| Spring is not here quite yet… but it is knocking on the door. That means two things: planning for spring break, and planning for spring cleaning! With winter blahs finally starting to abate, you are busy putting together your plan to attack the germs, dust, and grime that built up over the past four or five months. You want your home fresh, clean, and smelling like the proverbial rose. Tru Earth wants to give you a hand with your chores, so we collected some of the best hacks to help you get the job done more effectively, more efficiently, and maybe even a little more enjoyably. Tru Earth’s All Time 5 Best Spring Cleaning Tips 1. Ten Minute Time Limits Spring cleaning might feel like a marathon that just keeps going and going and going… It doesn't need to be like that! Break it down your cleaning list into short, highly productive chunks of time. Here are 4 things you can spring clean in just 10 minutes. Dust: Brush a dusting wand over all open surfaces. If you have a few extra minutes, break out the furniture polish for a quick shine. Clean doors and light switch plates. Use a damp microfiber cloth and a good multi-surface cleaner to remove fingerprints, smudges, and germs from light switch plates and doorknobs. Dust ceiling fans: First, put a pillowcase over the fan blade. Then, pull it toward you to collect the dust. Next, use a cloth dipped in warm water to clean off each blade. Give the fan a slow (slowest speed) spin to dry. Baseboards: Use a microfiber mop to clear dust and debris from baseboards.
2. Match Your Clean-up Plan to Your Personality. What type of cleaner are you: A panic cleaner who lets everything build up until the last minute? A “bits & pieces” cleaner who tackles one small job every day? Or are you a “regularly scheduled” cleaner, who follows a strict pattern every week to clean everything? Once you decide what your personality is, set a schedule that matches it, rather than fights with it. For example, if you get angry when it’s time to clean up, use that anger. It can help motivate you to tackle the really tough jobs, like scrubbing the bathtub, shower, or toilet. 3. Get the Stink Out of Your Workout Gear. The weather gets warmer, and your motivation to work-out goes up. (Hey, who doesn’t want to look better at the beach this summer, right?) And after that last crunch, or the last ten minutes of spinning, you better have a plan to get the stink out of your workout clothes. First, rinse out your gym clothes right away. If you're at a gym, rinse them in the locker room, and put them in a bag with a clean dry towel. As soon as you get home, put them right into the washing machine. Tru Earth Platinum Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Strips do a great job cleaning and refreshing your gear, and you can choose either Fragrance-Free or Fresh Linen. 4. Use an Eco-Friendly Multi-Surface Cleaner. Just think of all the surfaces you have to clean: countertops, sinks, stair rails, table tops… the list seems endless. Instead of spending time and money hunting for, buying, and using a bunch of different cleaners, use a single multi-surface cleaner, especially one that is not harmful to the environment (that means no harsh chemicals, and no plastic jug waste.) Tru Earth Multi-Surface Cleaning Strips are your best answer. Tear off a strip, drop it into a spray bottle filled with warm water, give the bottle a shake, and you are ready to tackle the toughest cleaning jobs around the house. 5. Baking Soda Refreshes Coffee Mugs. Here’s a great baking soda tip: use it to clean stained tea cups and coffee mugs. Fill the mug with one part baking soda and two parts water. Let them soak overnight, then rub with a sponge and rinse. (Hey, did you know that, for its centennial celebration, they cleaned the Statue of Liberty with baking soda?) You Make a Difference Whenever Tru Earth customers buy a subscription to our Eco-Friendly Laundry Strips, they help the environment with the elimination of plastic laundry detergent jugs from landfills and the oceans. Tru Earth also makes a donation of laundry strips to worthy causes when you sign up for a subscription. So, does your subscription really make a difference? Yes, it does. Here’s a note we recently got from the Mill Woods Care Closet in Edmonton: “The Mill Woods Care Closet in southeast Edmonton has tremendously appreciated the donation of thousands of laundry detergent sheets distributed to clients who access our local food and clothing bank. Numerous individuals have commented how much they appreciate these laundry detergent sheets which effectively wash their clothing just as good and perhaps better than any other dry or liquid laundry detergent. Once again our thanks and appreciation for your generous gift helping many in need in our community." We pass along that thank you to you, the friends of Tru Earth. (You can sign up for a subscription when you click here.) | 
