For many cultures throughout history, springtime has been seen to be a time for renewal. And while you’d rather be outside instead of stuck inside spring cleaning your apartment, the result of your efforts will be a home that’s comfortable and more inviting for you and your guests. Whether your clean will take a few hours or all day, you’ll probably appreciate a few tips to make the process a little easier. Consider these ideas for getting your apartment to really shine.

Sweep, Mop, and Vacuum

In all honesty, the floors are probably what will need the most attention during your spring cleaning. Vacuum any carpeted areas you might have, and for the hard surfaces in your home, a sweep and light mop should do the trip. Many people skip mopping, but you’d be surprised by how clean it can make your floors feel. It smells nice, too!

Hit the Nooks and Crannies of Your Bathroom

Yes, the bathroom is the one place you want to avoid when you’re going through a deep clean, but it’s probably the place that needs it most. Hit the obvious spots such as the toilet, sink, bathtub, and mirror, but don’t miss those oft-forgotten spots. Your bathroom floor might be home to a lot of unnoticed grime, as will behind your toilet. Cleaning these trouble spots might not be pretty, but someone has to do it!

Dust the Surfaces of Your Home

Dusting is a simple activity that often gets overlooked, but it’s easy, quick, and makes a noticeable difference in your home. You don’t even need a duster to get it done. Simply take a wipe to as many surfaces as you can, including tabletops, bookshelves, and appliances. Even if you aren’t someone who gets allergies, you’ll notice a cleaner atmosphere in your apartment.

Get at Those Appliances, Too

You don’t notice until it’s too late. Whether it’s a suspect smell coming from the refrigerator or it’s a stain near the coffee maker, in the day-to-day of life, we often forget about the messes we can make with our kitchen appliances. Use your spring cleaning day as an opportunity to get to a quick clean of these parts of your kitchen that slip through the cracks.

Clean the Windows

You may not notice right away, but your windows pick up a lot of dust. And while you’re usually focused on what’s going on outside the windows rather than what’s on the surface of them, cleaner windows will bring in brighter light and add to an overall cleaner look to your apartment. A simple spray-and-wipe should take care of the problem. For an added feeling of refreshment, keep your windows open after you clean to let in some nice spring air. Look, spring cleaning isn’t supposed to be fun – it is a chore, after all. But don’t let that stop you from seeing the bright side of things. Perhaps as your clean your apartment, you’ll find that the positive steps you’re taking will grant you a mood boost, making you put your best foot forward in preparation for the new season.