We all know that spring brings beautiful weather and sunnier days, which is why the season is so synonymous with cleaning and new beginnings. Start fresh with your home by doing a little spring cleaning as the weather gets warmer, allowing you to recover from the colder winter months and start anew with a clean space. With help from Tractor Supply, you’ll be able to gather inspiration for deep cleaning your home, as well as essential supplies that you need to make it sparkle.
Straighten Up the Living Room and Bedroom
Our living rooms and bedrooms are areas of our home where we spend most of our time, meaning cleaning them is essential to our comfort. Much of living room and bedroom cleaning involves washing pillows and linens, including curtains, bed skirts, pillow protectors, mattress pads and duvet covers. It also includes cleaning furniture to get rid of stains or damages. For upholstered pieces, make sure to find a furniture cleaner suitable for fabrics, and test it out in a small area before using it on your entire piece. For leathers, you should use a leather cleaner and soft cloth.
Next, it’s time to dust your spaces, using a long-handled duster to reach the tops of bookcases or other cabinets, as well as ceiling fans and crown molding. Dust and clean baseboards with a microfiber cloth and mild soap, and shine windows from the inside using a glass cleaner. Wash walls with a cloth and warm water, and be sure to use caution, especially if you have eggshell or flat-finished walls, as this could cause paint to flake off.
When you’re finished cleaning and dusting, it’s time to take care of your floors. Saving the floors for last allows you to collect all the fallen dust and debris from shelves and other furniture. Start by vacuuming your living room and bedroom spaces, ensuring to reach underneath furniture, and even using your machine to vacuum up crumbs and other debris inside couch cushions, as well as to dust off drapes. Then, take a carpet cleaner and apply it to all your carpeted spaces, giving them a deeper clean and fresh smell.
Cleaning Kitchens and Appliances
Kitchens withstand a lot of wear and tear – from making food to hosting family members to creating memories, these spaces must be cleaned regularly to ensure comfort. But sometimes, you must do a little more heavy-duty scrubbing to make sure all kitchen areas are clean and free from grime. This makes spring the perfect time to check items off your list.
Start by going through your kitchen cabinets, throwing out any old or expired foods, then dust shelves or replace worn shelf paper or linings. You should also wipe down countertops, as well as around and underneath the kitchen faucet, sink and drain. And don’t forget to dust light fixtures, spray down your trash can and sweep underneath appliances as needed.
When cleaning kitchen spaces, make sure to use a cleaner that has disinfecting properties, as this will eliminate bacteria and grime to keep surfaces safe for your family.
Dishwashers
Just because your dishwasher cleans dishes, this doesn’t mean the machine itself gets cleaned in the process. Leftover food can still become stuck on the bottom, so you’ll still have to clean this appliance every once in a while. Before cleaning, make sure to remove the bottom rack, then wipe the floor with a paper towel. Use a sponge to remove built-on foods from the rest of the interior, as well as the door and handles. Finally, run a cycle on hot water without any dishes inside, then leave the door open to air dry.
Refrigerators
When refrigerators go unclean, this can cause icky odors to impact your space, or even worse – mold growth. To clean, start by removing any leftovers or out-of-date foods, then taking out any items in bins or shelves. Next, soak the bins and shelves in soapy water, then clean the rest of the fridge interior with a sponge. Finally, dust the top of your refrigerator, and move it from its usual position to sweep and mop the floor underneath.
Microwaves
Between messy pasta sauces and overflowing coffee cups, microwaves see much buildup over time. But before cleaning these, consider microwaving a bowl of water, even adding a splash of lemon to give your microwave a fresh scent. As the water boils, the steam helps to break up and loosen dried-on foods. Then, simply wipe down the interior with a sponge.
Stovetops and Ovens
While some ovens are self-cleaning, others may not be, meaning you may need an oven cleaner depending on the type you have. You’ll also have to remove the racks before starting, allowing them to soak in hot water and dish detergent for several hours. Then, remove any leftover debris with a sponge, and clean the stovetop with a surface- and finish-compatible cleaner, as this will avoid any scratches and damage.
When it comes to cleaning appliances, don’t forget about the exteriors, with some appliance finishes requiring more specialized cleaning products. For instance, if you have stainless steel appliances, you should use stainless steel cleaners to wipe off streaks and fingerprints. You may also consider adding an odor control solution, allowing kitchen spaces to smell and feel clean for longer.
Scrubbing Bathrooms
Alongside kitchens, bathrooms are another space in your home that see a lot of wear. From taking showers to using the toilet to getting ready in the morning, we use our bathroom spaces regularly, and they must be cleaned to stay safe and comfortable.
Get your spring cleaning rolling by taking out shower curtains and bath mats, and throwing them in the washing machine if they are machine washable. Then, use a bathroom cleaner, preferably one with bleach, to wipe down and disinfect countertops, sinks, toilets and bathtubs or showers.
Next, consider cleaning your shower head by filling a plastic bag with white vinegar, then tying it over and around your shower head. Allow this to soak overnight, then take off the bag the next morning and rinse. You can also clean shower doors using a mild dishwashing soap and a sponge. Additionally, bathrooms are home to a lot of moisture from hot, running showers and other circumstances, so think about having a moisture control solution to prevent mold and mildew growth.
Organizing Garage Spaces
Your garage is often the first place you think of when it comes to storing items and keeping them out of the way. However, even these spaces need to be organized and cleaned to keep your tools and accessories easy to find and in good condition. Tackle this project by first going through your items, figuring out which ones to keep, sell, donate or get rid of. This allows you to declutter and makes organization efforts even easier.
When organizing your items, it can help to have storage cabinets, shelves, toolboxes and workbenches so you can keep items off the floor and out of your way, allowing you to navigate and utilize your garage easier. You should also consider vertical storage, which uses racks, hooks and other fasteners to secure hoses, power tools or other objects to the wall, freeing up floor space.
Before organizing, be sure to clean your garage by sweeping floors with a broom, mopping up any grime and dusting around window fixtures and shelving. Spring is also a great time to wash recycling bins and trash cans, which can be done using a hose and mild soap.
Get Spring Cleaning Supplies at Tractor Supply
Whether you need an all-purpose cleaner for general dusting or heavy-duty lawn mowers and trimmers for tackling land maintenance after winter, we have all the supplies and tools you require to achieve a fresh, clean start with your home – inside and out. To learn more about the products we offer, visit your local Tractor Supply store today or browse online.