Cleaning doesn’t have to be onerous, people. In fact, there is something inherently satisfying about giving something you love a deep clean. It can be a way to bless your space, keeping it fresh, beautiful and livable. It provides a great opportunity to refresh your space, declutter and make seasonal updates. It allows our homes to keep evolving, along with us, and not get bogged down in dust, clutter and stagnant energy.
Speaking of dust, a motley collection of sloughed-off skin cells, hair, clothing fibers, bacteria, dust mites, bits of dead bugs, soil particles, pollen and microscopic specks of plastic, it is far from benign.
Dust, according to Clinical & engineering news, “can hold a witch’s brew of persistent organic pollutants, metals, endocrine disruptors, and more.” What’s more, dust doesn’t favor horizontal surfaces—it clings equally well to vertical surfaces as well. In an act of amazing dexterity, it can even blanket ceilings.
Even the most diligent deep cleaners can be clueless when it comes to how to clean walls and ceilings well. And cleaning windows is something of an art. Here’s Vitacost’s walls, ceiling and windows spring-cleaning edition.
How to Spring Clean Walls and Ceilings
1. Gather your supplies.
The good news is wall cleaning does not require any special wall cleaner. Here's what you should have on hand:
Steer clear of anything abrasive or containing harsh chemicals; start with simple products. These basic supplies are mild enough to use on most wall treatments but still get the job done.
2. Protect the floor from drips
Prepare by laying towels along the base of the walls to protect floors and collect any dust or drips.
3. Dust the walls
- Give the walls a dusting—using the dust brush attachment, vacuum your walls and follow by wiping them with a tack cloth. You can also use a foam craft brush to easily swipe away dust from baseboards and molding.
- Alternatively, you can wrap a dry mop head with a clean rag and dust from top to bottom without fear of scratches or dents.
- Or swipe ceilings and walls with a clean, dry microfiber mop, ideal for painted or wallpapered surfaces. The wide mop head makes quick work of removing cobwebs and dust, and the long pole helps you reach every corner and behind furniture.
- For textured ceilings or stucco walls, use a feather duster instead.
4. Mix water and dish soap
After the dust is wiped away, it's time to wash walls. Fill one bucket with a gallon of warm water and mix clear liquid hand or dish soap and water in the other. Soak a cloth in the solution and wring it out well.
5. Do a test patch
While the dish soap and water make for a gentle cleaning solution, you should always test an inconspicuous area to make sure the cleanser won't damage the material. Wallpaper and matte paint are more delicate than high-gloss paint, so it's good to err on the side of caution and do a little test.
6. Gently wash in circular motions
Once you know you are good to go, it's time to tackle the whole wall. Starting at the top of the wall and working your way down, go over the surface in light, circular motions. Apply as little moisture as possible to avoid bubbling or watermarks. Also, make sure not to apply too much pressure as you make your circle.
7. Tackle stubborn stains
If you come across any stubborn stains on painted walls, turn to baking soda and water. Baking soda is a natural stain fighter. Mix a half cup of baking soda with a quarter cup of water until it forms a paste. Gently rub that paste into the stained part of the wall and the stain should lift.
Hydrogen peroxide is another powerful stain remover—it works wonders on red wine stains. Take your cleaning rag (with the dish soap solution) and dab a little hydrogen peroxide onto it. Gently press it into the red wine stain for five minutes to lift it.
How to spring clean other overlooked areas
Ceiling fan
Ceiling fans accumulate a wondrous amount of grime. Stand on a ladder or sturdy chair to reach the blades (make sure fan is turned off). Use a soft cleaning cloth dampened with cleaner and wipe the blades, light fixture and casing.
Baseboards
Vacuum baseboards once a month using dust brush attachment. For spring cleaning, go big and wipe baseboards with a cloth dampened with warm water and all-purpose cleaner or mild dishwashing solution. Since baseboards are often painted with glossy paint, they can withstand a light scrubbing.
Doors
Using your dampened cloth, start from the top and work your way down. For stubborn fingerprints that collect around the handle, use a cloth with undiluted cleaner. Wipe doorknobs well with a damp cloth and buff dry.
How to Spring Clean Windows
Windows can be tricky. It’s all too easy to leave telltale streaks behind. Here are some tips for clean, clear, sparkling windows to greet the gorgeous weather.
Be window weather savvy
Choose an overcast or rainy day to clean windows. Otherwise, the blazing sun will dry your cleaner in hard to remove streaks.
Get the dust off before you clean
Before you get started, sweep dirt from the window frame with a brush, or suck it up with your vacuum’s dust attachment. This will prevent dirt from turning into a muddy mess when mixed with a cleaner. If your window screen looks especially grimy, pop it out and wash with hot, sudsy water and a soft brush, then rinse and let dry before putting it back.
Don’t skimp on spray
Don't hold back on the spray, especially if your windows look extra dirty. Plenty of cleaner is needed to dissolve and suspend the dirt so it can be wiped away. If you skimp, you'll be seeing streaks.
Use the right rag
Some folks like drying panes with newspaper, but you're better off with reusable microfiber cloths. They are super absorbent, washable and leave the glass shiny and streak-free. Try to avoid paper towels, which take their toll on the environment as do all single use paper products.
Maintain the clean
A thorough spring cleaning that covers the whole house is a great opportunity to establish ongoing house hygiene, which can make the next spring cleaning even easier. For instance, don't try to do all your spring cleaning in one day or even one weekend. Instead, chunk it out into groupings, such as windows one day, or just doing the walls and ceilings of one floor of your home at a time.
A final important tip: Get in the habit of tidying up for 10 to 15 minutes per day even after you're done with your spring cleaning tasks, spot cleaning or taking on a small area, so the ongoing cleaning project becomes less intimidating.
