“Cleaning is a lost art,” she says. “And there are positive mental health benefits attached to living in a clean, organized space. Once we give them that initial nudge to get off the couch and put our methods into place, we prove that we’re here to support and make their day-to-day lives more manageable.” Famous for their do-all combo of water, bleach and powdered Tide, GoCleanCo’s Instagram fans have followed their lead, using the solution for walls, doors, baseboards, light switches, doorknobs, countertops and more. Why Tide? The versatile powdered detergent has both naturally occurring enzymes to break down stains and lift dirt, and surfactants, which remove anything greasy. “I always say: I can clean an entire house top to bottom if I just have water, bleach and Tide,” says McAllister. To get you started and in the spring cleaning mood, we turned to McAllister for her best quaranclean tips.
Spring Cleaning Tips
Just Start
Declutter, purge and donate first, she says. And don’t attempt to clean the whole house in one day. “Deep cleaning one room per week, top to bottom, is our best tip. I’ve found that cleaning one room in your home creates a domino effect throughout the entire house and motivates you to keep going.”
Order of Operations
“Start in your kitchen (the most overwhelming room in any house), then work in a circle through your home,” McAllister suggests. “Finish each room one by one, floor by floor. In each room, work in a circle, top to bottom, left to right. Pull everything away from the walls before you start and put everything back in place as you move along.”
Beware the Germ Traps
Don’t forget to clean your doors—they’re often the germiest surfaces in the home. And dishwashers? “They’re notorious for being slimy and smelly, but we overlook them because it’s their job to clean,” McAllister says. Clean your filter, usually at the bottom near the drain, then wipe down the edges with hot water and bleach. “Run the hottest, longest sanitizing cycle with 1/3 cup of bleach to disinfect the entire system.” (Note: Don’t use bleach if your dishwasher has a stainless-steel interior.)
The Do-It-All Cleaner
Water, bleach and powdered Tide. “This is a recipe my mom and grandmother have used for years,” she says. “The bleach is an added disinfecting factor [we use] to feel safe.” Don’t want to use bleach? Fill a bucket with hot water and one teaspoon of powdered Tide and use around the house, including inside refrigerators or on hardwood floors to remove stains and grease. “This is why it is such an effective surface cleaner—it works right before your eyes.” For more uses, download their Cleaning Army Handbook.
Create a Cleaning Station
For easy access to the supplies you’ll need, we love the Lexington 3-Tier Rolling Cart or the Colour Crates for organization. “I cannot stress how much time you waste running around the house to grab vacuums, rags or cleaning products,” McAllister says. “Get everything into the room you’re cleaning and get to work.” $30, michaels.com; $35, us.hay.com
Dust the Efficient Way
To cut your dusting time in half, use a universal horse hair vacuum attachment, like the SCStyle Universal Dust Brush. “They suck the dust up instead of moving it around into the air, where it inevitably settles and undoes your hard work,” she says. $9, amazon.com
Favorite Cleaning Supplies
We already know McAllister’s love for powdered Tide, but a close second is this soft cleanser. To polish a kitchen sink, clean toilets and remove stains off pots and scuffs off walls, her go-to is Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser. $3, homedepot.com
Bonus Tip: Laundry Secrets
Parade spoke with Patric Richardson, author of Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore (March 30, Flatiron), and host of The Laundry Guy (March 31 on Discovery+), who wants your laundry to be as clean as your house. His drying tips: Wool balls reduce drying time. He adds a few drops of essential oil (like peppermint or lavender for his bed sheets) for an aromatherapy benefit. Lavender Bliss Eco Dryer Balls, $26, friendsheepwool.com Discharge static with a tightly rolled ball of aluminum foil, which should last about 60 loads. To plump up towels: dryer balls like the Cactus Dryer Buddies, $8, containerstore.com Next, 28 Quarantine Kitchen Must-Haves
