10 Spring Cleaning and Organizing Tips and Tricks

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The arrival of springtime brings a sense of renewal. It’s a time to crack open the windows and get down and dirty. But don’t let the daunting task of spring cleaning and organizing get the best of you. Check out these 10 Spring Cleaning and Organizing Tips and Tricks. 

If you focus on a different task each day, you’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish. For example, set aside one day to declutter your home. Get rid of anything you don’t use or that is taking up too much space in your home. I always say a simple living is an easy living! Before I had my son, I lived a life without clutter. But with children comes a lot of toys – more toys than they even play with! If you have kids then you know many toys come with a lot of small parts. These small parts quickly get mixed up all around the house. When your child is looking to play with a particular toy, you can’t seem to find the parts you need for that toy. This is where my favorite organizational tip comes in … get a Toy Bin Organizer!

Before I bought this Toy Bin Organizer, I was going crazy with toys all over the house, especially the hundreds of Mega Bloks everywhere. This organizer has been the perfect solution. I’m also teaching my son to clean up his toys and put them back into the bins after play time. It’s super easy to put together and doesn’t take up a lot of space. It’s perfect to put in your child’s bedroom, toy room, or anywhere your child plays!

 The bins are removable, so they are easy to clean and the primary colors look great in any room!

The next thing in my home that was driving me crazy was my makeup bag. I found this great and affordable makeup organizer at Marshalls. Having everything in a makeup bag and all over the bathroom counter was just not working for me. This organizer really makes it easy to find the makeup I need in the mornings when I’m in a hurry.

For weeks now, I’ve been saying that I’m going to clean the ceiling fans. There’s about an inch of dust on the blades and every time I look up I wonder how I’m going to clean the them without getting dust everywhere. Real Simple has a great tip on how to get the job done without getting dust everywhere.

First, get a large sheet and place it on the floor under the ceiling fan. Get a spray bottle from the dollar store and fill it with warm water. Add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. White vinegar makes a great and inexpensive household cleaner! Next, get an old pillow case and spray your homemade cleaning solution into it. Get up on the ladder, take your pillow case and slide it over each blade, one by one. The dust will fall into the pillow case. This way, you won’t get dust on your head, in your face, or make a mess on your floors and furniture.

Air vent covers are another place where pesky dirt and dust like to collect. If you have high air vents like me you can use a long-handled duster. 

Sometimes dusters leave a little dirt and dust behind. After dusting the top layer of dirt off your vent covers, spray a little of your homemade vinegar solution that you cleaned your ceiling fan with onto your duster to make sure nothing is left behind. That’s what’s so great about homemade vinegar cleaners – it’s versatile and can be used on a million things in your home.

Some other things around your home that you may not have on your spring cleaning list are …

• Soap Dishes, Toothbrush Holders and Toothbrushes – Grimy bathroom accessories are unsanitary. Many soap dishes and toothbrush holders can be put into the dishwasher instead of soaking and scrubbing them.
• Shower Curtain Liner – Liners get soap, lime and mildew build up, so it’s important that you clean your liner often. Throw your cloth shower curtain liner in the washer, use hot water, add 1 cup laundry detergent, 1 cup bleach and 1/2 cup Borax to get your shower curtain clean.
• Dryer Lint Trap – Lint left behind in your dryer trap can be dangerous. Get your vacuum and the proper attachment to remove any left over lint.
• Bed Pillows – It’s important to clean your bed pillows a few times a year, not just when you’re spring cleaning. Your body sweats at night when you’re sleeping and the sweat over time can turn your pillows yellow. Throw your pillows in the washer, use hot water, 1 cup laundry detergent, 1 cup bleach and 1/2 cup Borax to get your pillows looking and feeling new again.
• Disinfect Toys: Most toys like action figures can be put in a plastic basket and placed in the dishwasher for a great cleaning.
• Indoor Garbage Cans – This is where your hot water and vinegar come in again! Get a long-handled scrubbing-brush and some paper towels and eliminate the stuck-on food and drinks from inside or your garbage can. This will also eliminate any odors.

If you’re looking to make your live easier this spring with some great tips and recipes follow Real Simple on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest and Cooking Light on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.

Don’t forget to pick up your copies of Real Simple and Cooking Light at Target to receive a free $5 Target gift card while supplies last!

Do you have any spring cleaning or organizing tips that you would like to share? Let me know in the comments below!