was a thing you were supposed to do. But apparently dust collects and makes your fridge work harder to keep cool. It’s recommended that you vacuum around the coils twice a year. Tips on eHow. Who knew spring cleaning would teach you something valuable?
Just like those pesky refrigerator coils, dirty air filters are less efficient. So replace them on a consistent basis to keep your home running economically. How often you replace them will depend on what the specific filter recommends.
While de-cluttering, sort through what items are in good saleable condition and what should be donated. Put two cardboard boxes in a common area for everyone in the family to drop stuff off while cleaning up. Make money selling like-new items on Amazon, eBay, Craigslist, or by having a yard sale. Anything that you can’t sell, you can donate.