30 Days of Spring Cleaning

March 01, 2019

Spring is near! And with all that sunlight pouring in, you’re starting to see … a lot of dust, clutter, and other junk you’ve just got to get rid of. Rather than devoting a whole weekend or two diving into deep cleaning, we’ve created a list to help you clean your house from top to bottom for just 30 minutes a day for a month. This list will help you declutter, organize, and clean places that you may forget about. So, let’s get started!

  1. Clean the fridge

Throw away all expired foods, including condiments. Then empty the fridge and wipe down all shelves and drawers with Libman Antibacterial Sponge and dish soap. Wipe down the outside and top, too.

  1. Wipe down the freezer

Throw out all expired foods. Put all other food aside. Pull on some Libman Rubber Gloves and wipe the freezer down with a mix of warm water and baking soda.

  1. Cleanup the closet

Sort through your clothing, bags, and shoes. Donate whatever you do not want. Look for spider webs and dust bunnies and grab them with a Libman Flexible Microfiber Duster

  1. Tidy up the coat closet

Sort through your coats and winter wear. Consider donating any clothing you haven’t worn in some time to local drop-off locations. It will help declutter your closets and you’ll be able to help others at the same time.

  1. Sort through the medicine cabinet

Safely dispose of expired medicines and medications. Some pharmacies have disposal kiosks for unused medications, while most medications can be disposed of in your household trash. At the same time, inspect for any out-of-date beauty products. Wipe down the interior of the medicine cabinet.

  1. Dispose of old makeup

Go through your makeup bag and get rid of any old or expired products. Don’t forget to check makeup for dancers, theater performers, cheerleaders and other members of the family!

  1. Get rid of old cleaning supplies

Cleaning supplies have a shelf life too, and old cleaners just don’t work like they used to. If you’ve had a bottle of cleaner so long that you don’t remember when you bought it, follow our advice: when in doubt, toss it out! There are a variety of Libman cleaners that would be great to help you get your home looking, and smelling, fresh!

  1. Clean the dishwasher

Fill a dishwasher-safe mug two-thirds full with white vinegar, and place upright on the top rack. Run the dishwasher on a normal cycle with hot water to eliminate that potential funky dishwasher smell. Wipe down the outside of the dishwasher while the cycle runs.

  1. Scrub down the oven and microwave

Set the oven to self-clean while you scrub down the microwave with a Libman Baked-On & Tough Job Sponge.

  1. Organize the pantry

Just like with makeup, medications and cleaning supplies, you’ll want to go through your spice rack, canned goods, and other pantry items and get rid of expired goods. The handheld Libman Dustpan and Brush set can help gather crumbs that have collected on your pantry shelves prior to wiping them down prior to putting everything back in their place.

  1. Clean the garbage can and surrounding area

Raise your hand if you enjoy cleaning the garbage can. We don't either, but there are ways to make it easier. This is probably one of the grossest areas in your home, but it’s often overlooked. Protect your hands by using a pair of Libman Rubber Gloves. Scrub the trashcan, inside and outside, with a Libman Big Scrub Brush and bleach-based cleaner.

  1. Wipe down all baseboards

This tip will not only save you time, but reduce strain on your back, hands and knees. The Libman Freedom Spray Mop makes wiping down baseboards easy, just spray and swipe along the perimeter of each room. No bending over! You can also use Libman Hardwood Floor Everyday Cleaner in your Freedom Mop to help bring out the wood’s natural finish.

  1. Scrub the tub

For the room where you get clean yourself, the bathroom can be a scary place to clean! Scrub the shower, wash the shower curtain, and wipe down walls and tile. Use a set of Libman bathroom brushes and your favorite cleaner for this. Make sure you heed any warnings on cleaners regarding using in a well-ventilated area too. Bonus, most shower curtains can be thrown in the washing machine.

  1. Clean all lampshades, blinds, curtains and vents

A Libman Lint Roller works wonders on lampshades and some curtains. Blinds can be conquered with the Libman All-Purpose Dust Cloth.  Vents are often a daunting task, but the Libman Vent Brush makes cleaning vents easy. You can also use the Libman Flexible Microfiber Wand and Flexible Microfiber Duster to make cleaning your vents easier.

  1. Deep clean the bed

Wash your pillows, linens, mattress pad, and comforter. Then vacuum the mattress, sprinkle it with baking soda, let sit for two hours, and vacuum again.

  1. Dust all art, mirrors, and wall hangings

The Libman All-Purpose Dust Cloth and Libman Window Cleaner make this task super easy! The Libman Flexible Microfiber Wand and Flexible Microfiber Duster are also great to use here, and their longer handles can make it easier to reach higher when needed.

  1. Clear out under the furniture

Use a Libman Precision Angle Broom to sweep under couches, chairs, and tables. Mop with Libman Freedom Spray Mop to remove excess dust.

  1. Clean the car

Get rid of all your junk in the car. Run it through the car wash and give it a good vacuum. A Libman Lint Roller can get into those tough-to-reach cracks and cervices.  Libman Microfiber Wands, Dusting Cloths are also great tools for helping you clean and detail your ride.  

  1. Sanitize the vacuum

First, make sure the vacuum is unplugged! Then empty the canister. Wipe the inside of the canister with a dry Libman Microfiber Sponge Cloth. Wash the canister with warm, soapy water. Let it dry completely before replacing it. Don’t forget to change the filters in your vacuum at this time, and if your vacuum has one, swap out the HEPA filter too!

  1. Wash cushions, seat, sofa covers, and throws

To clean your couch, use a spot cleaner or baking soda and then vacuum. Throws and most covers can go into the wash, just make sure to read the cleaning instructions. For pet owners needing to get pair hair out of cushions and sofa fabric, Libman Lint Brush and Lint Rollers can help remove the pet hair that has weaved itself into the fabric.    

  1. Clean all rugs and carpets

Vacuum or run these through the wash. Spot clean or shampoo where appropriate.

  1. Wash the walls

This is a big one, especially if you have kids! A Libman Microfiber Dust Mop and a damp Libman Microfiber Sponge Cloth can make quick work of this task. For high walls or rooms with vaulted ceilings, you can even use a Libman Freedom Mop to reach those hard-to-reach areas!

  1. Dust all electronics

Like TVs, computers, or any other electronics that don’t move much. The Libman Microfiber Duster,  Microfinger Mitt, and Everyday Dusting Cloths are ideal for use on electronics.  

  1. Sort mail and papers

There’s probably a big pile of papers you’ve been avoiding. Sort through your mail and papers, and recycle whatever you don’t need.

  1. Cull down books, DVDs and CDs and wipe down bookshelves and media storage racks

There are probably more than a few books, CDs or movies that you haven’t picked up, listened to or watched in years, and maybe it’s time to get rid of those. Much like unused clothing, books, CDs, movies, and even video games can be donated. Dust the bookshelves top-to-bottom before putting the books back. The Flexible Microfiber Wand makes getting into hard to reach corners a snap!

  1. Clean the garage floor

Use a Libman No-Knees Floor Scrubber and some Libman Multi-Surface Everyday Floor Cleaner to get up caked-on salt and other grease and grime. For bigger areas, make sure you check out the Libman Commercial line of push brooms, ideal for cleaning up the garage, driveway, patio, or other larger outdoor or paved surface.

  1. Wash all pet supplies

Wash the food bowls and water dishes, refresh the litter boxes, and clean all toys with a pet-safe cleaner.  The Libman Heavy Duty Scrub Brush features a built-in scraper edge to remove stuck on debris from just about any molded surface, even liter boxes! Clean out food and water bowls with the Pot and Pan Scrubbing Dish Wand with Scrub Brush, powerful enough to remove stuck on kibble and other food bits, and it even has a handy reservoir you can fill with your favorite dish soap and dispense right into the brush!

  1. Sort your clothing

Pull out your spring clothes and put away those sweaters. Donate whatever you don’t need anymore. 

  1. Organize the linen closet

Wash the towels and linens. Donate whatever you don’t need. Wipe down the closet itself with a Libman Everyday Dusting Cloth or Microfiber Wands.  

  1. Wash the washer and dryer

To wash the washer, run it on the hottest cycle possible without a load. Add bleach if you’d like. For the dryer, wipe down the inside with a damp cloth and wash the lint trap. You can reach down into the lint trap area with the Libman Flexible Microfiber Wand, or if it is a longer opening, with the Flexible Microfiber Duster, to remove any additional, hard-to-reach lint in the system.

 And that’s it! 30 days of spring cleaning done. Congrats! Put your feet up and relax … Until next month when it’s messy again.