Kitchen

1. Kitchen Cupboards

The secret to spotless cupboards is more than likely already in… your cupboards! If grease and gunk has built up on your cupboards, look no further than vinegar. It’s all-natural and safe to use on wood (yay!)

Simply mix a 50/50 vinegar and water solution in a spray bottle and mist it onto your cupboards. After letting it sit for a few minutes, wipe away the grime with a cloth. If you really want to get after it, you can use a toothbrush to clean the cabinet hardware. 

2. Dishwasher

Isn’t it funny how we sometimes forget to clean the things that clean for us? Think about all the muck that your dishwasher consumes!

Put the filter, dishwasher racks, and utensil holders in a solution of warm water and vinegar and let them sit for 30 minutes. Pick out any debris and food remnants from your dishwasher, then place 1 cup of distilled vinegar in a bowl on the top rack and run a hot cycle. Once the cycle is complete, sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and run a short, hot cycle for extra freshness. Scrub down the outside of the dishwasher door while you wait!

3. Kickplates

Kitchen kickplates are easy to forget about during a deep clean. Luckily, their shine can be restored with soapy water!

4. Stove Coils

Once you detach the burner from the stove, use a soapy sponge to scrub the grime on the coil. Before you reattach it, use the sponge to wipe the area on the stove around the coil - just be careful not to get any electrical components wet! 

5. Fridge & Pantry

How long has that oatmeal been living in the back of your pantry? What about those condiments in your fridge?

Remove everything from your fridge and pantry and make an expired food pile and a “keep” pile. Remember to compost the items you are throwing out and recycle their containers if you can. Clean your fridge (don’t forget the drawers!) and pantry with hot, soapy water. If you feel like your refrigerator needs to be sanitized, you can add 1 tablespoon of liquid bleach to 1 gallon of water.

*Donate opportunity: If you have unexpired food items (perishable and non-perishable) that you no longer want, please consider donating them to the Calgary Food Bank. Check out the Calgary Food Bank’s wish list.

6. Microwave

Remove the turntable and soak it in hot, soapy water. Once clean, return it to the microwave. Put half a lemon into a bowl of water (filled about halfway) and place it into the microwave. Put on high for 3 minutes. The steam produced from the lemon water works wonders and will make wiping down the inside of the microwave a breeze!

Bathroom

7. Shower

Stains in showers and bathtubs can sure be stubborn. Our favourite way to tackle these stains is a combo of baking soda and all-purpose cleaner. Spray the all-purpose cleaner on the stains and let it sit. Before scrubbing the cleaner away, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on top and wait about 15 mins. Use a cloth to wipe away the stains. 

For the shower head, fill a ziploc bag with vinegar. Submerge the shower head in the vinegar and use an elastic band to secure the bag to the shower head. After a few hours, remove the bag, wipe down the shower head, and turn the shower on to rinse out the vinegar.

8. Toilet

Everyone’s favourite thing to clean… not! Luckily, the same all-purpose cleaner and baking soda method for the shower works great on toilets. 

Bedroom

9. Mattress

Did you know mattresses typically DOUBLE their weight within 10 years? Now, that is a seriously nightmare-inducing fact! 

To deep clean your mattress, strip it, and give it a good vacuum. Sprinkle it all over with baking soda and let it sit for as many hours as you can to allow the baking soda to unleash its deodorizing power. Vacuum up the baking soda and voila!  

10. Pillows

Pillowcases are likely part of your regular bedding laundry, but what about the pillows themselves? Most pillows can actually just be cleaned in the washing machine on a warm cycle. Foam pillows are an exception, however - these should never go in the wash. Instead, use your vacuum attachment to remove dust and dirt from foam pillows.

11. Closet

The thought of purging clothing can be overwhelming at first, but we promise, there is no more freeing feeling than cleaning out your closet! 

We recommend having a “6 month rule” mindset - if you haven’t worn it in 6 months, it is time to say goodbye. Create 3 piles: keep, donate/sell, and throw away. Once you’ve gone through everything, try reorganizing your closet by colour and item for ease of outfit selection!

*Donate opportunity: Calgary has so many amazing organizations that are in need of clothing, especially during Calgary’s cold spells. Please consider donating your unwanted clothing items to organizations such as The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter, The Mustard Seed, or the Women In Need Society.

Living Room

12. Sofa

Who knows what kind of treasures are waiting for you under the couch cushions! Maybe you’ll even make some money during your spring cleaning journey.

Cleaning your sofa is pretty straight-forward. Simply remove the cushions and vacuum them, along with the sofa itself. Don’t forget to vacuum under the couch too!

13. Area Rug

We recommend waiting for a nice, sunny Calgary day to deep clean your area rug, as an outdoor station makes things a whole lot easier!

Vacuum both sides of the rug before rolling it up and moving it outside. Once outside, spray the area rug with a hose and work your favourite carpet shampoo into the fibers with a brush. Follow the timing instructions on the carpet shampoo then rinse the rug with the hose. Before bringing the rug back inside, it will have to dry completely. This may take a while, so you can bring it into a garage or shed to keep it protected.

Quick Cleaning Tips For Everywhere

14. Door Handles

Warm water and dishsoap work well to remove fingerprints and grime from door handles.

15. Walls

Using water to clean walls is not always the best method, as it can leave water stains on the paint. Instead, try using a swiffer to remove dust and build-up. 

Don’t have a swiffer? No problem! Try using a long sock on a broom handle for those hard-to-reach places. 

16. Fabrics

Lint rollers are an amazing option for cleaning upholstered items such as lampshades and fabric headboards.

17. Curtains

The chances of your curtains needing to be thrown in the washing machine are slim. Save yourself some time by using your vacuum wand to remove dust.

18. Window Screens

Place window screens in the bathtub and use the shower head to spray them down. Easy peasy! 

19. Window Tracks

While the screens are removed, use your vacuum nozzle to suck up any loose debris. Generously sprinkle baking soda all over the track and spray with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water. Let sit for 10 minutes then wipe up with paper towel.

20. Garbage Cans

Remembering to clean your garbage cans is crucial for keeping funky smells at bay. Fill a bucket with equal parts vinegar, dishsoap, and hot water. Use a clean toilet brush to scrub the inside of the garbage can and a cloth to scrub the outside. 

21. Baseboards 

A mix of warm water, vinegar, and dishsoap with a soft cloth or sponge should do the trick!

22. Shoes

Turns out that teeth aren’t the only things that can sparkle from toothpaste - your shoes can too! Use a non-gel, whitening toothpaste and an old toothbrush to make your white shoes look brand new. 

*Donate opportunity: Please refer to “Closet” in the Bedroom section for details.

A clean, clutter-free home leads to feelings of peace and happiness. Show your space a little love and it will repay you in spades. 

Have materials to dispose of?

After cleaning your whole house, you might have some items to dispose of that can't be donated. Use the our What Goes Where page or read our Unwanted Junk blog to learn more.