Take Your Spring Cleaning Checklist to New Heights

Although the weather outside may not feel like it all the time, springtime is steadily inching closer—and with it comes our inevitable urge to kick our cleaning routine into high gear. With the month of March now upon us, it’s time to step away from the couch, take out the dust rags and spray bottles and get to work. Sometimes it can be hard to know just where to start—that’s why at Homes by Taber, we’ve put together a few items to make sure you add to your spring cleaning checklist to leave your home as spotless as the day you moved in. 

Declutter your space

Generally, it’s a good idea to start off by simply organizing your space before you get too deep into the cleaning zone. Start by going from room to room, make an internal list of everything you have and get rid of any items that you simply do not use anymore. From old clothes that haven’t seen the light of day in months to the tupperware drawer that has inevitably been filled to the brim in your kitchen—take the time to see what you do and don’t need in order to give yourself a better idea of what still needs to be done throughout your home. If your items are still in good condition and not fit for the trash, there are so many local non-profits, such as the Taber Cares selected charities, that could use a variety of your donations. Donating vs. trashing helps out the environment and your local community. 

Set your sights on the kitchen

Inevitably, there are a few spots in the kitchen that we push off cleaning if we can help it, but now is the time to don the rubber gloves, and give it a little extra elbow grease. 

Ease your way into the big items by starting off small, and with a simple trick, you’ll be able to break down any build up in your microwave. Fill a glass bowl with one cup of water, one cup of vinegar and two tablespoons of lemon juice. Place the bowl inside your microwave and set it to high for two minutes. Once the time is up, take the bowl out, and gently wipe down the inside of the microwave with a damp rag. 

The dishwasher is another item that you’ll definitely want to look over when you’re in the cleaning zone. As an easy space for calcium to build up, it's a great idea to do a deep clean of it every once in a while by adding a few cups of white vinegar to the dishwasher and running the cycle on hot. Keeping your kitchen clean is aesthetically important, but it also helps ensure that you’ll be keeping your high-quality appliances running smooth for many more years. 

Taking the time to freshen up your fridge is another great item to add to your cleaning routine. Take everything out of the fridge, throw out anything that has expired and wash any removable bins or shelves with soap and warm water. After taking a washcloth through the inside of the fridge, you can also add a little baking soda to the mix to scrub over any stubborn stains. 

Spruce up the living room

Your living area is a major activity hub, which means that you’ll probably want to spend a little extra time ensuring that everything is sparkling clean after the winter months. 

Your fireplace is one area you might not typically think needs your attention, but it’s always a good idea to give it a once-over just in case. For this, it’s best to call in a professional to take a look—so simply schedule a routine maintenance appointment and cross one more thing off of your to-do list. 

Your ceiling fans are another spot that you might not think to clean on a regular basis, and even though our homes include a high-quality air filtration system—dust is still an inevitable part of life. When dusting a surface, you’ll want to ensure that you lay down an old towel or bed sheet below the fan to keep the surrounding area clean. Another great tip for cleaning your ceiling fans without sending dust particles flying into the air is to find an old pillowcase, spray the outside with a mixture of water and vinegar and flip it inside out. Slip the pillowcase over the blade, and pull it back to easily wipe away the dust while ensuring the mess is kept securely inside the pillowcase.  Be sure not to pull too hard or knock the fan out of balance while you’re cleaning the blades or you’ll have a whole other set of issues. 

Your windows provide a central focus throughout each room in your home, so it’s important to keep these on your main cleaning list. Even though you seem to notice the built-up dirt and grime more on a sunny day, it’s best to leave this particular cleaning item for when the clouds come out. When you try to clean your windows on a sunny day, the warmth from the sun can sometimes dry the cleaning solution too quickly and end up leaving streaks no matter how diligent you are. 

Give your bathrooms a refresh

It’s finally time to move on to the bathrooms, and if you’ve been attempting to put off this moment for a while—we don’t blame you. Giving the bathroom a deep clean is typically never described as a fun afternoon activity, but it is important nonetheless.

Sometimes, a homemade cleaning solution works more effectively on your bathroom tile than harsh bleaches or sprays you find in stores. Take one cup of warm water, mix it with ¼ cup of vinegar and add one tablespoon of dish soap for this particular remedy. Don’t forget to spend a little extra time scrubbing in-between the tiles and in those hard-to-reach places behind the toilet or free-standing bathtub—and by investing in an extendable brush, you’ll save your knees and your back from the strain that this can sometimes cause.  

Your bathroom drain is another area you won’t want to skip over, especially when you think about the build up of makeup and hair that can sometimes get washed down. Once again, vinegar is the key to keeping your home clean in a variety of ways. Every two weeks, pour one cup of white distilled vinegar down the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes before running some cold water down the drain to wash it away. For even more tips to keep your home systems running smoothly, our Customer Care Department is always ready to help. 

Deep clean your bedroom

Aside from the regular cleaning routine of vacuuming the floors and washing the bedsheets—there are a few additional items you can add to your cleaning list to truly give your bedrooms a full refresh. 

Once you remove all of the bedding destined for the washing machine, it’s a great time to look at giving your mattress a deep clean. Add the upholstery attachment to your vacuum cleaner and run it along the top, bottom and sides of your mattress. For an additional way to give it a little extra life, sprinkle some baking soda over the mattress, allow it to sit for 30 minutes and then vacuum it away—helping ensure that any stains or odors are kept at bay. 

Window curtains can sometimes be another area that we glance over when thinking about our regular cleaning routine—and different fabrics require different solutions. For wool or cashmere, your best option might be to entrust them to your local dry cleaners to get the job done. For cotton or silk curtains, you can either hand wash them for additional peace-of-mind or wash them on a gentle cycle in your washing machine with warm water and gentle detergent before allowing them to air dry. 

Let the fresh air in

The best part about spring cleaning? Being done. Once everything has been scrubbed and wiped down—open up your windows and let the fresh air breeze throughout your home or simply step out onto your back patio to enjoy the warm air, dispelling the last of the winter blues. 

If you’re looking to make the move into a new home where spring cleaning has already been checked off of the list (at least this time around)—browse our quick move-in homes for some incredible options your family is sure to love. If you’d like to know more about our Oklahoma City or Tulsa communities, give us a call at (405) 984-1185 in OKC or (918) 393-4149 in Tulsa or fill out our online form to get started today.