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Overhaul your cleaning supplies -

Before you get started, go through your cleaning supplies and toss the toxins out. It's important to create a healthier and safer home, so avoid air fresheners and choose products that do not contain fragrances, irritants, and flammable ingredients.

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Start small -

Start small by cleaning one of your most used appliances: the microwave. If it has stains and residue buildup, combine in a bowl one cup of water, one cup of vinegar, and two tablespoons of lemon juice. Place the bowl in the empty microwave and set on high for two minutes. Wipe down with a damp cloth.

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Clean your beddings -

You only need to clean bulky items, like pillows and comforters, two or three times a year, so they should be a priority during spring cleaning. But make sure you check the manufacturer's label before tossing them into the washing machine.

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Make stainless steel sparkle -

To make your stainless steel sparkle again, mix a solution of one teaspoon of dish detergent and one cup hot water. Using a microfiber cloth, rub the detergent solution onto the marks. Rinse with clean hot water and dry immediately with a clean cloth.

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Freshen up your washing machine -

Before you notice any odor in your appliance, freshen it up by adding bleach and turning on the special washer cleaning cycle on your machine.

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Purify the air -

Improve the air quality of your home by leaving the windows open for a few hours. This will release the stagnant air that filled your house all winter.

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Flush the drains -

To keep drains unclogged, pour a cup of white distilled vinegar down them once every two weeks. Allow the mixture to sit for 30 minutes, then run cold water to flush it out.

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Wipe down mirrors with old T-shirts -

Set aside any old cotton T-shirt, as they are excellent for wiping mirrors. For a chemical-free clean, mix white vinegar, distilled water, and a few drops of an essential oil. Shake, spritz, and then wipe dry.

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Disinfect your trash can -

In a small bowl, mix one cup white vinegar with two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol, and 20-40 drops of tea tree or lemon-eucalyptus essential oil. Then, use a soft microfiber rag dipped in the mixture to clean every crevice.

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Toss throw pillows in the dryer -

Decorative pillows can be breeding grounds for dust mites, especially pillows that you use behind your back or underneath your neck. Toss the pillows in a hot dryer to kill the dust mites, or place them outside in the hot sun or in the freezer for a day.

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Clean behind your furniture -

Pull furniture away from walls and vacuum behind and under the items. This will also air vent the space while you're back there cleaning thoroughly.

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Run your dishwasher with white vinegar -

Give your dishwasher a refresh by dumping a couple of cups of white vinegar in the machine and running a hot cycle. This will help it run smoothly for longer.

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Freshen your wardrobe with a vodka spritz -

If your spring and summer clothes have been tucked away all winter, get rid of any musty smells with a homemade cleaning spray. Put vodka into an empty spray bottle, then spritz onto clothes to dampen. Let it sit, then wash the garment as usual.

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Spray some vodka on your jewelry -

Vodka is also a great cleaning solution for your accessories. Soak gold and silver jewelry in vodka, then use a clean toothbrush to loosen any debris. Just remember to never do this on delicate pearls or precious gems.

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Dust your ceiling fans -

Cleaning ceiling fans can be a dirty job, so protect your space by putting an old sheet on the floor, covering an area about twice the span of the blades. Then use an extendable duster to wipe the blades.

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Freshen up your curtains -

Put your dryer to work and toss drapes and curtains in there for 15 minutes on the 'air-only' cycle. Then rehang them immediately to avoid wrinkles.

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Clean the windows on a shady day -

For best results, clean your windows on a shady day, as direct sun can lead to streaks. For less scrubbing, soak the glass with a mixture of clean water and mild soap to break down any dirt or debris. Then apply a mild cleaning product with  a microfiber cloth.

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Use coffee filters on screens -

If your TV screen is filled with fingerprints and smudges, use this streak-free method that won't scratch: glide a coffee filter over the screen.

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Clean baked-on grime -

To remove baked-on grim, place a hot, wet cloth on top of burned spots to help soften them. Then scrub with a sprinkle of baking powder and a heavy-duty pad. Rinse and wipe dry.

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Steam clean furniture -

Couches or lounge chairs are exposed to heat, sweat, and flaked-off skin, which attracts dust mites. Use a hot steamer during your deep-clean, and once a week clean it with your vacuum's upholstery attachment.

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Wash your shower curtain -

Wash plastic or vinyl shower curtains along with a few bath towels on the gentle cycle with normal detergent. Let it hang dry before showering. To keep it cleaner for longer, spritz it a few times each month with a bleach-containing all-purpose cleaner, then rinse it off.

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Vacuum your mattress -

Vacuum the top and sides of the mattress using the upholstery attachment. If it has any odor or shows signs of staining, sprinkle baking soda over the top of it and let sit for 30 minutes before vacuuming up. Finally, rotate the mattress 180 degrees.

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Declutter your makeup cabinet -

Getting rid of expired makeup and skincare and hair products is a quick way to declutter. Not all products have an expiration date, but many say how many months the product will last after opening.

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Clean up your bookshelves -

Clean up your shelves and reorganize your books. You can alphabetize, coordinate by color, or sort by size. Just make sure you dust the shelves before putting anything back.

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Clean your dryer -

After removing the fuzz from your dryer's filter, pull out hard-to-reach lint with the crevice tool on your vacuum to suck up debris. Vacuum under, around, and behind the dryer as well.

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Dive into your junk drawer -

Once you empty out your drawer, suck out dust and other debris with your vacuum's nozzle. Remove any items you no longer need or that don't belong there, and re-organize it.

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Double up on doormats -

Trap more dirt by using two mats, one outside the door and one inside. To refresh, vacuum on both sides, hose off, and then air-dry.

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Disinfect your knife block -

The best way to prevent bacteria growth within your knife block is to thoroughly clean and dry knives before putting them back. But it's also important to do a deep clean once a year. Do this by submerging the knife block in a mixture of lukewarm water and one tablespoon of household bleach. Let the wooden block soak in the mixture for two minutes, then turn upside-down onto a dry towel to air-dry completely.

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Clean your old shoes with baking soda -

For an easy refresh, simply sprinkle baking soda inside the shoes and let sit overnight. The next morning, all you have to do is shake out the powder.

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Wash your pet's bed -

Often overlooked, pet bedding is the perfect source for dust mites. Clean the bed in the washing machine on the highest setting possible. If your pet’s bedding isn’t machine-washable, place it outside in the hot sun or freezing cold at least once every two weeks to keep dust mites away. 

Sources: (Oprah Daily) (Good Housekeeping)

See also: How to keep your bathroom organized

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