4 Cleaning Trends and Expert Tricks That'll Revolutionize Your Spring Cleaning Routine

If the phrase "out with the old, in with the new" had a season, it would be springtime. Once it arrives, the days of your too-warm flannel sheets and jeans you haven't worn in ages are numbered. Along with everything else you're tossing or donating this go-around, consider getting rid of your old cleaning routine, too. In their place, try incorporating some new spring cleaning trends into your seasonal spruce-up.

To help maximize your time and energy (and maybe even have some fun in the process), we consulted cleaning professionals for their top tricks, trends, and unconventional methods for cleaning this spring.

Stream and Clean

“Spring cleaning checklists should always include mattress cleaning,” says cleaning expert and scientist Mary Gagliardi. A deep clean can help eliminate dust, allergens, and odors—but that doesn’t mean it has to feel like a chore. This is the perfect task to pair with your favorite binge-watch session.

1. Strip the bed, toss the bedding in the wash, and start your show. This is your "laundry loading" episode.
2. Check for any spots on the mattress, and use a steamer or upholstery cleaner to treat them. While those dry, toss the sheets in the dryer and cue up another episode.
3. Generously sprinkle baking soda across the surface of the mattress. Let it sit for at least one full episode (or about an hour). Bonus: Your room will smell fresh by the end of your binge.
4. Thoroughly vacuum the baking soda off of the mattress, using the crevice attachment to get into seams and edges.
5. Lightly mist with a fabric-safe disinfectant or rubbing alcohol to kill bacteria and freshen things up. Let the mattress breathe while you finish your last episode, then remake the bed with freshly washed bedding.

Embrace the 1-3-5 Method

The idea is simple: To avoid overwhelm, choose one big task, three medium tasks, and five small tasks to tackle in a single spring cleaning session.

Here are some spring cleaning tasks our experts recommend trying with the 1-3-5 Method:

Big Task: Total Pantry Clean-Out and Reset

“Spring is the perfect time to sort through the items in your pantry, wiping down shelves, bottles, and packages that have accumulated dust over the winter,” says Gagliardi. She likes to use Clorox Free & Clear Compostable Cleaning Wipes since they are safe to use around food.

Remove all items from the pantry shelves, wipe down shelves, containers, jars, and packages with cleaning wipes, discard expired or stale items, and place items close to expiration near the front to use up soon.

Medium Tasks: Refresh Upholstery, Clean Drains, Cabinet Cleanup

Refresh Upholstery: Remove cushions and vacuum all upholstery thoroughly, then spritz the surfaces with a fabric-friendly disinfectant (such as Clorox Disinfecting Mist or even simple rubbing alcohol) and allow to dry thoroughly. 

Clean Drains and Disposals: Pour ½ cup of baking soda down each drain, and follow with 1 cup of vinegar. Let it fizz for 10 minutes, then pour very hot to boiling water down the drain. For garbage disposals, run ice cubes and lemon wedges through to freshen. “Any time I can’t identify an odor, I do a drain cleaning. You’d be surprised how often it turns out to be the culprit,” shares cleaning professional Stephanie Phillips. 

Cabinet Cleanup: “Kitchen cabinets accumulate a lot of airborne grease,” says Gagliardi. Use a degreaser spray on cabinet doors, both inside and out, then wipe clean using a cloth or sponge. (Don’t forget the kick-plates under base cabinets and the range hood.)

Small Tasks 

Phillips told us that if she were going to choose five spring cleaning tasks she could complete in five minutes, she would:

• Wipe doorknobs
• Check each room for burned-out lightbulbs
• Organize her silverware drawer
• Make sure there is extra toilet paper in every bathroom
• Replace her AC filter
  

Practice "One In/One Out" With Seasonal Items

If you feel overwhelmed by “stuff,” implementing a one-in/one-out rule can help keep your home from accumulating more things. If you purchased any new spring or summer items in anticipation of the seasonal switch, you’ll have to find one item to purge from what you already have. Bought a new swimsuit? Time to get rid of an old one. Thrifted some melamine plates for outdoor entertaining? Another bit of dishware has got to go.

In September, when you switch back to your fall and winter décor and clothing, the same rule applies. 

Sunday Reset: Spring Cleaning Edition

Everyone loves a good Sunday reset. TikTok especially has been fixated on the concept, with users posting the Sunday activities that prepare them for the week ahead.

Make the most of the Sunday reset trend by incorporating your spring cleaning tasks while you’re changing your sheets, meal prepping, and ensuring you’re ready to tackle your Monday-Friday. Phillips suggests washing your seasonal sheets and wiping down interior windows, as detailed below.

Wash Your Seasonal Sheets

Give those thick winter sheets a final wash before putting them away and bring your lighter sheets out for the warmer seasons. "I always give the light summer linens I pull out of seasonal storage a thorough wash, and, if the weather is nice, I love hanging sheets in the sun to dry," says Phillips. "Nothing smells like spring more than fresh, line-dried sheets." This is a great time to take down your curtains and run them through the wash, too. 

Clean Inside Windows (But Trust the Outside to a Pro)

Our experts agree that cleaning the inside of your windows should be on every spring cleaning list. (Tackle this chore during your Sunday reset's weekly wash.) Wipe the sills and panes with a microfiber cloth using glass cleaner or cleaning vinegar to remove any dust, handprints, or streaks.

Your exterior windows probably need a good scrub after the snow and wind of wintertime, but experts suggest leaving that to the pros. Letting a professional with proper equipment handle windows on second floors and above is the safer choice. (Use your Sunday reset to hire a window cleaning service. Check!)