The Best Spring Cleaning Tips And Tools, According To Experts

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The weather is getting warmer and you likely just grabbed a pack of Allegra at the pharmacy, which can only mean one thing—it's time for spring cleaning. Unlike regular routine cleaning, spring cleaning involves getting down on your elbows and tackling just about every nook and cranny in your home. While it certainly sounds like a mammoth effort of energy and time, there are certain hacks that can help make your tasks a lot easier. To help you breeze through absolutely no one's favorite chore, we spoke with top cleaning experts and organization pros from across the country—some of whom have gone viral for their why-didn't-I-think-of-that-hacks—to learn the best spring cleaning tips and tricks for working smarter, not harder.

Ready to clean smarter, not harder? Here are the 13 best expert-approved spring cleaning hacks that ... [+] will help you tackle any mess.

From nifty tips that you can implement every single day to tricks that you’ll want to put in your back pocket for when you’re taking on bigger tasks, there's a wealth of knowledge here to help make your space sparkle and shine. While some hacks use products that you already have in your pantry (we’re looking at you, vinegar), our experts also recommend a handful of new must-haves that are worth stocking up on.

Ready to get down and dirty? Below is your cheat sheet to expert-approved cleaning hacks that will make your life so much easier. But first, here's a list of supplies to get you started, then we’ll delve into how to use them all.

If there is one tool our experts unanimously swore by, it's a steam cleaner. From Bissell's bestselling handheld steamer to the brand's powerful 3-in-1 full-length design, more than a few cleaning experts we spoke with recommended investing in a heavy-duty model. "It allows you to clean encrusted dirt. I cleaned my oven and it has never looked so good! I find it [to be] a very valuable tool for the house," says Gabrielle Vigneault, content creator behind the popular Instagram account, Cleaning With Gabie. This tool is indoor- and outdoor-friendly and can remove stuck-on dirt and grime once and for all.

If storage space is an issue, start with a smaller handheld model. "Handheld steamers that come with attachments can tackle a ton of cleaning tasks all over the home using just hot water. Use it to clean everything from glass and mirrors and windows to grills, window tracks, bathroom surfaces, toilets, grout and even refresh some fabrics," says Jill Koch, cleaning and organizing expert and founder of Jill Comes Clean. She also likes to use the full-size version to clean hard surfaces such as floors without the use of harsh chemicals.

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A natural volcanic rock with a hard, abrasive texture, a pumice stone is ideal for scrubbing away tough stains. Its non-toxic material means you can clean deeply without using too many chemicals. Before trying it on a large area, make sure you test it out on a smaller patch to ensure it doesn't leave scratches on your surface, says TikToker Lori Williamson of Now Its Clean, a popular cleaning hacks account with over 1.8 million followers.

Once you get a feel for how to use it, get to work. "If you suffer from hard water stains in your toilet, scrub them off using a pumice stone," she says. Make sure to wet the stone before cleaning and continue to re-wet as you go. "Pumice stones work great for scraping off baked-on grime in your oven, as well," adds Williamson. "Just make sure you use a separate stone for the bathroom and the kitchen."

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If one of your biggest cleaning nightmares is trying to remove red wine or food stains from a white silk blouse or an ivory carpet, you need a fool-proof solution in your arsenal. There are so many theories and products about how to remove red wine stains from fabric, but professional cleaning and organizing expert Donna Smallin Kuper's simple solution may just be my favorite one yet. "To remove wine stains from clothing, mix equal parts Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid and hydrogen peroxide. Use your hands to squish the soapy solution into stain, then allow to soak for 30 minutes, or until the stain disappears. Wash as usual," explains Smallin Kuper.

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You likely have a box of dryer sheets stashed away for laundry day; a well-known and dependable product for reducing static in your clothing and leaving them smelling fresh and clean. But that's not all they’re good for. "Use Bounce dryer sheets to wipe down your baseboards. The film in the dryer sheet will create a layer that will help keep dust and pet hair from sticking to it for months," says Ken Long, a renovation consultant and viral TikTok creator with over 498,000 followers. While any dryer sheets will do, ones designed for guarding pet hair and lint will make this hack extra effective.

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No matter what type of long-handled, angled duster you own, cleaning the blades of ceiling fans will always be a bit of a pain. Plus, it's difficult to completely trap that pesky layer of accumulated dust as you wipe down each blade. The solution? Invest in a set of inexpensive pillowcases for dusting. "Spray the blades of the ceiling fan with your favorite all-purpose cleaner. Slide a pillowcase over a ceiling fan blade, place your hands on the top and bottom of the blade, and slowly slide the pillowcase off to remove dust. The dust is all contained inside the pillowcase!" says Tyler Moore, creator of the popular blog, The Tidy Dad.

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Unlike wiping down countertops or vacuuming floors, cleaning your oven is a task you’re not likely to take on everyday. This means that debris from old, burnt food can get trapped for weeks, if not months, at a time, which makes it so much harder to remove when you do decide to clean. Angela Brown, the founder of Savvy Cleaner, recommends placing a Teflon oven liner at the bottom of your oven for effortless cleaning. "To utilize this technique, place a liner at the bottom of your electric, gas toaster oven, oven or microwave. The liner is heat-resistant up to 500 degrees and can be conveniently removed to dispose of any residue that may have fallen onto it. Simply shake the debris into the trash, wipe the liner and return it to your oven for reuse," she explains. When you need to clean the mat, just pop it in the dishwasher for a quick rinse with your plates and flatware.

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Though not a cleaning hack, per se, this is a cleaning product that the experts swear by. Instead of wasting rolls of paper towels and a bottle of glass cleaner to wipe away smudges from glass mirrors and windows, use microfiber cloths instead. "Wet a standard fluffy microfiber cloth and use that to wipe down the surface. Then follow with a clean one to dry and shine. An ultrafine or tighter weave microfiber cloth works best [for drying] but the standard fuzzy versions can be used too," says Koch. "If you still feel like more is needed to clean the surface than just water, use some rubbing alcohol. It will have it sparkling like new."

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Your trusty lint roller isn't just great for defuzzing sweaters or old suits, it's even great on furniture. Case in point: Dusting down lamp shades. "Lint rollers can be used to roll along the outside of lamp shades and easily remove dust," says Moore. Rather than immediately tearing and tossing the dust-clung sticky sheet, leave it on the roller to prevent it from sticking to other surfaces. Just remember to remove it right before using it to clean again, he adds.

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It's no secret that vinegar can clean pretty much every surface in your home. My new favorite use for it is turning it into an all-natural cleaner for your microwave, thanks to two genius hacks from cleaning specialist Whitney White. "Microwave a small bowl of vinegar for 3 to 4 minutes—the steam will loosen up the grime and make for a quick wipe" she explains. Because vinegar is a natural disinfectant, it will also help to clean and kill any lingering germs. Ditto for the dishwasher. Simply add a small bowl of vinegar to your top rack and run the dishwasher on high, says White.

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If you’re anything like me, you probably spend more time thinking about cleaning your shower than actually cleaning it. And the shower curtain rod? It's likely not seen a cleaning solution in years. However, if you’ve noticed that your shower curtain doesn't exactly slide well, it's time to give it a thorough clean. "Rip off a piece of wax paper and use it to wipe down the entire curtain rod. The wax will transfer to the rod and allow the curtain to slide with ease," says Long. Genius!

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It's no secret that Mr. Clean products are pure magic. Particularly the brand's erasers that instantly erase dark marks or stains from white walls. But there's another cleaning product from Mr. Clean that's worth stocking up on: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sheets. According to Smallin Kuper, these sheets work incredibly well at getting rid of stains on cookware and serverware. "Remove stains from plastic food storage containers or coffee cups in seconds with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sheet. Just wet and wipe," she explains, adding that she prefers the sheets over the sponges because of their flexibility.

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From polishing kitchen cabinets to wiping down your floors and shower walls, a spin mop can do it all. It's such a popular cleaning tool that not one, but two of our experts recommended this product. This under-$40 model received high praise from cleaning specialists White and Williamson, who both tout its ability to clean various areas throughout your entire home. Here's how to use it: "For the spin mop system, add water and your favorite all-purpose cleaner to the bucket. Submerge the mop head into the bucket. Wring it by spinning it about 10 times to ensure that it's not soaking wet but is damp," explains Williamson. "The telescopic handle of the mop, combined with the microfiber mop head, makes it a perfect combo for cleaning various places in the home like shower walls and bath tubs," she adds. White recommends swapping an all-purpose cleaner with vinegar, which tackles dirt and grime with just a quick wipe, thanks to its high acidity levels.

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No matter your height, cleaning ceiling fan blades or the top of a tall china cabinet will always be challenging. The solution? Use a Swiffer Sweeper and microfiber cloth to polish hard-to-reach areas. It's an eco-friendly alternative to single-use Swiffer pads and is just as effective at removing dust and dirt. "Simply put the microfiber cloth in the washing machine and you're done. I’m 5-foot-2 and this method really makes my life easier," says Vigneault.

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