Spring Cleaning

To-Do Lists

Never underestimate the power of a to-do list. It may seem too simple—or even obvious—of a tip, but if you’re somebody who gets overwhelmed at the prospect of having to do a lot when it comes to cleaning and chores (I know I am!), taking the time to section off and organize your tasks can be a life saver.

The key to getting everything done is reminding yourself that it doesn’t have to be done all at once. Finding a system that works for you and setting goals that are attainable is the best way to accomplish the Spring Clean you have in mind. Whether it involves sifting through clothes, scrubbing the baseboards, deep cleaning your oven, or whatever else your space might need—splitting the tasks at hand into an even workload across a few days (or weeks, if needed) will make them feel a lot more possible, as well as a lot more satisfying when you check off each item and finish your tasks on schedule!

Treat Yourself to the Right Tools

Another thing that can make cleaning less daunting is investing in tools that make the most dreaded tasks easier and less labor intensive. Remember when you were a kid and couldn’t believe that adults got excited about opening things like cleaning supplies as gifts on their birthdays or holidays? It turns out they were right—the day I got myself something as simple as a $7 tub and tile scrubber on a stick so that I no longer had to bend every which way to clean the bathtub, my life was significantly improved. Here is a list of our favorite simple-yet-ridiculously-effective tools that make cleaning a whole lot easier:

• Rubber/Vinyl Gloves
• Scrub Daddy/Sponge Daddy Sponges
• Elongated Tub and Tile Scrubber
• Magic Erasers (Melamine Sponges)
• Clorox Toilet Wand with Disposable Scrubbers

Use the Shower Tile Grout Cleaning Hack

If I could personally choose one single cleaning task that I hate the most, it would be cleaning a tiled shower. After being put through the ringer with a difficult shower wall that seemingly wouldn’t come clean no matter how hard I scrubbed between each and every line, I swore I’d never live somewhere with a tiled shower again—but that’s not always how life works. Luckily, I eventually discovered a cleaning hack that actually cleans and removes stains from the grout between tiles when nothing else seems to work, and my life (and sanity) improved greatly.

What you’ll need:

• Clorox clinging toilet bowl cleaner with bleach
• A handheld bristle/scrub brush

I don’t know what it is about using toilet bowl cleaner that does the trick, but I promise it works. I think the ability to apply the cleaner directly along the lines of the grout, rather than just spraying product generally with a spray bottle, is the key element. Either way, here’s the hack:

1. Line the toilet bowl cleaner along all the lines of grout you wish to clean
2. Let it sit—the longer the better for extremely tough stains. The recommended time would be 30 minutes, though you can also do 15-20 if you don’t think your grout is too problematic.
3. After the cleaner has had enough time to set, it’s time for the hard part: Scrubbing. Using the bristle brush and water, work your way through each line of grout by scrubbing as hard as you can. This part of the clean will require a lot of patience, but the results will be well worth it—just remind yourself that once this is done, your shower should only need regular maintenance and upkeep moving forward!
4. Rinse the wall with water to finish, and voila!

Note: While this trick generally works well on shower walls, some people have been known to have problems when trying the hack on tiled floors due to the difference in materials. We would recommend using this hack sparingly, and only in the shower!

Blast Your Favorite Music

This one is also something that can be a given, but making sure you really let yourself engage with the upbeat music you put on and have some little dance breaks while you clean is a surefire way to make things more enjoyable. It’s okay if one minute you’re dusting your fan and the next minute you’re jumping around pretending to be back in the pit at your favorite artist’s concert. It’s also okay to perform as if you’re hosting your own concert. Take that broom and use it as a microphone stand, nobody’s watching!

Incentivize Your Cleaning Day

Nobody is immune to a little incentive, and there’s no reason you can’t incentivize yourself! Set something up for yourself to look forward to as a reward for all of your hard work once it’s completed. It could be something as simple as ordering out from your favorite restaurant, buying a bunch of treats and having a cozy movie night in your freshly cleaned living room, or buying yourself that new thing you’ve been wanting for a while (it is tax refund season!)