Mother and daughter spring cleaning the house together.
Spring is upon us and that means cleaning! You may have seen the words 'March Madness' come up on TV. To sum it up, 68 college basketball teams play in seven rounds for the national championship. For the sake of spring cleaning and the celebration of March Madness, we created a list of 32 spring cleaning projects you and your family can choose from that will hopefully make cleaning a little more stress-free!
How This Spring Cleaning Bracket Will Work
32 projects have been assembled to be completed this spring cleaning season. From the below list, choose which projects will "win the matchup" or be completed to fill out your bracket.
The part you might be excited about is the prize. The best part is that you get to choose it! Buy something you have been looking at for a while; do something for yourself. You could even include your kids! Put together a mini cleaning kit (that is kid-friendly) so they can follow along! Find little prizes to earn after each project. The goal is to jump into spring feeling refreshed and energized.
Matchups
- Inventory of Clothes VS. Clean Pantry Look through your closet and see what you may have outgrown or worn out. Take out every piece of clothing you own and separate them into three piles- keep, maybe, and donation. This is a good time to get rid of any clutter in your life. The pantry is another place that can hoard expired food. If you cannot remember the last time you double-checked expiration dates, then this might be your first choice.
- Medicine Cabinet VS. Inspect/Clean Gutters Over the years you accumulate bottles or tubes of medicine that are kept in case of emergencies. Medications do expire! Keep the ones that are necessary for you and your family. Leaves, twigs, pine needles, and other debris can get caught in your gutters causing them to clog. This could cause foundation problems and mold. Although this may be tedious, it could save the structure of your house!
- Wash Car VS. Wash Windows A fun and easy activity for all ages is washing a car. Grab a hose, soap, and a sponge. Start washing. The shiny new car look is a prize itself! After a harsh winter, windows have collected dust and dirt. This task is simple, but the final result is worth the few minutes of your day.
- Clean Fridge VS. Wash Outdoor Furniture A fridge is something that is used every day, why not have it look spotless? Most fridges can remove shelves and drawers to clean thoroughly. Whether you keep your outdoor furniture in a shed or outside with a cover on, debris and dirt can attach themselves. Take a hose and spray it all down, let it dry in the sun and you can have chairs and tables ready for use!
- Trim/Cut Down Trees VS. Prep & Clean Swimming Pool This project is most likely something that a professional should do. Any dead trees could fall at any moment, which is a risk that should not be taken. If you have any, call your local experts to remove the unwanted trees. Remove the cover of your swimming pool and scoop out any debris that may have entered. Use a pool cleaner vacuum to reach the bottom and walls of the lining. Collect the chemicals to ensure your pool has everything it needs to last through spring and summer.
- Clean Grill VS. Clean Out Garage Buy a stiff wire brush and add wire, be sure not to lean over the grill when scrubbing since this could create steam. For any tough spots, use dish soap with the water. Once the surface has cooled, remove any bristles or residue with a damp cloth. Another tedious task is cleaning out the garage. It can become a dumping ground for items you don't use or need anymore. Start in one corner and sort through what you need and make two piles- one for donate and one for trash. Contact your local junk remover to help finish the project.
- Go Through Hazardous Materials VS. Vacuum/Clean Furniture Dangerous materials including lawn sprays, motor oil, swimming pool chemicals, rat poison, fuels, and pharmaceutical items can get in the wrong hands easily. At any age, an accident can happen, it must be disposed of properly or stored safely. It's surprising how dirty a sofa or chair can get, but by vacuuming or deep cleaning, it will look as good as new! Start with the pieces you believe need the most care for now so the task does not seem as scary.
- Wash/Replace Bed Linens & Pillows VS. Disinfect Phone/Tablet/Laptop Life can be a big distraction from the small tasks you need to get done. It is said that bed linens and pillow covers should be washed once or twice a week. Take this time to either wash or replace these items. Disinfecting anything is always a good idea, but did you know your phone is one of the top items with the most bacteria? The easiest way is to use an antibacterial wipe, but be sure not to get any liquid inside the device since it could damage it.
- Clean Dryer Vents VS. Clean Oven Dryer vents should be inspected at least once a year to ensure the best performance. If severely clogged, the dryer could overheat and cause a fire. Disconnect the dryer, vacuum the vent, brush out the vent, and reconnect the dryer. Most of the newer ovens have a button to self-clean. Using baking soda and water is a great way to scrub the inside. Take out the racks to any grime inside the oven.
- Wash Baseboards VS. Dust Ceiling Fan Magic erasers, wipes, brushes, or dryer sheets can all be used to wash/dust/clean baseboards. This task only takes a few minutes and it leaves you with a clean surface! Dusting the ceiling fan is another fast one. Take your duster and get in every nook and cranny. Now your fan can spin with clean air.
- Clean Shower VS. Garbage Disposal Take out every product in your shower and spray your favorite cleaner. Let sit for a few minutes and scrub. Wash it all down and put your items back. If you want, you could clean the tub drain and the showerhead as well. If you have a garbage disposal, this could be the perfect opportunity to unclog or clean it. With the faucet off, put a few ice cubes in the chamber along with 1 tablespoon of baking soda, three thin lemon slices, and 1 tablespoon of bleach. Add a few more ice cubes and turn on the garbage disposal without running water until the grinding ends. With the motor still running, finish with 30 seconds of cold water.
- Pressure Wash Home VS. Replace Shower Curtain For pressure washing, wear protective eyewear and cover the outlet with duct tape to ensure no electricity and water mix. There is a list of instructions to protect you and your home with a pressure washer, but a clean and clear home is a great prize. If your shower curtain has stains, you could easily wipe and clean it. But if you're looking to start fresh, purchasing a new shower curtain may be worth it.
- Replace or Clean Bath Mat VS. Clean Stove Top Bath mats are great, but they can become worn out and grow mold. Scrubbing is one option to remove any dirt, but buying another low-priced mat can sometimes be the best idea. Ever have food spill or boil over onto your stovetop? There is a fix to this! Use baking soda, distilled white vinegar, microfiber cloths, towel, and hot water. Spray the surface with vinegar, sprinkle baking soda over liquid, use a towel dipped in hot water, and place over the stovetop. Sit for 15 minutes, remove the towel, and wipe with a microfiber cloth. Spray vinegar and clean with a cloth to buff out streaks. Repeat until the stovetop is free of residue.
- Clean Coffee Maker VS. Cleanout Freezer Dump the grounds, rinse out, leave in the sink with warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry. An option for monthly coffee drinkers is to add 4 cups of undiluted vinegar, let stand for 30 minutes, run vinegar through a brewing cycle. Follow with as many cycles as it takes to get the vinegar smell gone with fresh water. Take a look in your freezer and see if anything should be thrown out or eaten soon. Organize it so you can see what you have!
- Rotate Mattress VS. Shampoo Rugs/Carpets It's recommended to rotate your mattress 1-2 times a year, but it can be a tedious job that is easily forgotten about. Why not do it now? Rotating your mattress can help keep the shape, ensuring you get the most out of your mattress. At a minimum, rugs, and carpets should be vacuumed once or twice a week. Using a carpet cleaner will be the easiest option, but there is a DIY way. Mix one part of white vinegar with three parts water in a small bowl. Dip a scrub brush in the mixture and rub it into the carpet.
- Sanitize Kid Toys VS. Scrub Grout Lines COVID-19 is still among us and sanitizing is important. Sanitizing any regularly used toys helps fight the bacteria. Warm water and soap can do the job! Grout lines can collect dust and dirt easily. With a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, use a scrub brush to get in between the hard-to-reach places. To finish, rinse and wipe away the solution to reveal a fresh and clean surface.
One of the best parts about this activity is that you can mix and match what projects you want to get done. These are great tools, but you have full reign over customizing them to fit the ability or needs of you and your family. Learn more here about the services a professional could help with. Happy cleaning!