BLOGGING THE VIEW: 10 things you didn’t know you should spring clean

Despite the last whip of the winter chill, spring is around the corner, and that means it’s time to get cleaning!

You are no doubt on top of all the traditional spring cleaning such as getting rid of unwanted clothing, toys and the like – but there are many things you should clean that you might have overlooked. Here’s a look at our top 10 ‘hidden’ items that might need a clean this spring.

1. Clean your doormats
Give your outdoor doormats a good hose off in the garden and then hang them out to dry. You might want to consider using an interior mat to better prevent dirt from being tracked through the house – they’re also easier to clean, simply throw them in the washing machine.

2. Clean your microwave
Fill up a large, microwave-safe bowl with a mixture of one cup of water and several tablespoons of vinegar (or thin slices of lemon or lime). Place this inside your microwave and turn it on high until the microwave steams up. Let it cool and then wipe the inside of the microwave with a damp cloth.

3. Clean your washing machine
Make sure you empty any lint filters in your washing machine and then do a special cleaning wash using either a dedicated washing machine cleaner, or add bleach or vinegar to the detergent rack and let it run on a hot wash. This will clean out any built-in grime and eradicate odours.

4. Clean your reusable bags
While great for the environment, your reusable shopping bags are probably a lot dirtier than you realise. Some might be machine washable, but others you might need to soak in warm soapy water to give them a good clean.

5. Clean your cutting boards
You no doubt clean your cutting boards after use, but in time they can become stained. You can fix this quite simply by sprinkling some baking soda and then rubbing a lemon, cut in half, over the board.

6. Clean out your bathroom cabinet
Your medicine and cosmetics all have an expiration date, but we often forget about this quite quickly. Take this time to go through your bathroom cabinet, removing any expired goods and replacing what needs replacing.

7. Clean out your drains
Your bathroom drains might need unclogging, but sometimes just a deep clean will get rid of that unwanted odour. Mix half a cup of baking soda with ¼ cup of salt. Pour this down the drain and follow it with one cup of white vinegar. Leave this for 15 minutes before running some hot water for 15 seconds.

8. Clean children’s toys
Stick all your children’s plastic toys in the dishwasher or washing machine and put them on a hot wash. For soft toys, a gentle cycle in the washing machine should do the trick.

9. Clean your electronics
Your cellphone goes everywhere, and picks up all the germs! Give it a wipe-down with disinfectant wipes a few times a week. You can do the same with your TV remote and computer mouse – all of which harbour germs.

10. Clean your rubbish bins
Give your rubbish bins a thorough scrub down and hosing before letting them air dry. You can also rub the inside with a lemon half as a way to eradicate any lingering odours.

Take a moment to look around your house and consider what items you use on a regular basis that don’t get enough of a deep clean! With the warmer weather drying things quicker, this is the perfect time to give everything a good spring clean and start afresh.

SOURCES
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/g3345/spring-cleaning-tips/

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