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Spring cleaning 2024 checklist: Best vacuums, cleaners, appliances and more
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Spring is now less than a month away, which means it’s time to start thinking about how you are going to tackle your annual spring cleaning. The thought of giving any part of your precious free time away to take stock of what needs to be deep cleaned in your home is probably one of the last things you want to do, but the end reward of a tidy house is worth it.
To give you some of your relaxation time back, the shopping experts at CBS Essentials did some of the work for you by creating spring cleaning checklists to help you get started. After all, spring cleaning will feel a lot less daunting if you break it up into smaller tasks that are easy to accomplish individually.
Best products for 2024 spring cleaning
The experts at CBS Essentials (that’s us!) have compiled a list of the best cleaning tools to use in your spring cleaning efforts this year. All items here are rated 4.0 stars or higher. In some cases, CBS Essentials reviewers have used the product personally.
Spring cleaning 2024 checklists
Below, you’ll find deep cleaning checklists for areas of your home that probably haven’t had a thorough cleaning in a while. We’ve also included recommendations for our favorite cleaning products to ensure that your 2024 spring cleaning is effective and efficient.
Kitchen cleaning checklist
If you cook regularly, the kitchen can quickly become the dirtiest part of your home. Oil builds up everywhere, from your burners to the exterior of your kitchen cabinets. Food splatters get stuck on your microwave. Leftovers leave residue in your refrigerator. Because of all of this, you’ll want to deep clean your kitchen multiple times a year, not just in the spring.
- Clean your fridge and organize food in your pantry with these food storage containers.
- Consider one of these kitchen organizational hacks to add needed storage space.
- Clean your trash can.
- Give your stovetop a good scrub, including the burner caps and grates as well as oven knobs.
- Wash and disinfect your countertops and sink.
- Wash the interior and exterior of your kitchen cabinets and drawers.
- Clean your backsplash.
- Vacuum and mop floors.
- Scrub any gunk that has gotten onto baseboards.
- Clean the filter in your range hood filter.
- Activate your oven’s self-cleaning mode, or clean manually.
Bathroom cleaning checklist
Like the kitchen, the bathroom will be one of the dirtiest places in your home and will require all the elbow grease you have to get it completely clean. This is the place to employ extra help in the form of specialized cleaning solutions and tools.
- Wash and disinfect your shower’s floor and walls with an electric spin scrubber.
- Wash and disinfect your bathroom sink.
- Get rid of soap scum that has built up on your shower doors, wiping water away with a squeegee.
- Clean your toilet, including wiping down dust and disinfecting the bowl with a toilet wand.
- Vacuum and mop your bathroom’s floors.
- Wipe down the exterior and interior of cabinets or drawers.
- Organize your bathroom essentials with under-the-sink bathroom organizers.
- Break down build-up in your bathroom sink drain.
- Wash or completely replace your bath mat.
- Clean grout with a steam cleaner.
Bedroom cleaning checklist
Your bedroom is your sanctuary, so it deserves a good clean every once in a while. Cleaning bedrooms doesn’t require the often back-breaking labor involved in cleaning your kitchen or bathroom, but there’s still significant work to do. This is especially important if you suffer from household allergies, as the presence of dust and dander exacerbates symptoms such as congestion and headaches.
- Wipe down surfaces such as the tops of dressers and nightstands with soap and water or a multipurpose cleaner.
- Clean any built-up grime on window treatments, such as washing curtains.
- Steam clean any upholstery, such as an accent chair and headboard, or wash it using an upholstery cleaner. Some new washing machines and dryers offer steam cleaning features.
- Vacuum floors, rugs and carpeting. If you have flooring, mop as well.
- Wipe dust off of baseboards and if you have a mop that can easily glide onto baseboards, do that too.
- Consider giving your bedroom air a spring cleaning with a new air purifier.
Time-saving spring cleaning tips
Spring cleaning clearly takes a lot of work, but you may be able to avoid these hours-long cleaning sessions by doing shorter cleaning sessions more frequently. This could include wiping down your burners after cooking messy meals or wiping them down once a week using a multipurpose cleaner. Putting off the task lets grime build up, which makes it harder to remove.
Another strategy is to get a robot vacuum. Robot vacuums are sophisticated machines that do all the vacuuming for you. They aren’t as powerful as upright vacuums, but used regularly, they will lessen the need to pull out your big vacuum overtime. These are particularly great for homes prone to messes, such as those with pets and kids. There are all kinds of robot vacuum cleaners out there, including ones that double as mops.
And speaking of cleaning tools that’ll do the work for you, get yourself an electric spin scrubber. These genius machines cut down on the time, discomfort and fatigue that you may feel when scrubbing hard-to-reach areas of your home, including the floor of your shower, the nooks and crannies near your toilet, baseboards and more.
Best vacuum for spring cleaning: Samsung Jet 75 Complete cordless stick vacuum
Samsung
This six-pound vacuum features a five-layer filtration system, a high-capacity dust bin and a removable battery. That means it’s a capable cleaning appliance to help you tackle just about any mess you encounter.
It includes the brand’s clog-reducing technology for consistent, powerful suction that stops dirt and debris from building up on the filter. It also has a telescoping tool to help you access hard-to-reach parts of your home for a more thorough clean when you can’t reach it with your arms alone.
A turbo brush specifically conquers carpets, and a digital display keeps you abreast of the power level. That way you aren’t halfway through a cleaning job and the vacuum shuts down on you. No one likes it when that happens.
In addition, its Cleaning Station can automatically empty itself with the push of a button, which means you don’t have to dirty your hands trying to tackle that part yourself.
Regularly $649, you can find this top-rated stick vacuum on sale at Amazon for $340 (48% off).
For more options, check out our roundup of the best stick vacuums in 2024.
Best robot vacuum for spring cleaning: iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum
Amazon
The iRobot Roomba j7+ is designed with dog owners in mind. This smart vacuum includes iRobot’s P.O.O.P., or “Pet Owner Official Promise,” guarantee. Your Roomba j7+ is guaranteed to avoid pet waste, or iRobot will replace your vacuum for free.
The vacuum features a powerful three-stage cleaning system with iRobot’s most powerful suction. It uses an edge-sweeping brush to get into corners. The Roomba j7+ also features dual multi-surface rubber brushes that flex to adjust to different floor types. Best of all, they don’t get tangled with pet hair.
When it’s finished cleaning, the device automatically empties into an included base for easy dirt disposal with enclosed bags. Just empty the cleaning station once every 60 days.
Regularly $800, you can get this 4.1-star-rated robot vacuum on sale for $465 at Amazon.
Best spin scrubber for spring cleaning: Voweek electric spin scrubber
Amazon
The Voweek electric spin scrubber allows you to clean the surfaces of your home more easily and efficiently. The spin scrubber comes with four brush heads, including one small and large flat brush, a dome brush and a corner brush, the latter of which is great for scrubbing around your baseboards as well as your toilet’s base.
What also helps with getting into hard-to-reach places is the scrubber’s adjustable base, which can be extended up to 3.5 feet, and scrub head that can be rotated at three different angles. These will give you the ability to scrub high and low in your home, from the bottom of the tub to the crown molding that lines your ceilings. The scrubber can last up to an hour and a half on a single charge.
The Voweek electric spin scrubber has a 4.4-star rating on Amazon. One reviewer says, “As a senior, it makes scrubbing the bathroom a cinch and saves time. I love it.”
The Voweek electric spin scrubber is available in five colors: white, purple, blue, green and gray. Price varies by color.
Best mop for spring cleaning: O-Cedar Easywring Rinseclean spin mop system
Amazon
The O-Cedar Easywring Rinseclean spin mop system is a genius solution to a common mopping problem: How are you supposed to get your floors clean if you keep dipping your mop in dirty water all the time?
Unlike other mops, the Easywring Rinseclean features a refillable clean water tank next to a dirty water tank. You just tug on a latch when you need the water to be refreshed. The reservoir can hold a total of 1.6 gallons of water. The spinning mechanism is fantastic too, as it gets a good amount of water out of the mop with just a few spins.
The long mop handle and swivel mop head are incredibly convenient. With the mop head’s generous length, you no longer have to move furniture to mop underneath. The mop head can be removed and put in the washing machine.
Shoppers who bought this mop system on Amazon are just as pleased as I am, with the product boasting a 4.5-star rating out of more than 40,200 ratings. One reviewer wrote, “This is a must-buy for those who love cleaning. I am very particular with my cleaning and I am the person [who] uses two buckets when I mop. Then I heard about this mop. OMG, game changer! You are not mopping with dirty water. If you are a neat freak like me, get this!”
Best washing machine for spring cleaning: Samsung Bespoke 5.3 cu. ft. front-load washer
Samsung
Whether it’s a washer and dryer, refrigerator or oven, here at CBS Essentials, we’re huge fans of Samsung’s popular (and higher-end) Bespoke line of major home appliances. This 5.3 ct. ft. capacity washer can wash a full load in just 28 minutes, so in addition to offering a large capacity, it also washes clothes faster and more efficiently. This saves you time and money on your utility bills. (This model is Energy Star certified.)
This washer (WF53BB8900AT) is SmartThings compatible, so like all of Samsung’s most popular appliances, you can remotely monitor and manage it from your smartphone. We also like that this washer has a detergent and fabric softener dispenser that holds enough product for 32 loads. It automatically dispenses the right amount of detergent and fabric softener at precisely the right time during each wash cycle.
If you’re not sure about which wash setting to use, Samsung has built AI-based technology into this washer, so it can sense the fabric type and soil level and then adjust wash time and detergent amount as needed.
Samsung offers this washer (and matching dryer) in a variety of colors (like brushed navy, silver steel, or forest green). And both appliances offer a modern, flat panel design with intuitive controls.
Pair this top-rated Samsung washer with the matching 7.6 cu. ft. Samsung Bespoke dryer. It’s on sale in electric for $1,098 (save $450); gas-powered dryers cost $100 extra.
Best dryer for spring cleaning: LG 7.4 cu. ft. vented stackable smart electric dryer
LG
Capacity: 7.4 cu. ft. | Best paired with: LG WM6700HBA washer | Smart functionality: Yes | Key features: TurboSteam, AI determines optional settings, tumble dry for up to 3 hours | Dimensions: 38.7 x 27 x 39.75 inches | Model #:
Featuring an outer steel housing, this 7.4 cu. ft. capacity vented dryer offers LG’s TurboSteam feature that refreshes clothing and helps to remove wrinkles in less than 10 minutes. It also uses AI to select the optimal settings based on fabric texture. And you’re able to monitor and manage the dryer using LG’s ThinQ app on any smartphone.
If the dryer’s vent gets clogged or the appliance experiences any other issues, it automatically sends a notification to your phone. This dryer is designed to handle a large capacity, but operate quietly. The door can easily be reversed from a right swing to a left swing. And once the drying cycle is done, if the load is not removed immediately, the dryer will periodically use its tumble dry feature for up to three hours to help prevent wrinkles from setting in.
LG is currently offering a $300 discount on this dryer, bringing its price down to $1,199. You’ll also get a free extra year of extended warranty coverage. The purchase may also qualify you for a rebate from your utility provider.
You can get the matching 5.0 cu. ft. LG washer for $1,199 ($300 off). It too may qualify you for a significant rebate.
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Man arrested at checkpoint near Trump rally in Coachella Valley for allegedly possessing illegal firearms
Deputies assigned to former President Donald Trump’s rally in the Coachella Valley arrested a Las Vegas man Saturday at a checkpoint for allegedly having a loaded firearm, a shotgun, and a high-capacity magazine.
The suspect, identified by deputies as 49-year-old Vem Miller, was pulled over in a black SUV at the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive.
Deputies said in a news release that the suspect was “illegally in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine.”
(credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Miller was taken into custody without incident, according to deputies. Following the arrest, he was booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center on charges of possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine.
Authorities confirmed that this incident did not compromise Trump’s safety or the safety of the rally attendees.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with additional information is urged to contact Deputy Coronado at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836–1600.
Saturday’s incident follows two assassination attempts on Trump in the past three months. In July, a gunman opened fire during Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, injuring Trump when a bullet grazed his ear and killing a rallygoer. Secret Service snipers shot and killed the gunman. And earlier this month, the Secret Service arrested a man with an AK-47-style weapon at Trump’s Florida golf course who was 300-500 yards from the former president. The man, Ryan Wesley Routh, has been charged with attempted assassination of a political figure in addition to firearms charges.
The next full moon is due to appear this week in night skies all over the world. When it emerges, the phenomenon will hold a couple of notable titles.
First, it’s the Hunter’s Moon, a centuries-old name for the full moon immediately following the autumnal equinox and the September Harvest Moon that rises with it, which signals an acceleration in the hunting season. Some Native American tribes referred to the celestial event by different monikers — like the Blood Moon, Travel Moon or Dying Grass Moon, according to the Maine Farmer’s Almanac — but each was used to mark a similar milestone shift in the year.
The upcoming full moon is also a supermoon, where the moon appears brighter and larger to skywatchers on Earth because of its proximity to the planet, and this one is slated to be the most dazzling of the year so far.
Why does the moon appear brighter during a supermoon?
Like Earth’s orbit around the Sun, the moon’s around Earth is elliptical, meaning oval-shaped. This means the space rock is positioned at various distances from the planet depending on the time of the month and where it’s located along that orbital path. The distances range from about 226,000 miles and 251,000 miles, according to NASA.
George Walker IV / AP
When the moon is hovering around one of those closer distances during a full moon, it becomes a supermoon.
Supermoons only happen three or four times a year, since the moon’s closeness to Earth rarely coincides with monthly full moons. They aren’t identical, either. Astronomers generally consider a full moon to be “super” if the moon’s position in orbit is at least 90% of the distance from its farthest point to Earth in the ellipses to its closest. The absolute closest point is called perigee.
When does the next full moon take place?
The Hunter’s Moon this week will be the third of four consecutive supermoons, NASA said. It falls on Thursday, Oct. 17, and comes on the heels of the moon reaching perigee one day earlier. Because of that, the supermoon is expected to be the biggest and brightest of its kind in 2024, albeit, by a very small margin.
The moon will reach its nearest point to Earth at around 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday evening, with a full moon due to materialize less than 12 hours later, at around 7:30 a.m. in the same time zone. It will occur late Wednesday night for places west of the International Date Line and early Friday morning for places from New Zealand eastward.
People should be able to see the moon appearing full for three or so days around that time, from Tuesday night until Friday morning. Astronomers say the supermoon will be most striking right after sunset and advise looking just above the horizon for the best chances at visibility.
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Rep. Maxwell Frost says Congress should return “as soon as possible” to replenish disaster relief funds
Rep. Maxwell Frost, Democrat of Florida, said Sunday that Congress should return “as soon as possible” to replenish disaster relief funds and not wait until Nov. 12 when Congress is scheduled to reconvene.
“Why wait until Nov. 12? We don’t know what’s going to be happening in terms of natural disasters or storms,” Frost said Sunday on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” “I think it’s important that an agency like FEMA have even — not just what they need, but even more than what they need to ensure that they have the resources necessary, of course, to help with the current operation.”
In late September, Congress passed a short-term spending bill that authorized FEMA to utilize the agency’s fiscal year 2025 resources sooner, drawing $20 billion from its disaster relief fund. However, the stopgap spending bill did not include billions of additional dollars that the White House Office of Management and Budget had requested for already existing recovery efforts.
Hurricane Helene made landfall on Sept. 26 in Florida’s Big Bend region before causing devastating floods in Tennessee and North Carolina. Less than two weeks later, powerful Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida’s Siesta Key.
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FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said Wednesday that the agency is currently able to “support all of the needs of everyone that was impacted by Helene and Milton,” but that the agency expects to need additional funds in the future.
President Biden on Thursday called on lawmakers to “move as rapidly as they can” on emergency funding, particularly for Small Business Administration disaster money, which is running precariously low. However, the president said he hasn’t spoken with House Speaker Mike Johnson or asked him to bring Congress sooner. Mr. Biden on Sunday announced $600 million in aid for areas affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene while he was touring the damaged St. Petersburg region in Florida.
So far, congressional leaders have not called for lawmakers to return to Washington before Nov. 12 to address additional disaster funding.
A group of bipartisan senators signed a letter urging Senate leaders to bring lawmakers back into session, saying, “this may even require Congress to come back in October to ensure we have enough time to enact legislation before the end of this calendar year.” House lawmakers also sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson requesting that the House reconvene to allocate further disaster relief aid.
Johnson said Sunday on “Face the Nation” that FEMA has the necessary funding to last until Congress’ return to Washington in November.
“It can wait… because remember, Congress appropriated $20 billion additional to FEMA so that they would have the necessary resources to address immediate needs,” Johnson said. “It would be premature to call everyone back now, because these storms are so large in their scope and magnitude, it’s going to take a little bit of time to make those calculations.”
Frost argued Sunday that Congress should proactively provide more disaster funding and not wait until after more damage is caused by this year’s disastrous hurricane season.
“The thing we have to understand is, yes, FEMA has the resources necessary to deal with the current situation, but like was mentioned in the previous segment, NOAA is predicting, and we’ve seen, that this is one of the worst hurricane seasons we’ve seen.” Frost said. “We’re not done with this hurricane season, it doesn’t end, really, till the end of November… why leave it up to chance when we can ensure that FEMA has the resources it needs?”
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also joined “Face the Nation” on Sunday, pressuring Congress to react accordingly to the unprecedented hurricane season.
“We need Congress to act swiftly to fund FEMA and specifically its Disaster Relief Fund, because hurricane season is not over, and also seasons are less and less important now, given the effects of climate change and the increasing gravity and frequency of extreme weather events.”
Man arrested at checkpoint near Trump rally in Coachella Valley for allegedly possessing illegal firearms
The Hunter’s Moon this week will be a supermoon — the brightest in 2024
Rep. Maxwell Frost says Congress should return “as soon as possible” to replenish disaster relief funds
Man arrested at checkpoint near Trump rally in Coachella Valley for allegedly possessing illegal firearms
The Hunter’s Moon this week will be a supermoon — the brightest in 2024