15 Spring

By Lori Keong

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Spring-cleaning is the perfect time to tackle those chores you’ve been avoiding all year long (like dealing with the lovely grime that's coating the stovetop, or the dust blanketing the light fixtures). Though the term spring-cleaning implies there's just one season when it's worth knocking out big household chores, Kadi Dulude—owner of New York–based cleaning service Wizard of Homes—stresses the importance of tidying up regularly. That way, your annual spring-cleaning checklist doesn't feel endless, or more stressful than it needs to be.

For starters, she says, "Sweeping under big appliances like the fridge should be done at least twice a year." Other areas, like the blinds, should be dusted weekly to prevent a time-intensive cleaning job once a year. Fabric surfaces, like upholstery, should be refreshed monthly.

Otherwise, investing in super devices that can help clean up dirt and dust will help you breathe a little easier too. Anna Harasim—the owner of New York–based company Anna's Cleaning Service—says that air purifiers (like the new Dupray Bloom Air Purifier that doubles as a planter) and vacuum cleaners are solid investments for managing the buildup of dust in your home. For even more tips on how to spruce up your home from top-to-bottom, AD asked cleaning experts for their best spring-cleaning tips to help you think smarter—not harder—about your to-do list.

Little bits of food and dust frequently get trapped under major appliances like the stovetop, so spring-cleaning is always a good excuse to check out what's under there. You might need to do this regularly to keep pest issues at bay too. Unplug the appliance first, then carefully pull the device out far enough to give yourself clearance to clean behind it. "Start by sweeping up the big debris," Dulude says. "If sweeping is done often enough, all you have to do next is wipe the floor with a wet cloth and you’re done."

Because the dust might get extra sticky when caked with cooking grease, Dulude says you can also scrub under there with hot water and dish soap, or, "in extreme cases, you might also want to use a scraper."

It's always a terrible surprise when spilled butter, oil, or food in the oven starts smoking at high temperatures, but thankfully Dulude has a hack for cleaning up your mess: table salt. Pour it over the soiled areas right away for the best results. "It immediately stops the smoking and also makes it easy to wipe up the mess once oven has cooled down," she explains.

For a deep clean, Dulude suggests using a chemical solution like Easy Off (sparingly) when the self-clean cycle on your oven isn't doing the trick (or isn't available on your model). But note, that "the fumes are extreme" so it should be avoided unless you really have to clean up. If you do use it, aerate your home by opening the windows open and turning the hood vent on. Another word of advice: "Be careful not to get a drop of it anywhere outside the oven," Dulude says. "It will permanently stain your floors, cabinets around the oven and pretty much anything it is not intended for."

With all the pasta sauce splatters and greasy grime, the microwave is yet another overlooked appliance you should put on your spring-cleaning checklist. Dulude suggests loosening up the food particles on the microwave walls by placing a bowl of water and using a high setting to boil the water. "Let it all steam up and keep the door closed for a few minutes. Then open it up and you should be able to gently scrub off the food scraps," she says. You can also try the Angry Mama, which works by steaming the microwave with water and white vinegar.

According to Dulude, the tops of kitchen cabinets is another often neglected area. "It's important to clean those once or twice a year before your kitchen starts smelling funky and you won't know what's causing it," she says. Soapy water is her go-to for scrubbing away greasy gunk. After everything's clean and dry, she recommends laying down paper towels so that all you need to do is replace them next time you are sprucing up.

Depending on the type of bedding you own, Harasim suggests refreshing comforters, pillowcases, and sheets with baking soda, white vinegar, and laundry detergent by running the washing machine on the hot max setting or the delicate setting. For mattresses and pillows, she recommends sprinkling baking soda on top, leaving for a couple hours, then vacuuming all the baking soda off. This helps absorb lingering smells.

For deeply embedded stains and smells, call in reinforcements. Dulude notes that if you own a steam cleaner, it's always a good idea to use one on a mattress, or to spray it with white vinegar if you don't. "For both cases, be sure to let it dry out completely before making the bed," she advises.

If it's been a while since you’ve cleaned your bathroom vents, and a simple dust cloth isn't going to cut it, Dulude's tip is to remove the vent cover with a screw driver and actually wash it in the sink with soap and warm water before drying and screwing it back on. "Then get into the habit of quickly dry-dusting it every time you're cleaning the bathroom," she adds.

Drain clogs can be tackled with cleaning products you have on hand. Both of our experts recommend making a DIY cleaning solution with common household items by pouring baking soda down the drain for traction, followed by white vinegar (about a cup) to keep the drains clean and odor-free. If the baking soda and vinegar doesn't do the trick, Dulude recommends removing the drain stopper, if possible, and scouring for gunk with a wire hanger. For a serious clog, especially one in the shower, consider investing in a drain auger.

Generally bleach is a solid choice when dealing with mold and mildew on bathroom tiles, and both experts recommend using a toothbrush with a bleach-based product to loosen up spots between tiles. "Try a small area first," Dulude says. "Scrub the product into the affected area and let it sit until the paste dries, then wash off." If intense spring-cleaning fails to remove the black mold from grout, you may want to consider regrouting. Be sure to seal it, if you do. To keep mold and soap scum from getting out of hand, Dulude adds that you should get into the habit of scrubbing the tiles and grout on a weekly basis.

And while a squeegee goes a long way for keeping your shower doors clean, hard water buildup happens to the best of us. Dulude recommends Soft Scrub to deep clean the shower door, or a hard water stain remover like Bio Clean.

The phrase "where the sun don't shine" can certainly apply to that neglected space under the couch, also known as no-man's-land for missing, well, everything. Take the time to roll back heavy furniture and clean under there even if no one's going to see it. Dulude says to give the same treatment to the floor under rugs. Roll them up and mop, and "be sure to let the floor dry before putting the rugs back," she adds.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, it's also important to reach up and clean dust and cobwebs on top of things in your living area—especially ceiling fans that can circulate the dust every time you turn it on. When dealing with hard-to-reach areas, Harasim suggests using a cleaning product with a long stem like a Swiffer, or a microfiber cloth and soapy water (if you can get up there on a step ladder).

Once you’re done decluttering your closet, make sure it stays organized and fresh—even with a stinky laundry basket. "I like to use these cedar hang-ups to bring fresh wood scent to the closet while also repelling moths and mice," Dulude says. Harasim suggests leaving out Arm & Hammer baking soda packs (which even come as air filters), or a fragrant bar of soap like Irish Spring to keep things smelling better. Both experts suggest tackling odors with white vinegar, too, either while cleaning or spraying it in the air. "Yes, it will smell strongly like vinegar at first but once that smell goes, the other odors will as well," Dulude says.

Windows are always a tricky place to clean, especially if they are high up. Start by steam cleaing the frame of the window, then wipe away the grime with a microfiber cloth. You’ll be surprised how much dust gets in. To make your windows sparkle, make sure there are no smudges obscuring the spring sunlight. You’ll want to use a glass cleaner on both sides of the window.

"It takes no time to quickly dry-dust the blinds each week with a duster, but if that has not been done in a long time then a detailed cleaning might be needed," Dulude says. Generally, both experts recommend being extra careful with blinds (following manufacturer directions, e.g. and not tugging or pulling when dusting). Dulude recommends spraying all-purpose cleaner directly on the blind and wiping each slat individually. For a deep clean, you may need to take the blinds off the window, soak them in a tub with warm water and soap, then gently scrub before rinsing, drying, and refitting them to your clean windows.