Your Spring Cleaning Tips and Hacks

Part 8 - Utility Rooms and Appliances

Week 8 is here which means we’re just about done with all of the spring cleaning around the home. Last week we tackled the outside which will likely take more than a week to finish, so these last two weeks are relatively short by design. This week we will be taking a look at an overutilized and underappreciated area of the home – the utility room.

For many homes, the utility room, or mudroom, is the first area entered after spending time outside. This room tends to take the brunt of the filth we bring in from outside, so it doesn’t spread to other areas of the home. Additionally, many homes also have their washing machines and dryer hookup lines in these areas as well, which are two appliances that help make life incredibly easy.

Let’s take care of this area so it can keep taking care of us for the rest of the year!

Deep Cleaning the Utility Room

The utility room likely picks up a lot of dirt and grime from people in the home going in and out of the house all day. Normally these areas are where you must strip overly dirty clothes, take your shoes off, and anything else that might track dirt, mud, or other debris throughout the rest of the house.

Wiping It Down

Just like every other area of the home, we can’t begin to reorganize or declutter if the room is still dirty. Before we start gutting the cabinets, it’s best to start by mopping the floor. Not just the main areas, but all the surfaces, cracks, crevices, behind, and around areas. If your utility room has a washing machine and dryer then this process includes safely unplugging and unhooking both units and mopping the areas they sit over.

Often, dust bunnies, pet hair, dirt, and other debris will get swept under the appliances, so pulling them out will help ensure the entire room is cleaned in its entirety. If these areas aren’t cleaned then the risk of growing mold increases which will open the door to other problems.

The Washer and Dryer

While these appliances are pulled out, now is a good time to do some regular appliance maintenance. After mopping the area where the appliances sit, use a vacuum and clean out the dryer vent of any lint built up. This will dramatically increase the airflow of outgoing lint from the dryer, in turn making the dryer more efficient. When lint gets built up in the vent, it can cause the dryer temperature to rise as it’s trying to push the air out. Not only does this reduce the lifespan of the dryer by making it work harder, but it can also increase risk of fire hazards.

Be sure to take the time to fully inspect the washer and dryer from all sides to ensure there’s no obvious issues like leaks or cracks. Inspect the hot and cold water lines that run from the wall to the washer and take note of the floor or wall for any signs of water damage.

Decluttering and Organizing

After wiping down the utility room and taking care of the appliances, it’s time to get into action with organizing and decluttering. The utility room can be home to many items that may or may not be used on a daily basis. It’s not uncommon for random items that don’t normally have a place around the house to be stored in the utility room, leaving the cabinets and drawers to quickly fill up with clutter.

Much like the rest of the home, the best approach to decluttering is emptying out everything from the drawers and cabinets. To start decluttering we’re going to use the same “Keep, Store, Donate, Toss” method that we used in Week 6.

As you empty out each item take the time to decide if you want to keep it, discard, or donate it and start creating piles for each item. The key here is being intentional about all of the items, otherwise without a proper place the items will likely get placed back in the original place and take up precious storage space.

Save It or Store It

As you sort through your items you’ll more than likely find that you have more items that you want to keep than you have space for. Renting a storage unit is perfect for situations like this where you want to keep an item, but don’t have enough room for them, especially if it’s something you don’t use often.

For instance, you may find an old linen set that’s collecting dust, but it could be a great starter set for a child that’s getting ready to move out. Instead of keeping this item stored in the utility room closet, you can place it in a storage unit among other items you have set aside for them, so you can keep using that space for items you’re more likely to use.

That’s a Wrap!

Just like that you’re done with Week 8! Like previously mentioned, this week was meant to be quick and easy, because you might still be tending to other areas of the home. If you have other areas of your home that you use similarly to the utility room this week is a perfect opportunity to spruce them up as well.

Tune in next week for our ninth and FINAL week of our Spring Cleaning guide! Last, but not least, we’ll be putting a bow on this cleaning series by taking care of all the furniture around the house.

Gaige Byerley Digital Marketing Associate

Gaige Byerley is part of the Digital Marketing team at West Coast Self-Storage and is a writer creating engaging content on self-storage, relocation, decluttering, and everyday living.