Wash the windows, wipe the baseboards, clean out the closets, and dust the fan blades. It’s spring cleaning and you’re an adult, so you know the drill! But what if you’d rather not take on a massive cleaning project right now? We’ve got you covered! Here are a few fast spring cleaning hacks you can accomplish in one day that’ll leave your apartment looking, feeling, and smelling fresher without putting a strain on your time and resources. 

In the Kitchen

Freshen up the Sink

If you’re picking up a stale aroma in the kitchen, the sink is often the culprit. Cleaning your garbage disposal helps remove food residue that builds up in the disposal chamber and under the splash guard. You can buy a cleaner specially designed for garbage disposals, or you can make your own with half a cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture bubble up in your disposal for a few minutes before rinsing clean with cold water. For a fresher scent, you can run some lemon zest or lemon rind slivers through the disposal as well. Using a scrub brush to clean the underside of your sink’s splash guard can also help remove unwanted odors.

Don’t Forget the Trash

We all know even the toughest garbage bags aren’t 100% leakproof, so chances are you’ve had a rip or a puncture that’s allowed a few sticky drops of something to spill out into your trash container. Use a disinfectant spray or a lemony vinegar solution and let it soak inside the can for a few minutes before scrubbing it clean. Keep it clean year-round by refraining from overstuffing your trash bags and disposing of any excess foods or liquids into the sink before throwing things away to help prevent messy leaks. 

Carpet and Hard Floors

Your floors can use a periodic refresh even if you tackle messes and spills as soon as they occur. You’ve probably heard of sprinkling baking soda over the carpet and vacuuming to help eliminate odors and even fluff up your carpet in high-traffic areas. (Note: baking soda can clog some vacuum cleaners, so you’ll want to check your owner’s manual to make sure you have a model that can extract the baking soda from your carpet fibers without getting clogged.) 

Baking soda sprinkled over the carpet and then vacuumed will help eliminate odors clinging to the carpet. It will also loosen any pet hair that might be stuck to carpet fibers. Sprinkle straight baking soda over carpeting and let it sit for at least 15 minutes or even overnight if you can. For a more intense cleaning, work the baking soda into the pile with a stiff-bristled brush.

For hard flooring like the vinyl plank flooring at The Pointe Hilliard, it’s important to remember not to use wax, ammonia-based cleaners, or steam cleaners which can break down the vinyl over time. If you’re wiping up spills as they happen, it’s pretty simple to keep your vinyl flooring in good shape and prevent the need for a deep cleaning, but if you want to do an extra good job, make sure you’re using a vinyl-friendly mopping solution and if in doubt, check with your apartment’s property manager to see if your flooring has any specific cleaning instructions. 

Bathroom

If you want to save time during your deep cleaning sessions, taking a few extra minutes each day to clean your bathroom will help save time during those deep spring cleaning sessions. For example, if you have glass shower doors like some of the units at The Pointe HIlliard, you can use a squeegee each day to remove soap scum and water stains. This will prevent buildup and keep your shower looking clean and shiny. 

For mirrors and fixtures, you can mix equal parts vinegar and water and spray the solution onto the surfaces and wipe them clean. If your showerhead has any buildup or residue, you can fill a bag with white vinegar and tie it around the showerhead to soak overnight. Then simply remove the bag and run the shower to rinse it clean. 

Declutter

Decluttering throughout the year will make the task less daunting during spring cleaning season. You can follow the “one in, one out” rule by donating, throwing out, or selling an item each time you bring home something new. Regularly go through your mail, magazines, and other paperwork so you don’t have stacks building up around your home. 

Spring cleaning can seem like a daunting task for anyone with a busy schedule, but if you clean as you go and maintain a regular schedule of decluttering and tidying up, your home will stay nice and fresh all year long.

Need a fresh start? Check out The Pointe - Apartments in Hilliard– an apartment that is already immaculate is so much easier to maintain! And when you love where you live, tidying up doesn’t seem like such a chore. Lease a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom apartment now and move into your new home in time for summer. Call for a tour today: 614-344-1817.