I've made a career of testing and reviewing the latest cleaning products and appliances, so it makes sense that I've sort of become the go-to cleaning guru for my friends, family and colleagues when they have cleaning questions, want to buy the best washing machine or best floor mop or need to erase a stain.
I'm always happy to share time-saving cleaning and organizing tips, shopping strategies and my best cleaning product picks to help someone refresh a space or solve a cleaning challenge. And while maintaining a neat, clean home is always important, spring is a great time to do a deeper dive into the nooks and crannies that likely get overlooked the rest of the year. Sure, I get it that just the idea of a top to bottom cleaning marathon can be a overwhelming but there are things you can do to make your home feel fresher and give you a sense of renewal and accomplishment no matter how little time or energy you have.
Below you'll find my suggestions about how and where to focus your efforts, the best tools and cleaning supplies to use, answers to some common questions I'm often asked and my top tips for achieving a spring cleaning experience that works and works for you. So, let's get cleaning!
Pick your approach.
Don't lift a finger until you decide the strategy that will work best for you this year!
- Choose one big job. Got a massive task that’s been nagging at you for months? Be it clearing out the basement, polishing the furniture or deep-cleaning the sofa, make it your mission now. Crossing it off your list will be a relief.
- Target only the tough spots. If you speed-clean all year, use this time to hit areas you usually skip, such as hard-to-reach window coverings, behind furniture pieces, the stove or fridge and under area rugs. It’ll be satisfying to know these zones are done.
- Tackle those annual must-dos. Is washing every window, deep-cleaning all carpets or another project a nonnegotiable spring cleaning job for you? Then go for it! There’s nothing like keeping up an annual tradition to give you a sense of accomplishment.
How do I pick the best vacuum?
Whether you have hardwood floors or dense carpets, there's a vacuum cleaner out there that's suitable for all your cleaning needs. Here are your main options:
Upright Vacuum
- Great if: Your home is mostly wall-to-wall carpeting and all on one floor, uprights do the best job of removing ground-in, embedded dirt from carpeting.
- Features: All have rotating brush rolls and most have on-board hoses, wands and tools for vacuuming crevices and upholstery and cleaning above-the-floor spaces like door frames and crown moldings.
- Why we love it: Though they can be heavier than other styles to push and carry, the weight of the nozzle helps reach deep into the carpet for better cleaning.
Canister Vacuum
- Great if: Your home has lots of stairs and mostly bare floors and only a few carpets or low pile rugs, canister vacuums with a power nozzle attachment have a rotating brush that's great for deep pile carpets. Otherwise, you’ll see a long flat attachment or brush that can be used on bare floors, low pile carpets and flat rugs.
- Features: Hoses, wands and attachments for dusting, upholstery and crevices.
- Why we love it: It's easier than uprights to push, carry and maneuver into tight spaces and on the stairs.
Stick Vacuum
- Great if: You're looking for a lightweight, quick picker-upper for bare floors, low pile rugs and above-the floor-cleaning needs, the cleaning performance and battery life of stick vacuums are getting better and better, and it's super easy to use.
- Features: Rotating brushes and attachments (like dusting brushes), pet hair removers and crevice tools and charging stands for storage or mounting brackets that also hold the tools for neater storage.
- Why we love it: It's slim enough to stash in a corner or closet for easy access. Plus, most convert to a hand vacuum and are rechargeable. New models feature self-emptying dust cups for even neater cleaning.
HEPA Vacuum
- Great if: You're an allergy sufferer. These vacuums that are often sealed to eliminate air-escaping cracks and designed specifically with a HEPA filter on the exhaust to trap microscopic particles.
- Why we love it: This is the best vacuum for pet owners as it seals in and traps allergens.
Robot Vacuum
- Great if: You want to get your cleaning done while you’re out of the house, robot vacuums and robot mops fit easily under most beds and furniture to clean the spots you likely skip.
- Features: They use cameras and lasers to map their way around your rooms, so they don’t miss a spot. And with the app you can schedule cleaning sessions, block off no-clean zones and more.
- Why we love it: These are great maintenance cleaners: Send them out often enough, and you may never have to pull out your full-size vacuum.
Handheld Vacuum
- Great if: You need a compact tool to quickly clean up dry spills on bare floors and surfaces, handheld vacuums also nab lint and other debris on upholstery fabrics carpeting and in the car.
- Features: Many have crevice, dusting and brush-roll attachments; some have hoses and can pick up wet spills, too.
- Why we love it: These are perfect for quickly picking up dry spills and cleaning crumbs from small areas (like the couch or the car) and removing pet hair from upholstery.
Top Vacuuming Tips
- Start with a new bag, clean dust cup and clean filters to assure the strongest suction.
- Use the extension wands and tools to clean behind furniture and appliances, the tops of bookcases and ceiling moldings and vents to nab hidden dust.
- Vacuum carpets with and across the lay of the pile for the deepest clean.
Help! How do I remove old stains from carpet?
Reappearing stains happen when you've erased the stain from the surface of a carpet but failed to deal with the portion of the stain that's trapped or hidden down below. So before you toss the evidence of that red wine-stained rug or cover up that coffee-stained corner, try these simple steps:
- Spritz a cloth with carpet cleaner, then work the carpet cleaner into the base of fibers — with your fingers if you need to — rinse well with a clean cloth and blot.
- Fold a sheet of paper towel into quarters and place it on top of the area.
- Weigh it down with a heavy pot or vase and leave it overnight. Any leftover stain will be absorbed by the paper towel.
- When it's dry, toss the dirty towel and fluff the tufts.
Top Carpet Cleaning Tips
- Zero in on stains or dingy areas near doorways, in traffic aisles or in front of a favorite chair for the most noticeable results.
- Blot spills and remove solids promptly to make spots easier to clean.
- Consider investing in a portable carpet cleaner to more easily remove stains when they happen.
- Professional carpet cleaning services save time and most use more powerful equipment than you can at home. They can also refresh stain repellent treatments. Look for one that warranties its work and will return if you are not satisfied.
What's the difference between sanitizing and disinfecting?
Before you get cleaning, remember to check the labels on your cleaning products. Sanitizing significantly reduces the number of germs on a surface and takes less time to complete than disinfecting. By contrast, disinfecting kills more germs than sanitizing does, but can take up to 10 minutes depending on a product's ingredients. Not all cleaning products that claim to disinfect are equally effective on all types of germs. Read the labels to be sure the products you are using reduce or kill the germs you want.
Top Sanitizing and Disinfecting Tips
- A surface must be cleaned first, before it can be sanitized or disinfected. Removing crumbs, dirt and grime is an important first step to killing germs.
- Make sure the surface remains wet for the time recommended on the product label and let the surface air dry afterward for the most thorough sanitizing and disinfecting.
- Look for an EPA registration number on the label of any sanitizing or disinfecting cleaner you are buying. That's your signal that it actually kills the germs it claims to.
- Soft surfaces, like couches, throw pillows and plush toys can only be sanitized. Hard surfaces, like counters and toilets, can be disinfected.
What's the best way to clean my electronics?
Bad news: Your cell phone probably harbors more germs than your toilet seat, which is why it's crucial to clean your devices regularly. Coupled with a screen cleaner that busts dust, greasy fingerprints and grime, here are the techniques you can follow to keep your electronics in tip-top shape:
- Phone screens need a quick wipe down with a microfiber cloth on a daily basis to remove grease and smears. To disinfect the screen, use a Lysol disinfecting wipe, an easy and safe alternative to traditional spray cleaners.
- TV screens benefit from a weekly dusting with a microfiber cloth or duster to remove dust, film and fingerprints, which may be harder to remove down the line.
- Laptop screens and keyboards, like a TV remote and a computer mouse, should be cleaned regularly by using a microfiber cloth and a Lysol wipe to lift dirt and grime and zap germs.
Top Electronics Cleaning Tips
- Always follow your device manufacturer's cleaning recommendations first.
- If using a spray, never apply it directly to a device. Always spray a cloth and use the cloth to clean the screen.
- Tuck a portable screen cleaner, wipe or cloth into your bag or office desk to clean devices on-the-go.
What is the best way to clean a fabric sofa?
Wet cleaners and vacuums go hand in hand here. Vacuuming your fabric couch may get rid of light soil, debris and a few stray pet hairs, but in order to get rid of set-in stains, spills and pet smells you’ll need a deeper clean with a method that's safe for your furniture's fabric. Most hand vacs are made for dry messes, like pet hair and crumbs on upholstery, while portable carpet cleaners and upholstery cleaners are designed for drawing up wet spills like coffee, wine or pet messes, and they're great for tackling mishaps promptly without the need to pull out a full-size machine or clean it by hand.
Top Sofa Cleaning Tips
- Remove the cushions and vacuum both sides and area underneath them. If yours is a sofa bed, open out the bed and vacuum it too.
- If possible, flip and rotate any loose cushions to even out wear.
- Pass a garment steamer on the sofa to kill dust mites near the surface, then vacuum to remove them.
- Spritz the sofa and pillows with a sanitizing spray according to label directions to kill bacteria and help remove odors.
How often should I clean my windows?
Of all the chores on your list, windows are likely near the bottom, but with occasional dusting and spot cleaning, they can stay looking their best. Windows get splattered with dust, dirt and rain and need a yearly cleaning. Clean windows are one of the best, most satisfying ways to welcome spring and whether you tackle them all at once, room-by-room or call in a professional to do the work for you, you’ll feel an amazing sense of accomplishment when the sun shines in!
Top Window Cleaning Tips
- Vacuum or dust the sill, frame and mullions before wet cleaning the glass to first remove dry dirt and grime.
- Hold off washing windows in direct sunlight. Otherwise, the cleaner dries too quickly and can leave hard-to-remove streaks behind. Choose a cloudy day or wait for the sun move and the windows to cool down.
- Use plenty of cleaner and wipe with microfiber cloth to clean away grime then buff with a clean cloth to remove streaks and shine. In our tests, cloths like these from E-Cloth cleaned very well with just plain water.
What's the best way to clean hardwood floors?
Not every hardwood floor is created equal: It all depends on how much traffic your floors get and the condition of the finish. Establish a cleaning schedule that makes the most sense for you. As a general rule of thumb, hardwood floors should be vacuumed at least weekly and wet cleaned every few months (more or less frequently, depending on traffic). When it comes time to clean, follow the steps below:
- For surface-treated floors, wet-clean with a hardwood floor cleaner. Spray a small 3-foot by 3-foot area with the cleaner and pick up any dissolved dirt with a microfiber mop.
- Work your way around the entire floor, cleaning one small area at a time. Avoid over wetting the wood and buff any areas that don’t dry promptly with a cloth.
- For quick touch-ups, remove spots with a water-dampened paper towel and wipe dry. Erase scuffs with a dry cloth, your sock or a baking soda paste and buff.
Hardwood Floor Cleaning Tips
- For a deeper clean, mop first in the direction of the grain and then across it.
- Stock up on microfiber mop pads so you can swap in a clean one when the one you are using gets too grimy or saturated.
- Avoid using a steam mop on wood floors, even on a low setting. The heat and moisture can penetrate the finish and damage the wood.
- Regular cleaning with a great hardwood floor vacuum removes abrasive grit and dirt and helps hardwood floors
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
