It’s that special time of year when we have made it through the hectic holiday season, have finished our taxes (or almost!), and we turn to sprucing up our homes.

Whether you are preparing to move or just want to refresh your home, here are 5 tips to help you jumpstart your spring cleaning:

1. Clean Painted Walls
Stained walls can be difficult to clean, but removing those smudges makes all the difference in helping your home look neat and tidy. Start with a clean cloth and water. If that doesn’t work, add some mild dish soap. For tougher stains, apply some dish soap directly to the wall or use a stronger all purpose cleaner. Whether you use soap or a spray cleaner, be sure the wipe away the product with a wet, clean rag.

2. Refresh Your Carpet
Depending on whether shoes are worn in your house or not, you need to have your carpet professionally cleaned once every 18 months to three times per year. To reduce the hassle of professional cleaning, consider implementing a “no shoes” rule. Using a top-load vacuum equipped with HEPA filters will help keep your carpets–and the air your breathe–clean. To remove pesky spots between professional cleanings, a common carpet cleaner such as Resolve should do the trick.

3. Your Tiles Need Attention Too!
We’re used to fretting over our carpets, but we aren’t concerned with our tiles and grout nearly as much. Tiles and grout can be easily refreshed with a homemade solution of 1/2 cup of baking soda mixed with 2 gallons of water. Or, consider a pH neutral cleaner from the hardware store.

4. Organize Closets
It may not be the most fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but purging clutter is a key step to keeping your home clean and making your daily routine easier. If you haven’t worn or used an item in over six months, donate it. Organize your clothes by color and item.

5. Cabinet TLC
You’ve likely noticed that kitchen cabinets acquire impossible-to-remove residue over time. Luckily, there’s any easy solution! Buy a bottle of cabinet cream from your local hardware store for easy dirt and grease removal.

6. Air Out Bedding
For bedding that doesn’t appear to need washing, refresh by letting it sit outside for a day. It will smell as good as new!

7. Mattress Makeover
While your comforters are sunbathing or being washed, turn to your mattress. First, vacuum it with the crevice tool, then spot clean any marks, and finish off with a disinfecting spritz.

8. Wash Your Windows
You won’t realize how much dirt has built up on your windows until you wash them! Start by putting a few drops of mild dish soap into a bucket of warm water. Wipe down the windows with a sponge and then run a squeegee from top to bottom down the windows. Overlap strokes with the squeegee and wipe the windowsills with a cloth when finished. For best results, do this on a cloudy day to prevent soap from drying before you wipe it away. You’ll be amazed by how much brighter your home will feel!

9. Clean Your Vacuum
It’s not something most of us would ever think to clean, but your vacuum needs a little extra love once in awhile. Replace the bag, clean the filter with soap and water, clean the dust cup, and tear away hair from the brush with a pair of scissors.

10. Hello, Baseboards!
How much attention do you pay to your baseboards? Put on an old sock dampened with cleaning solution and run your foot along the boards. Voila! That was easy, wasn’t it?

Do you have spring cleaning tips to share? Let us know in the comments section below! 

••Originally posted by Village Associates••