Hack Your Spring Cleaning Routine With 11 Unconventional Tips

Remember how much easier your job became when you mastered keyboard shortcuts? How about when you discovered that back way home that no one else in town knows about? Did you lose your mind when you discovered the correct way to eat a cupcake?

There’s no doubt about it: Shortcuts and hacks make even the most mundane things a little more exciting – and a whole lot easier most times. No matter which area of your apartment needs some TLC this spring, we’ve got a tip that will streamline the process.

Step away from the rubber gloves and sponge. Turns out there’s a better way to get your home in tip-top shape.

In the kitchen

360 Denver Apartments in Denver, CO

• Nasty baking dishes: Scrub glass baking dishes with a crumpled-up ball of aluminum foil and squirt of regular dish soap. The foil’s jagged edges will scrape off even the toughest baked-on grime.
• A too-zesty citrus zester: Banish gunk from your cheese grater or citrus zester by using a raw potato instead of a sponge. Grate away until the sticky bits disappear.
• Shattered glass: Safely clean up the remains of a broken glass container with a slice of spongy white bread. Dab it around until all of the pieces have been lifted. Be sure to wear shoes until you’re certain the shards are all gone.

In the bathroom

Avana La Jolla in San Diego, CA

• Ring around the tub: Remove the dreaded bathtub ring by scrubbing with a halved grapefruit. For extra-tough stains, sprinkle with coarse salt beforehand.
• Not-so-shiny shower head: Put a plastic bag filled with vinegar around your shower head to restore it to its original shiny glory. Secure with a rubber band and let it sit for a few hours.
• Exhaust fans: Use compressed air (the same kind you use to clean your computer keyboard) to remove debris from your exhaust fan. Bonus: Getting rid of obstructions decreases the chance of a fire. Contact your community staff should you need assistance.

In the living room/bedroom

1900 McKinney in Dallas, TX

• Dusty air vents: Wrap a butter knife in a rag to easily get into the tight spaces of the air vents. Spray the rag with some all-purpose cleaner or distilled white vinegar for extra sticking power. Contact your community staff should you need assistance.
• Hairy carpet: Use a squeegee to remove stubborn pet hair from carpets and upholstered furniture. This method is especially handy if your pet cowers at the sound of a vacuum cleaner!
• Viewing screens: Dust your TV or computer monitor with a clean coffee filter. The paper attracts grease and grime without the risk of water damage to your electronics.
• Dusty blinds: Make cleaning your window blinds feel a little more fun by putting socks on your hands instead of using a rag. Spray your socks with a half-vinegar, half-water mixture and you’ll be done in no time.
• Nail polish: There’s no need to cry over spilled nail polish. Use rubbing alcohol and a colorfast microfiber cloth to lift the sticky mess from your carpet.

Do you have a favorite cleaning hack that you’d like to share with fellow Greystar residents? Head over to our Facebook page and send us a comment.