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Jul 18
20 Spring Cleaning Tasks You Can Do in 1 Minute or Less
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK1. Fill Your Dishwasher—But Not with Dishes
Got a minute? Go around to each room in your house and gather up items you probably never clean, such as plastic toys, hairbrushes, and even flip-flops. Believe it or not, all of these things are dishwasher safe. Just toss them in your trusty dishwasher and let it work its magic—no matter how busy you are.
Here are 11 brilliant cleaning shortcuts lazy people will appreciate.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK2. Spiff Up Your Space with a Lint Roller
Between soccer games, dance lessons, and PTA meetings, it’s tough to give our homes the deep clean they deserve. If you’re tight on time, take a lap around your home with a lint roller and run it over everything in sight. These handy gadgets can remove dirt and crumbs from couches, lamp shades, and any other hard-to-reach spots.
Check out these fast tricks to clean your home while you sleep.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK3. De-Stink Your Furniture
There are some household odours that even a heavy dose of Febreze can’t kick. Instead, sprinkle baking soda onto smelly carpets, upholstered furniture, or mattresses, and then leave it while you make dinner or fold laundry. Vacuum it up after 15 minutes, and your home will feel (and smell!) fresher almost immediately.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK4. Search Coat Pockets and Purses for Trash
You use your coats and purses every day, but they are probably one of the last things you regularly clean. While you’re sitting in traffic or waiting for the oven to preheat, toss out any gum wrappers, old receipts, and other junk that have piled up over the months.
These eight spring cleaning tips will make your life easier!
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK5. Refold Clothes in a Messy Drawer
Reorganizing your entire dresser probably seems like a daunting chore. But if you break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks, you might be more likely to get it done. Start by choosing one cluttered drawer and refolding all of the clothes inside. It will only take a minute, but you’ll be one step closer to getting your home in tip-top shape.
You’ll want to steal these 16 expert-approved cleaning hacks!
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK6. Move Winter Coats to Off-Season Storage
No need to display bulky outerwear year-round. If the weather has recently warmed up, corral your winter coats and move them out of sight. You can box them up and put them in the attic, or simply hang them in the back of your closet. Either way, you’ll be thankful to have extra space for your spring and summer wardrobe.
Canada’s top organizers reveal how to declutter every room of your home.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK7. Declog Your Showerhead
Has your shower’s water pressure seen better days? Here’s a handy hack: Fill a plastic bag with white vinegar, place it over the showerhead, and fasten it with a rubber band. Letting the bag soak overnight allows the vinegar to break down anything that blocks water flow. Your shower will work like new in no time (and you won’t have to lift a finger!)
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK8. Clean Your Car’s Grimy Cup Holders
Say goodbye to the nasty layer of gunk inside your car’s cup holders. Months of soda spills and sweaty water bottles can be erased in one minute; just give each holder a quick scrub using Clorox wipes.
Automotive experts share 13 tips on how to keep your car clean.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK9. Toss That Unsightly Stack of Magazines and Newspapers
Not only is that huge pile of magazines gathering layers upon layers of dust, but it’s also a serious eyesore. As you take out the trash one night, bring the stack with you and toss it in the recycling bin. Trust us, your home will thank you.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK10. Declutter Your Coffee Table
Another fast way to tidy up a messy space is to clean one central item in each room, such as your coffee table. You can stash remotes in a drawer, gather small items into a classy bowl, and neatly arrange the other decor.
Check out the six hidden strengths of being a messy person.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK11. Sanitize Your Gadgets
Bad news: Your toilet isn’t the germiest thing in your house—your smartphone is. In fact, a 2013 study found that tablets have up to 600 units per swab of staphylococcus (commonly known as staph) and phones have up to 140 units, on average. The typical toilet seat, by comparison, has less than 20 units. All the more reason to spend a minute scrubbing your gadgets with an alcohol wipe. And if you have a few more seconds, wipe down other electronics like your TV remote and computer mouse, too.
Don’t miss these 10 bathroom cleaning tips and tricks!
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK12. Unsubscribe to Junk Emails
Spring cleaning calls for tidying up every aspect of your life, including your electronic one. Between meetings at work, quickly unsubscribe to any newsletters or junk mail that you have ignored for months. You will be way more productive once your inbox isn’t cluttered with spam.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK13. Wash Your Silverware Tray
You probably wash your forks and spoons every day. As for the tray that holds them? Not so much. That little bin can get grimy, so take out the dishes and give it a scrub. If you’re really short on time, simply toss it in the dishwasher and run a hot, soapy cycle.
Check out the seven kitchen items that are surprisingly germs.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK14. Untangle Your Cords
Let’s be honest: No amount of fancy decor can hide that ugly, tangled ball of wires behind your TV or computer. Plus, it makes your space look sloppy. Take a minute to organize the cords, using some Velcro, zip-ties, or rubber bands to neatly wrap them up.
Here’s what you need to know about preventing 10 common hazards.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK15. Freshen Up a Smelly Sink
It’s time to face that funky odor coming from your kitchen sink. To banish the smell in seconds, simply place a few lemon peels into the drain, turn on the garbage disposal, and run cold water from the tap. Voila! No pricey plumber required.
Check out these 10 tips for cleaning your microwave, stovetop and oven!
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK16. Dust a Fan
Your fan is a dust magnet—but don’t wait until you flip the switch to find out. Do a favor for your allergies by cleaning your fans before the weather gets too hot. And for a more efficient way to trap falling lint, try dusting each blade inside an old pillowcase.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK17. Wipe Down Door Handles and Light Switches
Think about how many grubby hands have touched your home’s door handles and light switches. Like it or not, the spots that we clean the least can carry thousands of germs. Spend a minute wiping down the door handles and light switches in one room. For a particularly greasy spot, a damp rag dipped in dishwashing soap should do the trick.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK18. Use a Tray to Store Odds and Ends
Tidying up a cluttered space doesn’t need to break the bank. Find a decorative tray at your local secondhand store, place it in a central area of your space, and fill it with random items that don’t already have a home, such as keys, sunglasses, or even mail.
Learn more genius decorating tips from Steven Sabados!
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK19. Make Your Bed
Because your bed is the focal point of your bedroom, it will set the tone for the rest of the space, minimalist Joshua Becker writes in The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own. So take one minute to make your bed; your mom would be proud.
Lighten your load by ditching these nine items for a fresh start in your home.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK20. Create a Donation Spot
No need to hang on to a shirt that is too small or pants that are too big. Instead, carve out a small section in your home for storing items you plan to donate. It could be a bin, a shelf, or even a corner of a closet—anything that separates unwanted apparel until you can make a trip to Goodwill.
BY BROOKE NELSON, RD.COM
Plus: Where to Take Your Unwanted Household Items
Originally published as 20 Spring Cleaning Tasks You Can Do in 1 Minute or Less on ReadersDigest.com.
