Spring is officially here! The weather may not feel like it’s spring just yet (depending on your location), but March 20th was officially the first day of spring this year. And with spring comes warmer temperatures and spring cleaning – which is the annual practice of sprucing up and deep cleaning your homes during the springtime. Most people use this opportunity to maintain areas of the home that aren’t regularly cleaned. And especially for areas with colder climates, spring is the perfect time of year to get that fresh start and finally clean out all the dust and grime that may have accumulated during the wintertime.

Below, we listed 10 spring cleaning tips to make your home sparkling clean:

1. Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures

Your ceiling fans and light fixtures may be out of reach and may be neglected when it comes to routine cleaning. However, these two tend to get very dusty, so make sure to add these to your spring cleaning list. A great cleaning hack for your ceiling fans is to spray the inside of an old pillowcase with a mixture of water and distilled vinegar and slide it over each fan blade to capture all the dust.

2. Clean carpets and area rugs

Vacuum and spot clean your carpets to rid them of dust mites, dander, and other allergens that may have gotten trapped in its fibers. You can bring your smaller area rugs outside to hose them down (if they cannot be thrown in the wash) and revitalize them with the fresh outdoor air. For larger stains or more delicate rugs, you may want to consider hiring a professional carpet cleaner to help tackle trickier stains.

3. Dust blinds and wash windows

Windows and their coverings are often neglected, however they should be cleaned at least once a year. So while you’re doing your spring cleaning, make sure to machine-wash or vacuum your curtains, dust off your blinds, and wipe down your windows and window sills. This is a great way to refresh your home and welcome in all the bright sunlight after enduring all those dreary winter months.

4. Deep clean the fridge

Deep cleaning your fridge is essential for preventing the growth of bacteria that can contaminate your food and in turn, make you sick. So make your fridge a part of your spring cleaning routine and toss out old food, clean up any food stains, and disinfect all its walls and shelves. Make sure you’re also cleaning the exterior of your fridge and wipe down grease and grime, disinfect the handles, and clean out the condenser coil.

5. Reorganize the junk drawer

You probably have a junk drawer at home filled with random miscellaneous items. This is a great time to go into that drawer to reorganize and declutter any items you no longer need – this can include old batteries, receipts, dried up pens, old chargers to cellphones you no longer own, etc.

6. Declutter closets

If you store away your seasonal clothing, it’s the perfect time to rejig your closet and replace all your winter clothing with your springtime clothing. While doing so, you can also take this time to reassess your wardrobe and declutter all the items you no longer wear or need.

7. Hose down your garbage cans

Both your indoor and outdoor garbage cans can get dirty and hold onto unpleasant odors over time. So make sure to take them outside to hose them down with warm soapy water and scrub away with an extendable scrubbing brush to remove any gunked-on residue. Follow up with a disinfectant and use a sprinkling of baking soda as your final step to deodorize any foul odors.

8. Clean your microwave

Your microwave may not get cleaned out as often as other kitchen appliances, so make sure to also add this to your spring cleaning list. Microwaving a bowl of water mixed with vinegar and using its steam is a simple and effective way to loosen up any gunk and make it easier to wipe away tough food stains. And if you don’t have vinegar on hand, you can also use a lemon in the same manner to clean your microwave.

9. Wipe down patio furniture

It’s time to dust off all your outdoor furniture because patio season is quickly approaching. Wipe all the dirt and cobwebs off your patio furniture so they’ll be ready for any outdoor bbqs, gatherings around the fire pit, or for when you want to sit outside and enjoy your morning coffees.

10. Replace air filters

Getting into the habit of routinely changing out your HVAC filters can greatly improve the air quality in your home. Dirty or clogged air filters aren’t as efficient as clean filters and can actually put more strain on your HVAC system (potentially leading to higher utility bills). So remember to check your air filters and replace any as needed.

The post 10 Simple Spring Cleaning Tips For 2022 appeared first on CatchyFreebies.

Apartment hunting can involve copious amounts of time searching through online listings, contacting realtors and agents, and touring multiple potential homes. All of this while being on a deadline according to when your current lease is ending, factoring in competition so you’d have to submit applications quickly, and most of all, finding the right place for you. Suffice it to say, this process can be pretty stressful.

Your home should be your sanctuary, so you’d want to do your due diligence to find the right one for you. However, amidst everything going on, there may be a few things that slip your mind. Below, we listed 5 things to keep in mind while searching for your next apartment:

Check your phone’s signal

When viewing a new potential home, make sure to check the reception on your phone. If staying connected is a big priority, you may not want to rent a home with weak cell reception and frequently dropped calls.

Check the electrical outlets

Take notice of the electrical outlets in a room and make sure they all work. Bring something small to plug in, such as a phone charger to test every outlet. The last thing you want is a kitchen with nowhere to plug in your small appliances or a room with outlets in inconvenient spots.

Check the water pressure and temperature

Turn on all the sink and shower faucets to see how hot the water gets as well as checking for good water pressure. And if you happen to notice any issues, these can be brought up to the landlord to be fixed before moving in.

Make sure there are no signs of pests

Unwanted pests in the form of rodents or roaches are never appreciated and trying to get rid of them is a nightmare. To avoid this, make sure there are no signs of infestations. Thoroughly inspect all the cabinets and check for any cracks or holes in the walls and baseboards.

Scope out the neighborhood

Consider visiting the home again at night to get a good feel of the neighborhood. Places can really differ depending on the time of day you visit. It’d also be a great idea to check out the parking situation if the home doesn’t already come with a designated parking spot for you.

The post 5 Important Things to Look Out For While Apartment Hunting appeared first on CatchyFreebies.

If you dread deep cleaning your home or simply don’t have the time or energy for it, there are easy tasks you can accomplish daily to streamline your housework and maintain a clean and tidy home. Taking a few minutes out of each day and incorporating these small tasks into your daily routine is an excellent way to save time and cut down on your deep cleaning routine. You could also create your own cleaning schedule and target different areas of the home for each day of the week to break up a big routine and prevent yourself from feeling too overwhelmed.

Below, we listed 7 simple cleaning habits you could practice daily to help you maintain a clean home:

Wipe down your shower door

After every shower, use a squeegee to wipe away excess water from your glass shower door. This simple task allows your shower to dry off quicker and can drastically help with preventing soap scum and the need for any harsh scrubbing in the future.

Scrub your kitchen sink

Research showed that kitchen sinks are one of the dirtiest places in a home and can harbor many harmful illness-causing bacteria. So at the end of each day, give your kitchen sink a good scrub with soap and vinegar to disinfect and keep germs at bay.

Don’t let your dishes pile up

It’s common to have a big pile of dishes sitting in your sink at the end of a long day, but try not to let your dishes sit in your sink overnight. Cleaning as you go and washing as many dishes as you can while you’re cooking is a big time-saver and great way to stay on top of your dishes.

Wipe countertops and surfaces

Wipe and disinfect any frequently-used countertops and surfaces on a daily basis to remove bacteria and debris. This can include your kitchen and bathroom countertops, dining table, stovetop, and more. Also be sure to immediately wipe away any food splatters, spills, and messes to prevent grease and grime build-up.

Tidy up clutter

Put things back in their designated spots after each use and toss away any trash to prevent clutter from building up. This is an excellent habit to practice daily to maintain a clutter-free space and keep your home in tip-top shape.

Make your bed

Your bed likely takes up a good portion of space in your bedroom, so making your bed every day is a simple way to instantly make your room look neat and tidy!

Sweep your floors

Doing a quick sweep of the home, especially in high-traffic areas such as the kitchen, can eliminate any dust, dirt, or crumbs that accumulate daily. Regularly sweeping your floors is also a great way to reduce the risk of any bugs or critters in the home.

The post 7 Simple Daily Habits to Maintain a Clean Home appeared first on CatchyFreebies.

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