With spring right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to think about reorganizing, de-cluttering, and maintaining your home. To make spring-cleaning a little easier, here are 13 tips that will help keep your home in tip-top shape at any time of year.

Take Care of Stainless Steel
To keep your stainless steel appliances bright and clean, try using a light mist of wax-based aerosol spray once or twice a week. Be careful not to put on too much as you don’t want to soak the surface and make it greasy. Wipe the mist with a clean, lint-free cloth, and never use oils to keep away fingerprints, or else lint will stick to the oil. Finally, don’t use anything abrasive – you don’t want to scratch or ruin the surface.

Organize Closets
Get rid of unused clothes and accessories, and organize the rest by how you get dressed in the morning and by colour. Your closet will look appealing, and your everyday routine will be easier.

Remove Stains and Odours
Blot up as much of the odours immediately. While blotting upholstery, put a plastic liner or garbage bag between the cushion and the fabric to avoid pushing the contaminant into the cushion. Next, flush with cold water as best you can. Blot and flush again. Try using a portable spot cleaner or wet/dry vacuum, or if there’s still a residual odour, use a half-vinegar, half-water solution and rinse again. If all else fails, call in professionals.

Clean Painted Walls
Start with a clean cloth or sponge and water. If this doesn’t work, dip the rag/sponge into water mixed with a little dishwashing liquid (the milder the better). If the stain persists, apply a few drops of soap directly onto the west sponge or cloth. For more stubborn cases, try applying a little soap right onto the stain. Be aware that stronger products like Fantastik have strong solvents in them and can soften the pain surface. Whatever you do, make sure to rinse the wall afterward with plain water.

Create a Different Mood
Changing bedding, towels, or table linens can make easy makeovers. Switch things out seasonally or for a special event, or whenever you want to play with a certain colour or pattern.

Clean the Carpet
Take off your shoes when you get home, but leave your socks on or wear house slippers because walking barefoot leaves natural oils that attract dirt. For less-trafficked areas, cleaning the carpets once or twice a year is acceptable, and every 18 months for a bedroom. Although once you see that the carpet is dirty, have it cleaned for health reasons.

Care for the Tiles
Clean bathroom and kitchen tiles with a cleaner that has ‘neutral pH’ on the label. You can also mix baking soda and water for a homemade cleaner: pour ½ cup baking soda into 2 gallons water and mix very well. Apply the liquid with a string or sponge mop.

Remove Stains from Countertops
This can be tricky, but the key is to wipe up stains immediately. Have your countertop sealed a few times as soon as it’s installed – you’ll know it’s properly sealed when water beads and forms droplets on the surface. For most coffee or juice stains, use a little hydrogen peroxide in water, plus a few drops of ammonia. For everyday wear-and-tear, buff away small scratches with superfine dry steel wool.

Reorganize Bookshelves
Sort books by size and subject. Remove and discard any ripped dust jackets. Line books, some vertically, some horizontally, in a rhythmic pattern – this will relieve the monotony of rows.

Care for Area Rugs
It’s ideal to clean area rugs every 4-5 years, or every 10 years if a rug is not walked on much. Over cleaning contributes to wear and tear. Fine silk rugs need cleaning only 20-30 years. For treating stains at homes, keep a bottle of club soda on hand. Stains caused by pets, coffee, orange soda, red wine, and anything with dye or an acid base are the toughest to remove, and the key is to act quickly.

Care for Wood Floors
Avoid over sanding and use trivets or saucers under plants to avoid water damage. Use furniture protectors to avoid scratches, and damp-mop once a week with a mild soap.

Polish your Silver
Use a toothbrush and Hagerty Silver Foam on your silver because it’s not too abrasive and it’s water-soluble. For really bad black tarnish, try Silvo Metal Polish. Never put your silver in the dishwasher, and store it in anti-tarnish cloth bags when they aren’t in use.

Make the Most out of Cleaning Time
Really clean your home when you set aside time to do so – polish silver, wash windows, wipe down the light bulbs in the lamps, and wipe down the walls.