The 6 Top-Secret Spring Cleaning Tips Professionals Don’t Want You to Know

There’s something about spring that never fails to make us want to start anew. Flowers are blooming and animals are slowly crawling out of their hibernation, so it only feels natural to turn over a new leaf, too. And what better place to start than with our homes?

For as long as we can remember, spring cleaning has gone hand in hand with the shift of seasons. While decluttering and wiping down countertops might be standard spring cleaning chores, there’s more to the process than meets the eye. That’s exactly why we tapped a few cleaning professionals to share their insider tips that will change how you clean once and for all. From when you start spring cleaning to the products you use, these clean-oisseurs are sharing their top-secret tricks here. (In fact, we bet that some cleaning experts wish you didn’t know these pointers, but that can be our little secret, right?)

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1. Find Your Flow

With so many things to do, figuring out where to begin your spring cleaning can be a doozy. For some cleaning pros, step one is the last place you’d expect. “It is best to start with the least-used room and work your way up to the most frequently used room,” Rhonda Wilson, a quality lead cleaner at FreshSpace Cleaning, which services a range of cities like San Francisco. “This way, any dust or dirt that gets kicked up during cleaning will not end up in the areas that you use the most. 

While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to start cleaning from the top of the room and work your way down. “Any debris falls to the floor and can be easily cleaned up,” Wilson adds.

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2. Bundle Up Your Trash Bags

Decluttering your belongings is all Marie Kondo magic until your trash bag of stuff breaks without any warning. So why not bundle up? “I double-layer trash bags,” Wilson says. “All you have to do is place one bag inside the other, and you’re good to go. If one bag tears, the other one will save the day!”

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3. Rethink Your Cleaning Arsenal

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need an entire pantry full of various soaps, sprays, and sponges to have a clean home. In fact, some of the best cleaning accessories can pull double or triple duty. 

“Our cleaners swear by using dryer sheets to banish static cling and repel dust from surfaces,” says Daniel Vivanco, owner and founder of Ace of Maids in Arizona. “It’s a simple yet effective technique that leaves homes smelling laundry-fresh with minimal effort.” Another multipurpose must-have? Vinegar, which can tackle everything from greasy stovetop to soap-scum showers. “Its cleaning prowess is unparalleled, leaving surfaces sparkling clean without the need for harsh chemicals,” he adds.

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4. Give Soft-Washing a Spin

Though pressure-washing might seem like an effective way to eradicate everything from mold to moss, Kelly Salas of Sierra Vista Window and Gutter Cleaning suggests soft-washing. Don’t let its name fool you: Slow-washing gets the job done in style. 

“Unlike pressure-washing, which can damage siding, paint, and wood, soft-washing uses low-pressure nozzles at the end of a pressure washing wand,” says Salas, who is based in the greater Sacramento area. “When combined with a biodegradable chemical, it removes biological elements and other stains without damaging surfaces or killing your plants around your home.”

Not only does this process clean the surface, but Salas says it also kills the spores that cause regrowth, “making the clean last longer.”

Thomas J. Story

5. It’s Okay to Snooze Your Spring Cleaning

According to Chris Willatt, owner of Alpine Maids in Denver, Colorado, cleaning companies know that everyone wants their home spiffed up in April or May—and some might charge higher prices during that time. “Spring cleaning is great because it gives your space and mind a reset after a long year; however, no one ever said you have to do spring cleaning in spring,” he said. “Hiring a cleaning company to deep clean your house in January, February, and March will give you the same clean home at less cost.”

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6. Establish a Schedule—and Stick to It

Just because you’ve completed your spring cleaning—either during the spring or an off-peak time—doesn’t mean you are done tidying up for the year. The real secret to having a spotless space is consistency. “We emphasize the importance of routine maintenance to prevent dirt and grime from building up,” says Vanessa Terra Bossart of GreenTerra Cleaning in San Francisco. “Establish a cleaning schedule and stick to it, tackling different tasks on a regular basis to keep your home looking its best year-round.” 

In a perfect world, you’d have regularly scheduled deep-cleaning sessions; however, it’s important to find a system that’s manageable such as vacuuming once a week or tackling your bathroom grout on a monthly basis. Remember, you got this!

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