11 Spring Cleaning Hacks To Try This Year

Warmer weather is quickly approaching, and that can only mean one thing - it’s time to spring clean! 

Make a checklist, or follow Our Spring Cleaning Guide, and gather your favorite non-toxic cleaning products to prepare for a productive squeaky-clean season. Take it task-by-task and before you know it, your home will be spic-and-span in no time.

Here, we’ve gathered some of our favorite spring cleaning hacks to help you create a human and pet-safe home. So grab your Branch Basics or non-toxic household cleaners and let’s get your home spotlessly clean.

1. Use a HEPA Vacuum 

Maintaining and improving the air quality in your home is important to your overall well-being. And using a certified sealed HEPA vacuum can help with that! 

This type of vacuum collects and removes harmful particulates that can cause respiratory issues like asthma and allergies as well as odorless toxic chemicals called semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) that ride on dust. Regular HEPA vacuuming is key for removing particulates containing allergens and SVOCs* such as phthalates, flame-retardants, pesticides, biocides, plasticizers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)! They are silent contaminants that emit from products and materials in the home and ride on the dust in the air you see and breathe.

Know that vacuuming isn’t just for your floors. Here are a few ideas to jumpstart your spring cleaning:

• Vacuum dust from all corners.
• Pull appliances out and vacuum under and behind.
• Vacuum the top of appliances such as the refrigerator, washers, and dryers.
• Open all windows and vacuum the frames, sills, and screens. Followup with Streak-Free for glistening windows!
• Vacuum upholstered furniture
• Vacuum underneath and behind all furniture.
• Vacuum stuffed animals
• Consider vacuuming ceilings and walls - especially in the bedrooms - See #5 below. 

The type of vacuum you use in your home matters! In our article, HEPA Vacuum: Indoor Air Pollution’s Worst Enemy (& How to Choose One for Your Home), we spill the dirt (not from the vacuum canister!) on why you should choose a HEPA vacuum over the others, what to look for, and the brands we recommend.

Note: SVOCs in the air can hinder healing from chronic disease or chemical injury. Even without health issues, they harm your well-being and strain your immune system. Fortunately, regular HEPA vacuuming reduces SVOC exposure and boosts home air quality.

2. Declutter Your Cabinets – Toss the Toxic Products 

One of the most important spring cleaning hacks on our list is decluttering cabinets of toxic products. The goal is to remove and replace them with safe and natural products. We just don’t know how much they impact us until they are removed!

To help you with this task, we’ve created the Toss the Toxins™️ Course. In this 12+ video series, we guide you through a step-by-step process on how to purge and replace toxic household items.

Why Toss the Toxins? We think you’ll like the results:

• Improves indoor air quality
• Reduces your body’s toxic load
• Improves your immune system
• Can dramatically improve your health
• Can change the course of your life!

3. Go Fragrance-Free

Did you know that household fragranced products significantly contribute to indoor air pollution? And surprisingly, synthetic fragrances are hidden in many personal care and household items. According to the Children’s Environmental Health Network, the dangers of chemical fragrances and scents (often made with phthalates, an endocrine disruptor), are harmful to human health.

Studies show that fragranced products pose even more serious health risks and are polluting our homes.They are asthmagens, carcinogens, obesogens, neurotoxins, and allergens.

Consider going fragrance-free and ditching:

• Scented laundry detergents and dryer sheets
• Scented toilet paper and feminine hygiene products
• Air fresheners
• Conventional household cleaners
• Candles and incense
• Diffusers and essential oils 
• Fragranced personal care products

Instead, opt for naturally fragrance-free household products and alternatives.

Note: For people that have had high concentrations of fragranced products in their homes, scents may remain after removal of all scented products. Fragrance chemicals can be incorporated into porous materials like drywall and upholstery. We recommend opening windows and using fans to accelerate the outgassing of porous items in the home. In some cases, a deep clean of the walls and ceilings (see #5 below) is all it takes. Using a *Ladybug Dry Steam Cleaner takes deep cleaning to the next level (see #7 below) especially if you have fragrance and other allergens embedded in your home.

*Advap offers a coupon code to Branch Basics users for 20% off the Ladybug 2350 model - BRANCHBASICS

4. Use the Marie Kondo Method

A well-known spring cleaning hack is the KonMari Method™️. Developed by Marie Kondo, the KonMari Method™️ is meant to simplify tidying up your home. 

Centered around how you feel about your belongings, the method works by physically picking up one item at a time and asking yourself, “Does this spark joy?”. If you answer yes, keep the item. However, if you don’t feel joy, Marie suggests discarding or donating the item.

To get started, follow the simple tidying method schedule:

1. Clothing
2. Books
3. Papers
4. Komono (miscellaneous items)
5. Sentimental items

To learn more, visit konmarie.com.

5. Give Your Walls and Ceilings Some Love

When you look up, do you cringe at the number of cobwebs and dust collected in hard-to-reach corners? If so, it’s probably time to give your walls and ceilings some love.

Just like reading a book, work from top to bottom. Beginning with your ceilings and working down the walls, HEPA vacuum and then damp wipe with Branch Basics to remove cobwebs, dust, and dirt. Any loosened dust and dirt will fall to the ground to be easily vacuumed or swept up later.

For further instructions, check out our article on How to Clean Walls and Ceilings using Branch Basics.

6. Clean Your Kitchen’s Nooks and Crannies 

Memories and messes are made in the kitchen. Hang onto the memories, but clean the grease and grime often trapped in your kitchen’s nooks and crannies.

Here’s a list of some of our recommended spring cleaning hacks for some serious kitchen cleaning:

• Clean inside and outside of your fridge. Make sure to vacuum and then scrub down with All Purpose Cleaner.
• Scrub your cutting boards with hot soapy water to remove stains and germs.  Sprinkle on some Oxygen Boost for tougher stains. Wet the Oxygen Boost with our All Purpose or Bathroom spray.  Let sit a few minutes and scrub.
• Clean the underside and top of your range hood with a microfiber cloth and All Purpose Branch Basics.  Grab a ladder, if necessary. 

Pull products out from under your kitchen sink. Throw or give away any items you are not using. HEPA vacuum and wipe down the walls and floor of the cabinet with All Purpose Cleaner. Replace products. Make sure they are all non-toxic as products with harmful chemicals impact our home’s air quality. For in-depth instructions on these and more, check out our article, Best Non-Toxic Kitchen Cleaning Tips.

7. Try Dry Steam Cleaning 

Toss products with toxic chemicals and tackle some of your dirtiest cleaning jobs with the strength of dry steam. Dry steam cleaning is the gold standard for non-toxic disinfecting*! 

We recommend the Ladybug Dry Steam Cleaner* as it qualifies as a disinfection device* for the EPA. It disinfects* virtually any hard surface (through proprietary TANCS® technology) thousands of times better than the standard that chemical disinfectants must meet to qualify as an EPA registered disinfectant.

Unlike chemical disinfectants that require dwell times where surfaces must remain visibly wet for minutes in order to kill germs, the Ladybug kills a very broad range of bacteria and viruses like MRSA, C. diff, norovirus, C. parvo, and COVID-19 in seven seconds or less while leaving no residue behind that promotes new microbial growth. It is also proven by scientific studies to eradicate hard-to-kill biofilms in three seconds. Strong chemical disinfectants such as bleach are no match!

*The gold standard for non-toxic disinfecting:

How is mechanical disinfection different from chemical disinfecting? We have known for years that the overuse of chemical sanitizers and disinfectants has created a superbug issue where the germs become resistant both to the cleansers and to antibiotics. Mechanical disinfection with the Ladybug does not create superbugs as there is no chance for a germ to mutate to the point that it can resist the heat!

The Ladybug can be used on most hard and porous surfaces in the home. It really shines when you want to clean porous materials such as ceilings, walls, carpets, upholstered furniture, and mattresses. Dry steam cleaning uses superheated low moisture steam that dries out very quickly.

How to dry steam clean your carpet and upholstery:

Consider a Ladybug Dry Steam Cleaner for a next level clean especially if there are embedded fragrance chemicals and allergens in your carpet or upholstery. Note that dry steamed carpet and upholstery take minutes to dry whereas a steam cleaned carpet or upholstery may take a few days to fully dry. This is one reason we recommend dry steam cleaning over steam cleaning for porous materials that easily get saturated with moisture like carpets, bedding and upholstery.

Note:  When cleaning fabric, carpet, or upholstery, always test on a hidden area first to make sure the dry steam cleaning is compatible with the fabric.

How to dry steam clean your mattress:

Aside from the occasional flip, mattresses need to be cleaned and sanitized. Over time, they accumulate dead skin cells, body oils and odors, bacteria, dust, and even dust mites. First HEPA vacuum the mattress, then run the dry steam cleaner over the top and sides of the mattress to fully sanitize and remove unwanted germs and bacteria.

*Advap offers a coupon code to Branch Basics users for 20% off the Ladybug 2350 model - BRANCHBASICS

8. Try Steam Cleaning 

Steam Cleaning is another great non-toxic cleaning option, especially for hard surfaces. Even the toughest of dirt, bacteria, and grime can’t stand a chance against proper steam cleaning, as shown in a recent study conducted in a healthcare facility.

A multi-use tool, steam cleaners can be used on many surfaces in the home. Add a drop or two of Branch Basics Concentrate for a more powerful clean. Clean tile, grout, hard floors, appliances, children’s toys, and other hard surfaces. Take precaution when using a steam cleaner on porous materials and the material should be dried out as soon as possible. Use fans and ventilation to accelerate the process.

Steam cleaners are sold as mops, hand-helds, or both. Bissell and Dupray are both great brands for household steam cleaners.

Note: When cleaning fabric, carpet, or upholstery, always test on a hidden area first to make sure steam cleaning is compatible with the fabric.

9. Deep Clean Your Washing Machine 

You might be thinking deep cleaning a cleaning appliance seems counterintuitive. But in reality, what seems to be the cleanest, often is not. Over time and with regular use, washing machines need to be deep cleaned and detoxed from the build-up of detergents, minerals, toxic chemicals, and mold or mildew.

Deep cleaning your washing machine is very simple. All you need is vinegar, Branch Basics Concentrate, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and microfiber cloths.

Depending upon the type of washing machine you have, either front loading (HE) or top loading, the process will vary. Learn more about How to Clean and Detoxify Your Washer and Dryer to help you choose the right method for cleaning your style of washer.

10. Leverage Baking Soda & Vinegar for Cleaning

As natural household cleaners, vinegar and baking soda work to cut through tough grease, stains, and more. Leverage the power of this non-toxic duo to deep clean without bringing harmful chemicals into your home.

Baking Soda

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a safe and effective multi-purpose cleaner. Deep clean grout and bathroom tile, remove pesky stains and unclog drains. This must-have non-toxic cleaner compliments any Branch Basics cleaning product.

Discover more uses for baking soda in Cleaning with Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate): 12 Surprising Uses.

Vinegar

From removing odors to cleaning your dishwasher, vinegar is a natural, versatile household cleaning superhero to keep on hand. Use it alongside Branch Basics All-Purpose Spray and hydrogen peroxide to create a non-toxic disinfectant cleaner (but use caution and use and store each separately). 

The acetic acid in vinegar is a lung and eye irritant. Caution should be used when using vinegar in a spray bottle. Avoid breathing the fumes and provide good ventilation to clear the air quickly. If there is someone who is chronically ill or has a respiratory condition present, avoid cleaning with vinegar. Air out areas after cleaning.
See 12 Ways to Use Vinegar in Your Home to learn more.

11. Use Microfiber Cloths and Mops 

Known for their ability to remove bacteria and germs from any surface, microfiber cloths and mops are among our top spring cleaning hacks.

Made from durable polyester and nylon, microfiber is a safe and reusable cleaning item. Because the microfibers are split, they are 200 times thinner than a single human hair, making them extremely absorbent. They can be used with just water, or with Branch Basics Concentrate for a deeper clean.

Please wash your microfiber cloths in a Guppy Friend bag to prevent micro plastics from going into drains. 

Branch Basics: The Spring Cleaning Secret Weapon 

After tackling these spring cleaning hacks, give yourself a pat on the back. You did it! You’ve intentionally transformed your home and life by tossing the toxins and deep cleaning with Branch Basics.

Stock up on our Premium Starter Kit this spring and enjoy all-natural cleaning year-long.

For more spring cleaning tips and tricks, check out The Official Branch Basics Spring Cleaning Method and Our Spring Cleaning Guide.