With all the pasta sauce splatters and greasy grime, the microwave is yet another overlooked appliance you should put on your spring-cleaning checklist. Dulude suggests loosening up the food particles on the microwave walls by placing a bowl of water and using a high setting to boil the water. “Let it all steam up and keep the door closed for a few minutes. Then open it up and you should be able to gently scrub off the food scraps,” she says. You can also try the Angry Mama, which works by steaming the microwave with water and white vinegar.
4. Deal with kitchen cabinet tops
According to Dulude, the tops of kitchen cabinets is another often neglected area. “It’s important to clean those once or twice a year before your kitchen starts smelling funky and you won’t know what’s causing it,” she says. Soapy water is her go-to for scrubbing away greasy gunk. After everything’s clean and dry, she recommends laying down paper towels so that all you need to do is replace them next time you are sprucing up.
Spring-cleaning tips for your bedroom
5. Sprinkle baking soda on linens
Depending on the type of bedding you own, Anna Harasim, owner of New York–based company Anna’s Cleaning Service, suggests refreshing comforters, pillowcases, and sheets with baking soda, white vinegar, and laundry detergent by running the washing machine on the hot max setting or the delicate setting. For mattresses and pillows, she recommends sprinkling baking soda on top, leaving for a couple hours, then vacuuming all the baking soda off. This helps absorb lingering smells.
6. Deep clean the mattress with steam
For deeply embedded stains and smells, call in reinforcements. Dulude notes that if you own a steam cleaner, it’s always a good idea to use one on a mattress, or to spray it with white vinegar if you don’t. “For both cases, be sure to let it dry out completely before making the bed,” she advises.
Spring-cleaning tips for bathrooms
7. Don’t just dust—wash your vent covers
If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your bathroom vents, and a simple dust cloth isn’t going to cut it, Dulude’s tip is to remove the vent cover with a screw driver and actually wash it in the sink with soap and warm water before drying and screwing it back on. “Then get into the habit of quickly dry-dusting it every time you’re cleaning the bathroom,” she adds.
8. Make a DIY drain cleaner
Drain clogs can be tackled with cleaning products you have on hand. Both of our experts recommend making a DIY cleaning solution with common household items by pouring baking soda down the drain for traction, followed by white vinegar (about a cup) to keep the drains clean and odor-free. If the baking soda and vinegar doesn’t do the trick, Dulude recommends removing the drain stopper, if possible, and scouring for gunk with a wire hanger. For a serious clog, especially one in the shower, consider investing in a drain auger.
9. Beat mold and mildew with bleach
Generally bleach is a solid choice when dealing with mold and mildew on bathroom tiles, and both experts recommend using a toothbrush with a bleach-based product to loosen up spots between tiles. “Try a small area first,” Dulude says. “Scrub the product into the affected area and let it sit until the paste dries, then wash off.” If intense spring-cleaning fails to remove the black mold from grout, you may want to consider regrouting. Be sure to seal it, if you do. To keep mold and soap scum from getting out of hand, Dulude adds that you should get into the habit of scrubbing the tiles and grout on a weekly basis.
10. Prevent hard-water buildup
