It’s that time of year—the weather is warming up, the days are growing longer, and flowers will start blooming soon. Springtime marks new beginnings for nature, but you can turn over a new leaf, too.
Spring cleaning is the perfect way to reorient yourself for the new season. A sparkling apartment can lift your mood, increase your productivity, and make you feel more comfortable in your home. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the different cleaning products you should use when cleaning your apartment.
What to Keep Stocked
It can be hard to know where to start when gathering cleaning supplies. Whether you’re moving into your first apartment or you’re learning the best ways to deep clean, you might need some guidance.
Here’s a list of some basic cleaning supplies to keep in your apartment:
- Distilled white vinegar
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Glass cleaner
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Toilet brush
- Disinfectant wipes
- Soft-bristled scrub brush
- Rags or paper towels
- Sponges
What to Use Around Your Apartment
If you’re looking for the best ways to clean your apartment, look no further! Here’s a comprehensive guide to the products you should use to clean your apartment.
For wooden tables
Wooden tables and chairs have a protective seal that can be easily stripped away by many cleaning products, so clean gently with a dish soap and water solution.
Soak a rag or paper towel in warm water, then apply a few drops of dish soap to the rag. Scrunch the rag to distribute the soap and wipe your table with the soapy rag. Then, dry your table with a dry paper towel or rag to prevent water damage.
For countertops
Cleaning counters can be tricky. You want to wipe away any grime, but you don’t want to damage the material. A dish soap and water solution is effective for regular cleaning, but disinfecting depends on the counter material. You’ll want to disinfect your countertops after preparing foods that carry salmonella, and dish soap alone does not kill salmonella.
To disinfect granite or laminate countertops, mix equal parts alcohol and water in a spray bottle. Spray the entire counter with the alcohol and water solution, then wipe it down with a clean rag. Note that acidic cleaners like disinfecting wipes or white vinegar will damage granite and laminate, so check the ingredients before you use any other cleaning agent on your counters.
For mirrors and glass surfaces
This one’s obvious: glass cleaner.
But there’s a science to it. To avoid streaks, use two separate paper towels or rags. One towel should be damp with glass cleaner, and the other should be dry and clean. First, clean the glass with the damp towel, then wipe it clean with the dry towel.
For stainless steel
Stainless steel appliances look sleek and modern, but they can be hard to keep clean. Many methods leave streaks, dulling the luxurious look.
The easiest way to clean stainless steel is with a mixture of dish soap and warm water. Grab a soft rag or paper towel and soak it in warm water. Then, apply a few drops of a concentrated dish soap and scrunch the rag a few times to evenly distribute the soap. Finally, wipe the stainless steel in the direction of the grain to clean all the nooks and crannies.
For the dishwasher
With a little bit of elbow grease, you can spend less than 15 minutes cleaning your dishwasher! If you haven’t cleaned your dishwasher recently, now’s the time. Regular cleanings can keep your dishwasher working effectively and properly cleaning your dishes.
For quick cleans, dishwasher cleaning tablets do a good job of clearing grime and removing odors. Simply empty your dishwasher, place a cleaning tablet in the detergent dispenser, and run a normal wash cycle.
For deep cleans, pour white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe mug or bowl and place it upright on the top rack of your dishwasher. Run a cycle on the hottest setting to loosen any grime. Then, sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher and run another hot cycle. This will get rid of any odor or residual vinegar.
For the bathtub
When cleaning your bathtub, it’s important to know what kind of tub you have. Harsh cleaners with bleach will leave yellow stains on acrylic tubs, so when in doubt, opt for more mild cleaning agents like vinegar or baking soda.
Fill the tub with vinegar and hot water and allow the mixture to soak for 15 minutes to loosen any mildew. Drain the water, then sprinkle baking soda over the wet surface. Use a damp rag or sponge to scrub the baking soda into the tub and faucets to clear away dirt and buildup. Then, rinse the tub with water and wipe away any remaining baking soda.
It’s important to note that while mixing vinegar and baking soda isn’t dangerous, it’s ineffective for most cleaning uses. Because baking soda is a base and vinegar is an acid, combining the two neutralizes each ingredient’s individual cleaning abilities. The interaction of baking soda and vinegar causes a chemical reaction that creates water, carbon dioxide, and sodium acetate (a salt). To preserve each ingredient’s cleaning properties, use them separately.
For the toilet
Your first instinct will be, understandably, to use a toilet bowl cleaner on your toilet bowl. However, you need to know your sewage system before you can get to cleaning.
If you’re connected to a public sewage system, a standard toilet bowl cleaner is safe to use. Simply apply a liquid cleaner around the rim of your toilet bowl and scrub it with your toilet brush.
If you’re connected to a septic tank, you need to be a little more careful. Using standard toilet bowl cleaners for regular cleaning can damage your septic tank and lead to clogs and bad odors. Instead, sprinkle baking soda directly into the toilet bowl, then pour hydrogen peroxide on top. Let the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide fizz for a few minutes, then scrub the toilet bowl clean with your toilet brush.
Once you’ve cleaned your toilet bowl, flush the dirty water and clean the outside with a disinfectant wipe.
What Not to Mix
While most cleaning agents are harmless by themselves, some ingredients can create dangerous chemical reactions when combined. Always check the ingredients on your cleaners before mixing products.
Bleach and ammonia
Combining bleach and ammonia creates chloramine gas, a toxic gas that can cause nausea, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Ammonia is often found in glass cleaners, multi-purpose cleaners, and floor cleaners.
Bleach and isopropyl alcohol
Bleach and isopropyl alcohol creates chloroform, a highly toxic chemical that causes dizziness and headaches at low levels, according to the CDC. Long-term exposure to chloroform can cause liver and kidney damage.
Bleach and vinegar, lemon juice, and other acids
Vinegar, lemon juice, and other acids like oxalic acid and acetic acid create chlorine gas when mixed with bleach. Chlorine gas is toxic and can cause coughing, burning eyes, and irritated skin. Acidic ingredients are often found in bathtub, toilet, and tile cleaners.
Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar
Mixing hydrogen peroxide and vinegar creates peracetic acid, also known as peroxyacetic acid. Peracetic acid is a highly corrosive solution that can burn your skin and eyes and damage surfaces it’s used on.
A good rule of thumb is to just avoid mixing bleach with cleaning products. When in doubt, follow the directions on your cleaning products and research safe usage of different chemicals. With a little bit of elbow grease, your apartment will be clean in no time…without creating toxic chemical reactions.
