Tips to take the stress out of spring cleaning

WASHINGTON — The official start to spring means it’s officially time to give your house a good scrub — especially after the abuse it endured during this long winter of snow, salt and mud.

From washing windows to scrubbing tiles and flipping mattresses, spring cleaning can seem daunting. But Kim Myles, from OWN’s “Home Made Simple,” offers some tips to make the ritual less stressful and more approachable.

“A top-to-bottom clean is a really important thing to do, even if you only do it once a year,” Myles says. “It changes how your home feels and it changes your mindset.”

Kick the Chemical Cleaners to the Curb

One tip Myles offers for spring cleaning is to keep it simple, starting with the cleaning products and chemicals you use on your home. She says baking soda does it all for her.

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Painting one wall is an easy and inexpensive way to freshen the look of your home for spring. (AP Photo)

“It’s one product, but it can tackle multiple projects,” she says.

Myles uses dry baking soda to freshen couch cushions, mattresses and other upholstered pieces of furniture.

To wash the floors, she mixes it with warm water. Baking soda combined with water is also great for wiping down walls, soaking stove burner grates and cleaning window screens.

In the bathroom, mix

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