Mike Garten
Spring is here, which means you have no excuses: It's officially time to clean your entire house (say, spring cleaning?). If you don't know where to start, work your way through these tried-and-tested cleaning tips from the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab to add sparkle and shine to any (and every!) room. It's up to you: Take things room by room, or tackle one small appliance at a time until everything is free of grime, mildew, dust, and whatever else is making it look — and feel — dirty. When all is said and done, your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and every other corner in your home will look just like new. Grab your rubber gloves, start cleaning, and you'll see what we're talking about.
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Remove build-up in your humidifier.
Think about it: The water that makes your humidifier run smoothly is also breeding ground for mold and microbes. To clean, pour two cups of undiluted white vinegar into the water tank and swish it around until wet. Place the vinegar-filled tank on the base and allow it to drain into the reservoir for 15 - 20 minutes. Empty it and use a small brush to scrub crevices, removing remaining build-up.
RELATED: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Clean a Humidifier
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Restore your dishwasher.
Over time, excess food and grime will build up in your dishwasher's interior. Get in the habit of cleaning any remaining bits of foods — beans, pasta, and so on — after each dishwashing cycle. Pull out the bottom rack to look for any leftover food and remove it with a paper towel to prevent future odors.
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Scrub your toilet clean.
Apply a toilet bowl cleaner, and let it sit for up to five minutes before scrubbing with a stiff-bristled toilet brush. Then wipe down the toilet seat and handle with disinfectant wipes. The goal? A sparkling white bowl and germ-free toilet seat.
RELATED: How to Clean Your Toilet Properly
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Revive cloudy glasses.
Remove built-up film from hard-water minerals by soaking stemware in white vinegar for five minutes. Then rinse by hand and dry with a microfiber cloth.
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Sanitize your phone.
The icky truth: Your cell might harbor more germs than a toilet seat. Zap germs with an alcohol wipe, and give your TV remote and computer mouse the same treatment while you're at it.
RELATED: How to Clean Your Cell Phone
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Clean out candleholders.
Save a pretty container when the candle's spent by rinsing it with steaming hot water and scooping out the wax residue inside with a paper towel.
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Descale your coffee maker.
Remove caked-on minerals by filling the reservoir with a mixture that's half vinegar, half water. Let the solution brew halfway, then stop and let it sit for 30 minutes before completing the cycle. Rinse by "brewing" a pot of clean water afterwards.
RELATED: How to Clean a Keurig
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Re-season rusty cast iron.
Over-scrubbing cast iron with metal scouring pads can remove the seasoning from your trusty skillet. To restore the finish, use a scrub sponge to remove any rust, clean with a bit of mild dish soap, then rinse and dry well. Coat the inside and outside with vegetable oil and bake upside down in the oven at 350 degrees for one hour. Let cool and remove excess grease with a paper towel.
RELATED: How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet
Andrew McCaul
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Rethink the linen closet.
Tackle an overflowing storage spot by adding an over-the-door rack for extra towels. Shelf dividers stop folded washcloths from toppling over, and baskets corral surplus toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
RELATED: Seriously Smart Linen Closet Organization Ideas
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Restore your shower pressure.
Unclog your shower head by mixing equal parts white vinegar and water and pouring it into a plastic bag. Tie the bag around the shower head to immerse the holes in the solution and secure with a twist tie. Let it soak for up to an hour, then remove and wipe away the loosened deposits.
RELATED: How to Clean Your Shower Head
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Make sneakers bright again.
Get your white tennis shoes to their just-out-of-the-box state by hand washing with a mild soap and water, then clean rubber soles and sides with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
RELATED: How to Clean White Sneakers
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Freshen the shower curtain.
To banish moldy spots, throw plastic or vinyl curtains in the washing machine with a little detergent. Add two to three bath towels for extra cleaning agitation, then hang it to dry or put in the dryer on low heat or fluff only. To keep it fresher longer, stretch the curtain out after each shower to help moisture dissipate.
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Fluff feather pillows.
Yep, feather pillows can get washed and dried in the machine. Load two pillows at a time for balance and use only a small amount of detergent. Wash them on a delicate cycle with an extra rinse, then tumble dry on low with several clean tennis balls to poof them back up.
RELATED: The Best Way to Clean Pillows
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Lift the worst wine stains.
To save your carpet, start by blotting up as much vino as possible. (You can even stand on absorbent cloths if necessary). Then saturate the stain with Wine Away and let set for up to five minutes before blotting again until the stain is completely gone.
RELATED: How to Get Rid of Red Wine Stains
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Easily buff out floor scuffs.
Protect your hardwood by removing small marks with a sock or clean tennis ball. To erase bigger scuffs, add a little baking soda to a damp cloth and gently rub. Then rinse with a damp paper towel and dry.
RELATED: How to Clean Hardwood Floors
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Make an all-purpose cleaner.
Here's a DIY cleaner recipe that will make nearly every surface gleam (especially kitchen counters, appliances, and inside the refrigerator). Combine 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart warm water, and wipe messes away with a sponge.
RELATED: The Best Homemade Cleaners to Make
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Freshen up smelly sneakers.
After spin class, sprinkle some baking soda inside your shoes (and your gym bag while you're at it) to deodorize them. Just tap it out before you wear them again.
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Banish stray marks from coloring time.
Toothpaste will erase marker stains from wood — a handy trick to have in your back pocket if you've got creative kids.
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De-stink the garbage disposal.
Run a few lemon rinds through the disposal and follow with cold water to dispel any sour odors.
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Freshen stuffed animals.
In between baths (in the washing machine, of course), groom your kids' plush pals by giving them a quick once-over with a lint roller.
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De-funk hairbrushes and combs.
Combat build-up from hair products with a sudsy solution of a few drops of dish soap or gentle shampoo mixed with warm water.
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Wipe out wall doodles.
When your child's artistic efforts end up all over your new paint job, scrub lightly with a damp sponge sprinkled in baking soda.
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Make a glass cleaner with vinegar.
Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar with 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70% concentration) and 2 cups water and dispense into an empty spray bottle. To clean your windows, wait for a cool, cloudy day and squirt the solution onto the glass, wiping with a clean microfiber cloth to avoid streaking.
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Fight pet stink.
Deodorize the soft, cushy places around your house — including the dog bed — by sprinkling surfaces with baking soda, letting it sit for 15 minutes, and then vacuuming it up.
RELATED: How to Get Rid of Unwanted Odors
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Put a tidy bath on autopilot.
Shed expired and unused items as well as bulky packaging. Instead, store products in easy-in-and-out jars, bags, and baskets.
RELATED: Smart Bathroom Shelf Ideas to Keep Your Toiletries Under Control
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Clear a slow drain.
When you notice your drain is starting to clog, pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down it, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Cover with a wet cloth to contain the science fair-like effects. Wait five minutes and then flush with hot water.
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Clean the car without a vacuum.
Stash a lint roller in the glove compartment to pick up stray crumbs and pet hair. It can fit in nooks and crannies where your vacuum attachments can't reach.
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Untangle a knotted necklace.
Never waste time desperately tugging at tangled jewelry again. Loosen the knot by sprinkling a little baby powder on it and then using a pin to pull it apart.
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Soften fuzzy towels.
If you've got hard water, mineral buildup can make your towels extra scratchy. To lift deposits, wash the towels in the hottest water possible, and add 1 cup of ammonia and nothing else.
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Get stains out of a cutting board.
Run the cut side of a lemon over the board to remove food stains and smells. For extra cleaning power, sprinkle it with salt or baking soda first.
Caroline PicardCaroline was the Health Editor at GoodHousekeeping.com up until late 2019, where she covered nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news.
Amanda GarrityAmanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion.
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