Spring is here!

That means it is time to throw open the windows and rid your home of the dust and dirt that has built up over the winter.

And, while we all know how important it is to dust, vacuum, and declutter, there are lots of little items that could use your attention too. These oft-forgotten cleaning tasks are just as important.

Here are 12 tasks you might not have thought to add to your cleaning list that will help your home feel fresher this spring:

1. Doormats

Get out your trusty carpet beater! It’s time to clean those dingy doormats.

Whether indoors or outdoors, your mats see a lot of dirt during the winter. Wet and mucky boots track in dirt, road salt, and sometimes mud.

Before you begin, you may want to vacuum your indoor mats. But know that this won’t likely get all of the first out.

Hang your mats up outside on a line or fence and take a few good swings at them. You’ll be surprised by how much dust and dirt puffs out. (You may also want to have something to cover your nose and mouth so you don’t breathe in all the particles.)

Then, hose down the mats and leave them to air dry.

2. Walls

Have you ever looked at your walls in certain lighting and noticed greasy handprints everywhere? While this may be a more common problem for households with young children, all walls are exposed to smudges, dust, and stains over time.

Gently wipe down your walls with a damp microfiber cloth. While you’re at it, you may also want to wipe the baseboards clean of dust as well.

3. Carpets

You may think that your carpets are clean if you vacuum them frequently, but carpets absorb more stains and odors than you might realize.

Doing a deep clean on your carpeted floors once in a while will keep your home smelling and looking fresh.

Rent a portable steam cleaner and watch the dirt disappear.

If you have pets, it is also a good idea to treat your carpets with deodorizers (baking soda works for this as well). But be sure to do so in a pet-safe manner.

4. Microwave

Microwaves get messy quickly, but they are a pain to wipe down.

If the interior of your microwave is covered in food stains, you could try steam cleaning it.

There are some easy water and lemon recipes that you can use. Place this in a bowl and turn on the microwave for several minutes.

Remember to give the appliance some time to cool down before you open it and wipe it out.

5. Refrigerator

The shelves and drawers in your fridge will inevitably end up food-stained and grimy over time. Spring cleaning provides the perfect opportunity to pull them out one-by-one and wipe them down. Use green cleaning sprays and warm, soapy water for stuck-on stains.

This will keep your fridge looking nice, while preventing bacterial growth and odors from developing in your fridge.

6. Oven

You’ve probably had the experience of turning on your oven and almost immediately smelling burning food. Run-off and spills from previous baking creates a build-up on the bottom of the oven. The interior can also become grimy over time, causing the glass to turn black.

You can use the self-cleaning function on your oven, if that is an option, or scrub it out with baking soda and a wet cloth.

7. Trash bins

You might think that garbage bags are keeping your bins relatively clean, but breaks and leaks do happen. And, in the spring, this residue will attract flies. If you don’t take care of this early enough, they will begin to multiply faster than you can get rid of them.

Wash it out with dish soap, and keep it clean with sanitary wipes, both inside and out.

8. Reusable bags

Your reusable bags go back and forth between the store and your house every week. But, the rest of the time, they probably sit in your car, completely forgotten.

With all of the food you transport in them, it’s a good idea to give them a wash. Check the care instructions on the label before throwing any in the washing machine. When necessary, wipe them out with a soapy sponge or cleaning cloth.

9. Shower curtain

Have you ever wondered what the best way is to remove hard water marks and shampoo residue from your shower curtain or liner?

Well, you can actually throw it in the laundry. Wash it along with some towels on a gentle cycle in warm water, and then hang it up to dry.

10. Mattress

While you’re changing your sheets over for spring, you should make time to clean your mattress.

First, vacuum the top and sides. Give extra attention to edges and seams.

Next, sprinkle the mattress in baking soda and let it sit for several hours. The longer you leave it, the better. Open windows to let in sunlight and fresh air to aid in the removal of odors and bacteria. Then pull out the vacuum and go over the entire bed again, removing the baking soda.

Lastly, flip the mattress (granted that this makes sense for the type of mattress you have). If it’s been a while since you last deep-cleaned the bed, you may want to repeat the vacuum and baking soda process on the other side.

11. Electronics

You use your electronics every day. Your phone goes everywhere with you. The remote gets handled regularly. And all of this usage means that these devices could be harboring germs. Wipe down devices (especially touch-screens) with a damp microfiber cloth and disinfectant wipes, then let them air dry.

Other steps you might want to take are:

• Dusting off computer and TV screens
• Wiping down keyboards and removing dirt from between the keys
• Sanitizing your computer mouse

12. Vacuum

After all of this cleaning, your vacuum could use a little TLC. Replace or clean the filter, and cut or remove any hair or thread caught in the brush.