Spring Cleaning On A Budget

Spring is a time of renewal, and a spotless house sets the stage for a beautiful summer. Being fully committed to doing a thorough spring cleaning job doesn’t have to cost you big bucks. Armed with a proven spring cleaning plan that includes a workable schedule and a customized checklist, you can clean your home on a budget in less time and with less work. That’s what we call a win-win!

Tip and Tricks for Spring Cleaning on a Budget

Molly Maid® has compiled a complete guide to spring cleaning tips, including cost-effective strategies that use everyday household items, recipes for DIY cleaning solutions, and strategies for how to get your family involved to prepare your home for the sunny season.

Use Everyday Household Items for Spring Cleaning

To set everyone up with what they need to complete the spring cleaning job, you don’t have to make a trip to the store. Instead, leverage everyday household items to spring clean on a budget. For scrubbing your kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, floors…and everything else, you can get the job done with what you likely already have at home.

Upcycling Household Items

Decluttering is a big part of spring cleaning. It’s a great time to purge old and little-used items. But before you start throwing everything away, think about how you can upcycle some household items into the perfect cleaning tool to keep things within budget and environmentally friendly.

• Use old pillowcases to clean ceiling fan blades.
• Cut up old t-shirts into cleaning cloths.
• Take those old socks and use them to clean your blinds.
• Grab an old toothbrush for grout cleaning and removing laundry stains.
• Keep used dryer sheets for wiping off dusty furniture, baseboards, and blinds; their anti-static qualities repel dust and pet hair.
• Trap dust with microfiber dusting cloths. Since they also require less cleaning solution to get the job done, you’ll get more cleaning out of your supplies.

Other common household goods will help you tackle your spring cleaning chores.

Dish Soap

Dish soap is not just for cleaning dishes. Extremely versatile, dish soap can be used as a bathroom cleaner, stain fighter on clothes before they go into the washing machine, window cleaner, and even as an effective floor cleaner.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is found in most households, and it is brilliant for so many cleaning scenarios. It can be used as an all-purpose cleaner for countertops and bathrooms, a glass cleaner, or even a fabric softener and stain remover.

Baking Soda

Baking soda naturally absorbs odors, it’s why it is commonly used as a carpet cleaner. If you need to deep clean the oven or scour the bathtub, baking soda is your friend.

Lemon

Lemons contain natural antibacterial and brightening agents, making them a great, non-toxic choice for household cleaning jobs, including stubborn dirty spots.

Make Your Own DIY Cleaning Solutions

Aside from being a budget-friendly alternative to store-bought products, making your own cleaning solutions is a great way to skip bringing harsh chemicals into your home. Be kinder on your family’s health, including your pets, by using common household items.

From all-purpose cleaners you can use on multiple surfaces to creating pastes for fighting stubborn stains, vinegar, baking soda, lemons, and dish soap are some of the most versatile tools in your spring cleaning arsenal. Here are some effective DIY cleaning recipes that can help you tackle various cleaning tasks around your home:

All-purpose cleaner

Mix vinegar and water in equal parts into a spray bottle and use it on countertops, glass, and fixtures. Prefer a different scent? Add a few drops of your favorite all-natural essential oil to your vinegar-and-water combination.

Glass and mirror cleaner

For a streak-free glass cleaner, combine equal parts of water and vinegar with a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle.

Dusting spray

Combine equal parts olive oil and water in a spray bottle. Use this mixture to dust furniture.

Floor cleaner

Create a floor cleaner for tile and laminate flooring by combining ½ cup of vinegar and one gallon of water. Caution: Do not use on wood or natural stone.

Carpet deodorizer

To deodorize your carpets, sprinkle baking soda and let it sit for 30 minutes before vacuuming it.

Toilet bowl cleaner

If you are looking for a quick and effective toilet bowl cleaner, sprinkle baking soda and pour vinegar into the toilet bowl. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before scrubbing with a toilet brush.

Tub and Tile Cleaner

Fight built up soap scum and grime in the bathroom by combining 1 1/2 cups of baking soda, 1/2 cup of liquid soap, 1/2 cup of water, and 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Spray it on and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing it.

Drain Cleaner

This effective DIY drain cleaner works as well in the bathroom as it does in the kitchen. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain and follow this with 1 cup of vinegar. Let it sit and bubble for 15 minutes before you rinse the drain with hot or boiling water.

Grout cleaner

Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a paste. Apply it to the grout and let it sit for a while before cleaning it off.

Microwave cleaner

Place a couple of slices of lemons in a bowl of water in the microwave and heat for 5 minutes, allowing the steam to loosen the grime. Wipe down.

Grease remover

Use the all-purpose recipe and add lemon juice to boost grease-cutting power. Dealing with more built-up grease? Make a paste using water and baking soda and let it sit on greasy areas like the stovetop before scrubbing off stubborn spots.

Family-Friendly Spring Cleaning Strategies

Teamwork makes the dream work! Involve your family and build healthy cleaning habits from an early age.

Create a plan

Sit down with the family and assign age-appropriate jobs so everyone knows the schedule and their responsibilities.

Prep cleaning caddies

To set everyone up for spring cleaning success, prep designated cleaning stations that are equipped with all of the necessary supplies like cleaning solutions, trash bags, gloves, and clothes.

Keep it fun

Involving kids in cleaning tasks can be rewarding and educational, especially if you keep it lighthearted. Remember that using positive reinforcement motivates kids to participate more actively.

1. Make a chore chart to track tasks and responsibilities, and let them put stickers on it.
2. Turn it into a game. Use timers for speed challenges or play lively music to create an upbeat atmosphere.
3. Provide kids with child-sized cleaning supplies and tools like small brooms and spray bottles filled with safe cleaning solutions.
4. Create opportunities for kids to have personalized cleaning tasks like choosing how to organize toys. If you are decluttering each room before you clean, let the kids help decide which items go into the “keep”, “donate”, or “recycle” piles.

Maintaining Cleanliness

Whether you’re flying solo or have the whole gang at home, keeping your place clean and neat calls for a strategy. Most messes only take a few minutes to clean up (or prevent). Go through your day applying quick and easy ways to maintain a sparkling clean home:

• Make your bed. It doesn’t take long and is an ideal way to get your day started on the right foot.
• Transfer clothes from bedroom and bathroom hampers to the laundry room every morning.
• Load the dishwasher as you go and wipe the counters before you leave the kitchen.
• Dust and sweep or vacuum one room per day.
• Perform a quick decluttering in common rooms before settling in for the night.
• Put things like books and laptops back where they belong before you call it a day.

Keep a clean, healthy, and more manageable home when you break down seemingly overwhelming cleaning tasks into small chunks.

When You Can’t Do It All Yourself

These tips combined with your spring cleaning strategy will help you welcome spring with a fresh, clean home. However, if the one thing you’re missing is time, Molly Maid can help. Let us tackle the dirty work! Our team of local cleaning pros has all the tools and expertise needed to give your home the ultimate clean. Whether you just need a one-time cleaning, special event cleaning, or recurring cleaning service, we can help you get it all done. Call us to discuss your cleaning needs or request a free estimate online today.

All Molly Maid franchises are locally owned and operated and may offer fewer or more services than those listed here. To learn more about the cleaning services offered in your area, contact the Molly Maid nearest you for details or a customized on-site assessment.