Make Spring Cleaning a Breeze With These 11 Simple Tricks

Way before you even vacuum your first dust bunny, it is imperative that you take the time to make a to-do list. This list should include all of your necessary cleaning tasks, broken out by each room in your house that you plan to tackle. Not only will writing this list produce a rough schedule that will keep you on track during your great endeavor, but it will also help to get your head in the game.

Once your list is good to go, you then need to ensure you have a tidy and organized supply area. This is where you store your mops, pans, and other larger tools. Making sure that these must-have supplies are all accounted for and in the right place will save you time and stress down the road, aka no mini breakdown when you can't locate the good broom.

Having a sturdy and reliable extension cord during the cleaning process is key, and it will be a lifesaver especially during the vacuum portion of your feat. No longer will you constantly have to unplug and replug whenever you move from room to room. An extension cord makes it possible to plug in once and hit all areas of your home with complete ease.

Yes, that's right, music plays a huge part in this process too! Having an upbeat playlist on deck and ready to go is essential to a successful Spring cleaning. Much like running or other exercises, blasting your favorite tunes will take your mind off of the chores at hand and can even make wiping down your countertops fun. And if music happens to not be your cleaning thing, try out your top podcast of the moment instead.

Oh, the cleaning caddy. How often it can be forgotten, but how important it truly is. Any cleaning caddy or tote will be the best thing that has ever happened to you during this year's Spring-cleaning run. Stash it up with everything: paper towels, all-purpose cleaner, Windex, sponges, foaming bathroom spray, and more! Now, you will consistently have everything you need by your side. No more running back to the kitchen to fill up on paper towels.

Getting a solid pair of rubber gloves will also significantly improve your cleaning experience. Obviously, these guys can be used to keep your hands safe and unexposed to harsher cleaning chemicals, but that's not all! Rubber gloves are also the perfect way to pick up all of that pesky pet hair around the house. The rubbery surface will pull up the hair, especially in those harder-to-reach areas, and will make your job that much easier.

You almost have all of your supplies locked down and ready to go! Last on the list is a trusty apron, but not just any apron — an apron with pockets! Much like the cleaning caddy, this apron will serve as another convenient place to stash your smaller supplies for easy access as you embark on your cleaning journey.

Instead of investing in a ton of various cleaning supplies and spending way too much money, set your sights on something more unassuming but equally effective: baking soda. That's right, baking soda! This magical substance can literally do it all, from removing grease spots in the kitchen to unclogging drains in the bathroom to even deodorizing the air throughout your house.

Keep it going with the "homemade" theme by also creating your own citrus cleaning concoction. Simply take the rinds off of any citrus fruit of your choosing (lime, orange, lemon, etc.) and let them soak in a jar with distilled white vinegar. After a few weeks, transfer this mixture into a spray bottle, and your homemade all-purpose cleaning spray will be ready to go.

One of the best parts about cleaning is that you seldom have to do it all on your own! Rally the troops, and proclaim your next free Saturday or Sunday to be an all-out cleaning frenzy. Whether it is your partner, your roommate, or even your younger child, there are plenty of tasks to be shared, and you will conquer your cleaning that much faster! Ain't nothing wrong with a little teamwork, people!

And last but not least, keep an end-of-cleaning reward on your mind! This will help to inspire you when you start to feel like you just want to throw in the towel. Promise yourself a tasty dessert, a nice bottle of Rosé, or any other treat that you know will keep you going. Plus, after all of this hard work, you totally deserve it!