7 Simple Spring Cleaning Hacks
A little bit of cleaning can go a long way. Take just 5-10 minutes to do these spring cleaning hacks and you’ll immediately feel a boost in your mood. Read on for quick and easy tips to spruce up your home for spring!
Sometimes all we need is just a small change to make us feel like we’ve undergone a big transformation. “Small steps are just as beneficial as making a massive change,” says Theresa Russell, San Diego-based professional organizer and owner of Homegirl. Here she shares 7 simple spring cleaning hacks to set us up for success this spring:
1. Deep clean your makeup and hair brushes.
“Not everyone does it and it’s something that people seem to forget about,” says Russell.
How to clean your makeup brushes:
- Use lukewarm or hot water to wet the brushes.
- Squirt liquid dish soap or shampoo to clean the brush bristles and massage the bristles using your hands to get out the excess makeup buildup. You can also use conditioner to moisten the bristles after cleansing.
- Rinse very thoroughly to get out all the makeup and cleaning product.
- Lay flat on a towel to dry (don’t dry standing up or the water will run inside the brush).
How to clean your hair brush:
- Remove hair from a brush. Use scissors to cut stubborn, remaining hair from the brush.
- Fill a bowl or your sink with warm water and a few drops of shampoo.
- Dip your brush into the soapy water (you can leave it submerged if made of plastic).
- Take a toothbrush to clean and scrub around the bristles.
- Rinse and shake off any excess water.
- Lay bristle-side down on a towel to dry.
2. Deep clean your washing machine.
Your washing machine is consistently met with bacteria of all sorts and the wet, warm environment is an ideal breeding ground for more mold and mildew. Detergent can also build up inside, creating a less effective machine.
How to clean your washing machine:
- Wipe down the machine with a water / vinegar solution and use a toothbrush to clean in the small, hard-to-reach spots.
- Add a cup of vinegar to the liquid detergent dispenser
- Run the machine on the sanitizing or hot cycle (without any clothes inside of course!!)
3. Wash your shower curtain, liner and rings.
Your shower curtain and its liner can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, thanks to the warm, wet environment in a bathroom.
How to clean a cloth shower curtain:
- Remove it from the rings.
- Place it in your washing machine along with a cup of white vinegar and drops of detergent.
- Run it on the warm water cycle but on a gentle setting.
How to clean a plastic shower curtain and/or liner:
- Remove it from the rings.
- Place it in the washing machine along with a few towels and add a half-cup of vinegar. If there is a lot of mold and mildew, you might want to wash with bleach instead.
- Run on a cool water, gentle setting.
How to clean shower curtain rings:
- While the curtain and the liner are in the wash, fill your bathroom sink with hot water and vinegar and place the rings in the sink to soak.
- Scrub the rings with a toothbrush to get off any soap scum and buildup.
4. Wash your tennis shoes.
Your sneakers can quickly become a hotspot for dirt, odor and bacteria. Here’s quick and easy steps to get your shoes back in tip-top shape:
How to clean your sneakers / tennis shoes:
- The night before: Sprinkle baking soda in the shoes and leave overnight. This will help with the deodorizing process.
- Remove laces. Place the laces in a pillowcase so they don’t get caught and tangled in the machine.
- Hand wash your insoles in a solution of warm water and detergent to remove bacteria, stains and odors.
- After scrubbing off any dirt and stains with a brush, put your shoes in the washing machine along with detergent and cold water. Cold water will prevent warping the shoes and use a low spin setting so as to keep your machine balanced. Add 4-6 towels as well so that the shoes don’t slam against the sides.
- Dry shoes in a well-ventilated space – don’t use the dryer as the heat can damage the glue in the shoes!
- Once dry, add baking soda to the insoles of the shoes to limit odor buildup.
5. Declutter as you go.
Don’t have time to do a whole Home Edit or Konmari decluttering method? Declutter as you go about your daily routine instead!
Place an empty cardboard box or laundry basket in key areas like your kitchen, garage, living room and bedrooms. Then when you find something to discard or donate, you’ll have a predesignated spot for it. Once the box or basket is full, take it to the donation center or list it on your local Buy Nothing group.
6. Clean out your inbox – one email at a time
Do you have a lot of email clutter? Same! “A full inbox causes me a lot of stress,” says Theresa. “Just unsubscribe from a few newsletters or product emails a day and soon you will have less email to sort through.”
7. Cancel subscriptions that no longer serve you.
Take time to evaluate your recurring monthly subscriptions and charges. “Those drain your budget AND your energy levels,” says Theresa.
The Takeaway
By doing one of these simple spring cleaning hacks, we can reset our energy and welcome in new, fresh springtime vibes aligned with our time, resources and our values. Looking for more inspiration? Read our San Diego Zero Waste Guide for a list of local resources to help you live a more sustainable lifestyle.
Want more organizing tips or help with getting your space more organized? Schedule a session with Theresa at homegirl.
Looking for More Health + Wellness Inspiration?
Explore our Events Calendar for upcoming yoga events, meditation classes and wellness workshops around San Diego. Or browse all of our Wellbeing articles for the latest wellness news and trends!
