The temperatures are rising, the sun is shining, the snow is melting, and we’re officially ready to shake off winter and welcome spring! With the new season fast approaching, there’s no better way to kickstart the sunnier months in the Kitchener and Waterloo area than with a good old deep-clean to knock off the cobwebs and give this year a fresh, well-deserved start.
In order to help get your luxury apartmentin five-star shape, The Barrel Yards team has compiled this list of top-notch cleaning tips and tricks to help you make the most of your time, get a great spring cleaning checklist – and get you back on track for enjoying a clean home and a fresh, sunny perspective.
Spring Cleaning Tips + Tricks
KITCHEN:
Steam Clean the Microwave – Cut the elbow grease out of cleaning your microwave by cutting a lemon in half, squeezing the lemon juice into a bowl with 1-2 cups of water, tossing the lemon in, and microwaving for 3 minutes. Let the lemon mixture stand for 5 minutes without opening the door, allowing the steam to loosen the food debris, and voilà – a quick and easy wipe down will clear the grime and leave you with a microwave that’s fresh and clean, without the extra work.
Get Sparkling Faucets and Sinks with Citrus – For a fresh, natural, spotless clean on your faucets and stainless steel sinks, grab yourself another lemon, cut it in half, and use it to rub on your stains, rust, and hard water spots. The citric acid will remove the unsightly marks and leave you with a great clean – and an even better citrusy, non-chemical-based smell.
Clean Those Coffee Makers – Many of us love our daily caffeine, but we often neglect the coffee maker until there’s a noticeable buildup or a descaling alert. Check your machine’s user manual first, however generally a fool-proof method to keep your coffee maker in tip-top condition is to combine a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water, start the brew process – and turn it off halfway through the full brew to allow for a deep, steam cleaning within your machine. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes, then complete the brew cycle. Rinse and finish with 3 full cycles of water and repeat regularly for a consistent clean.
Purge the Pantry- Clear out the kitchen pantry by removing all food products and checking for freshness, supply stock levels and past-due expiry dates. Wipe your shelves down with a fresh cleaning solution and restock your shelves in an organized manner, giving you plenty of space, an updated shopping list and perhaps a few new ideas of things to use for tonight’s dinner plans.
BATHROOM:
Cut out Cosmetic Clutter – Spring cleaning season is the perfect time to check out your medicine cabinet and toiletries for expired medications, cosmetics, and past-prime products. Check the expiry dates on sunscreens, vitamins, allergy medications, old prescription bottles, mascara, makeup, and more. Out with the old and in with the new, while you wipe down shelves, and cabinets and start the new season fresh and fully stocked.
Tackle the Tiles- In order to keep your tiles and flooring looking spic and span, sprinkle baking soda on your grout, and spray with a bottle filled with white vinegar. Let the mixture sit and bubble for a few minutes before tackling it with a toothbrush, gently scrubbing away the grease and grime. Rinse with water when done and enjoy a fresh, clean, and well-maintained look for months to come.
Lighten the Linen Collection- Towels, washcloths, and linens can lose their lushness over time and spring cleaning offers the perfect opportunity to spruce up your collection. Sort through the excess items to provide you with more storage space, and wipe down shelves for a thorough cleaning of your closets. The Barrel Yards team recommends donating old linens and towels to your local animal shelters to help support a great cause, while also giving your spaces a fresh, clean, uncluttered feel.
BEDROOMS:
Closet Clear Out – We’re all guilty of holding on to clothing, shoes, and accessories that no longer fit or haven’t kept up with the times. Spring cleaning presents the perfect time to sort through your clothing stash, have an in-home fashion show, and create a pile of clothing to donate to your local Kitchener or Waterloo donation centre. Cut the clutter and clean out those closets!
Bring out the Best of the Bedding – It’s time to toss those down-filled and microfiber pillows into the washing machine and set yourself up for a fresh, clean sleep! Check your pillows for care instructions, however a warm wash, on a gentle cycle, with a low tumble dry will often give you a great, fresh, and fluffy clean. Feel like your mattress could use a refresh? Try vacuuming it, followed by sprinkling and scrubbing with baking soda, followed by another vacuuming.
LIVING ROOM, OFFICE, AND DEN:
Remove the Ragged from Your Rugs – It can be surprisingly easy to clean excess pet fur, lint, or dust from rugs and soft surfaces – with help from a window squeegee or lint roller. Use the rubber edge of a squeegee to scrape and collect fur and lint from throw rugs and carpets, and lint rollers will easily lift dust and debris from lampshades, accent pillows, and drapes. For a final fresh touch, sprinkle baking soda on rugs, and fabric furniture, then vacuum up to leave them smelling extra fresh and clean.
Ditch the Dust- Blinds can collect a staggering amount of dust and a thorough spring cleaning is often in order. To save yourself time and effort – secure cleaning rags or lint cloths to a pair of kitchen tongs with elastics and run along the blind slats to remove dust and cobwebs.
Clean Those Keyboards! Has your keyboard been used and abused? Use cotton swabs to wipe out dust and debris from in between your keys, or use compressed air to give a thorough cleaning that’s sure to put a little more life back into your equipment. Use a cleaning solution to wipe away those coffee mug stains and rings on your desk while you’re at it, for a fresh office feeling.
Office Organization – Keep an organized mind with more organized spaces while working remotely from your luxury apartment home office. Consider using a label maker to help identify office supply storage spaces, closets, and pantries to find what you need quickly while staying on task. Make a point to clean out briefcases, purses, backpacks, and wallets to remove excess documents and receipts, or unused items that might be unnecessarily weighing you down. While you’re at it – take the time to review your phone and email inbox for outdated correspondence and a list of contacts to update or unsubscribe from.
There you have it, a comprehensive spring cleaning list to get you started on a fresh new spring season for 2021! If you’re hoping for more spring-cleaning tips and guides to add to your clean routine, we suggest checking out this printable Deep Cleaning Checklist to print out and keep on hand.
If you’re looking for a clean start in Uptown Waterloo, we invite you to explore our beautiful Barrel Yards community, where we offer modern layouts, first-rate amenities, great local attractions, and the best of luxury apartment living in the Kitchener and Waterloo region. Contact us today to schedule a tour – and see how great everyday living can feel every single day of the year.
