Spring Cleaning Tips Every New Yorker Needs To Know
Winter is out and Spring is in! Here are our favorite ways to declutter, revamp, and revitalize your home (and yourself). By Carly Petrone.
MyClean
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As New Yorkers, many of us work odd hours. Now, you can be rewarded for it. MyClean, the company that uses an online platform to book professional maid cleaning services, is offering discounts for booking services during off-peak hours. Finally, customers with the most flexible schedules can save the most money overall. Unlike other cleaning services, there is no commitment and no subscription cancellation fees. Book your cleaner on their mobile-friendly website and a professional will show up with all of the necessary equipment and environmentally-friendly supplies.
Beauty Binge
It's time to take a good hard look at your beauty products. Have you had the same tube of lipstick for years? It's time to clean out your expired beauty products, because you could get an allergic reaction from old formulas. One trick to revamp your favorite mascara, gel liner, and cream eye shadows that have dried out? Add a few drops of Vitamin E or Coconut Oil. You should also be cleaning your makeup brushes every month to keep them soft and disinfected. Get crafty and reorganize your products by color so you're not blindly digging through your stash when it's time to "put your face on."
Wardrobe Apps
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Believe it or not there are actually apps to help you organize your closet and build a better wardrobe overall. Cladwell Capsule lets you discover your style, check off what clothes you already own and simplify your life by providing information about how to mix and match outfits for every season and occasion. StyleBook also allows you to carefully curate their wardrobe to get the most of your closet. It's like having your own personal stylist in your pocket!
Create Your Own Cleaning Products
Watch: Spring Cleaning Tips For Your Home
Break out your white vinegar, because this mildly acidic cooking ingredient can actually be used to dissolve dirt, hard water stains, and soap scum. It's also a natural deodorant, which makes it the perfect fabric softener alternative for people with sensitive skin. Use it to spray your countertops, floors, and bathroom surfaces. Baking soda is another common household item that has many uses, including cleaning out grimy bathtub rings. You can even make a paste out of baking soda and water to remove deposits from the tub or sink --just make sure you let it stand for 10-20 minutes first. Grab a bottle of rubbing alcohol and add a bit of water to replace your Windex.
Bedding Hygiene
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We all know we should be washing our sheets once every week or two, but what about your mattress? No, don't try to fit it into your washing machine – opt for your vacuum instead. While you're washing your sheets, use your vacuum's attachment tools to clean the surface and sides of your mattress. Sanitize it further by sprinkling a bit of disinfectant spray over it and don't forget to flip it occasionally to keep it springy (about four times a year).
thredUp!
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Shed your winter wardrobe or any other clothing, shoes, or accessories that you've been meaning to give away and send them to thredUp. This convenient service allows you to clean out your closet without all the hassle of physically lugging your stuff across the city. All you have to do is order one of their polka dot bags, fill it with like-new quality women's, juniors, and kids clothing and drop it off at your local UPS or FedEx Office location. They even pre-pay your postage, so all you have to do is sit back and wait for their fashion resale professionals to calculate what your items are worth. You can receive up to 80 percent of the resale value via a thredUP shopping credit or by cashing out with PayPal. You also have the option of donating the items that don't get accepted to one of their charitable partners. It's a win-win for everyone-- especially your closet!
Clean Out Your Computer
Spring cleaning isn't just for your home – you should also clean out your computer. Getting rid of your old photos, irrelevant documents and music frees up space and storage for what's to come. It's also a great time to back up your work. Buy an external hard drive or upload files and images to your cloud storage. Update your software, clean out junk from your desktop or delete any programs you hardly ever use. Don't forget about running your antivirus software just to make sure nothing is missing. Your computer will thank you.
Handy
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The best thing about spring cleaning is you finally get around to doing the small things around the house that you've been meaning to do for months. Is that curtain rod you've been meaning to hang still collecting dust in the corner? What about that photo gallery you keep saying you'll get to? Now you can set up an appointment with Handy, the online service that lets you book expert home cleaners and handymen at a moment's notice. Just pick a time and they'll do the rest. Get a quote for one of their many services on their website (based on apartment size and hours of work) and someone can be at your door as quickly as the next morning. You'll be on your way to a refreshed living space in no time.
PRIV
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Sometimes it's you who needs a little revamping for the next season. Get a new look for spring or get rejuvenated with the help of the PRIV app. This is a one-stop shop for any kind of beauty service you need from you home or office. Yep, you can get a haircut, a massage, a shave, even a spray tan all in the comforts of your apartment. Just download the free app, scroll through which vetted professional is near your neighborhood, check out his/her photos, work, and rates, and you're all set. All prices include tax and tip for your convenience. Now you can start your cleaning feeling your best.
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Carly Petrone is a freelance writer living in New York City.
