Home Cleaning And Organizing Tips #3

It’s high time I updated you on my spring cleaning progress. Though I’ve strayed from the list a lot, I did get a lot of stuff done since my last update.

I finally managed to sort Boy’s toys. A couple of pointers here.

• Periodically rotate the kids’ toys. This way, old ones get played with and there are less things lying around to trip on!
• Use colorful baskets to hold small toys like cars, Lego blocks, toy people and animals.
• Teach them to clean up after themselves. Younger ones may not be able to sort all the toys as we would like them, but encourage them nevertheless.
• I was holding onto ALL his baby toys and as you can imagine, it took up a lot of space. I then decided to keep a few sentimental pieces, like his first rattle and a few other favorites, and donated some of the rest. I have a few big ones like walkers and ride on toys and am thinking of consigning them.

Cleaning the furniture.

• We have a microfiber couch. It is not the easiest to clean. Every time I spot cleaned it, the water left marks after it dried. The label said not to wash the cushion covers and to use professional cleaning services. Really? Anyhow, one day I felt particularly daring and disgusted at the grime. So I unzipped them and washed them on the gentle cycle in cold water. As good as new! And since then, I’ve been doing that every month.

And right now, I very much feel like Kevin.

• Last week I came across this old post from Chris and Robin’s Nest on using rubbing alcohol to clean the parts that can’t be washed (the arms, back rests, etc).
• I shine wooden furniture using this simple homemade polish.

Cleaning the appliances.

• For the refrigerator, I use a diluted solution of vinegar in water. Spray it inside and rub dry with a microfiber cloth.
• Let the solution saturate any stubborn stains like ketchup or mustard. If it doesn’t work, try rubbing with a little baking soda. The stains will lift right off.
• Wash all shelf dividers and trays. Dry them completely and put them back.
• For the washer, I ran a gentle wash cycle with some bleach and hot water.
• Clean the other surfaces, knobs and stuff using the vinegar spray.
• Remove and wash the lint collector and wipe the dryer clean with a cloth.
• As for the dishwasher, I rarely use it and when I do, I make sure to load the dishes after I’ve rinsed them. Stuck on food is what causes most dishwashers to smell.
• Also, I found this great tip on how to use a frugal rinse aid here.
• I use the vinegar spray and baking soda to scrub the stove top clean.
• For the microwave, heat a small bowl of vinegar or lemon juice and wipe away the stains. Easy!
• Vinegar works well on greasy kitchen cupboards too.

Finally, I dusted the walls and ceiling corners of cobwebs (yuck), wall hangings like photos and paintings, light fixtures, fans, etc. I cleaned and arranged the kitchen cabinets and counter tops too.

That leaves me with the oven cleaning only. I use vinegar and baking soda here. No more harsh oven cleaners.

And then I will be free to tackle the new cushion covers and some spring decor!

Do you spring clean? How is it coming along?

I am linking this up at the Clean House link Party at I Heart Organizing.