5 spring cleaning tips for 2023

Cobwebs. Dust bunnies. So much junk! The long winter can bury us in more than just snow.

When you’re digging yourself out of the living room—or bathroom, or bedroom, or basement—this spring, use this checklist of the sneakiest things to clean (and how to clean them).

1. Wipe down your walls.

Use a vacuum hose extension to knock out crusty cobwebs in the uppermost corners of your walls. Got a dustbuster? It can work wonders around the baseboards of any room. But don’t ignore those pesky midsections! Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe away fingerprints, dust, and stains from your walls. Remember to start from top to bottom.

2. Deep clean your kitchen sink.

Harsh chemicals may be necessary to deep-clean your kitchen sink, but there are gentler, more natural ways to eliminate unwanted odors. Peel a lemon and an orange, slice up the rinds, and run them through your disposal. Run some cold water and voila—a sweeter smelling space in the cornerstone of your home.

3. Care for your cutting boards.

Still have a lemon from that kitchen sink experiment? Let’s use it to clean your cutting board. But first, sprinkle your cutting board (plastic, wooden, or otherwise) with baking soda. Then cut the lemon in half and run the flat side across your cutting board. Rinse with cold water and watch those gross food stains disappear.

4. Declutter your old cosmetics (and other junk).

Saving the bathroom for last? We wouldn’t blame you. But before you scrub the tub, take a look at your countertops and inside your medicine cabinet or drawers. Look for an expiration date or a shelf life printed on any makeup, skin care, or medical product. Ditch the old stuff and get ready to freshen up for the spring.

5. Refresh your makeup brushes.

It’s been a long few months of applying foundation, blush, and concealer—when was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes? Squeeze two drops of dish soap into your palm. Then gently scrub the bristles of your bristles into the soap. Once the brush is nice and soapy, rinse it with warm water, reshape the bristles, and set on a paper towel to dry.