Our Style Editor’s Self Care–Inspired Spring Clean Has Us Feeling Calmer Already
Cleaning isn’t just sweeping crumbs and scrubbing surfaces. Showing our home extra love is also a way to restore mental and emotional balance at home — especially after a long winter. For Apartment Therapy style editor Emma Dangel, spring cleaning the Brooklyn apartment she shares with her senior cat, Phoebe, helps her feel more grounded and productive as she heads into a new season.
“My place feels so stale after spending all winter cooped up with Phoebe,” Emma says. “Unless my space is clean and organized, it’s tough for my mind to feel focused and calm. I can’t really concentrate unless I know all of my home tasks are done!”
Emma usually does a big spring clean, but this year she’s also tackling her home’s upholstery for the first time — with help from the BISSELL® Little Green Mini. Just as powerful as the original Little Green Machine, this pint-sized stain fighter is ideal for apartment living. From tough stains to stubborn odors, it helps Emma make her home feel fresh without taking up too much space. Let’s take a closer look at her spring clean reset.
Detail-Oriented Dusting
A big part of Emma’s spring reset is a great big dusting. She tackles everything, and we mean everything: Not just the surfaces she uses every day, but the things that might not get such thorough attention during weekly cleans. This includes her beloved piano, trinkets, and tchotchkes.
Thorough Couch Cleaning
Next, Emma used the Little Green Mini to tackle all those subtle stains that can accumulate on the couch, from Phoebe tracks to drink spills. The 4-inch Tough Stain Tool made easy work of them all: Just spray with the cleaning solution, scrub, and suction dirt and grime away!
“I was surprised by how fast it worked — some stains didn’t even need a second pass!” Emma says. “It’s also sooo satisfying to watch in action.”
With a clean home, I’m feeling inspired to tackle more fun home projects and DIYs. I can’t wait to put that inspiration and energy to good use!
Emma Dangel
Refreshing Phoebe’s Essentials
Phoebe has a couch of her own: a tricked-out cat tree with several platforms and a cozy cradle for naps. Because Emma is actually mildly allergic to cats (no one tell Phoebe!), keeping the cat furniture clean helps her feel better and breathe easier. She used the Little Green Mini on the cat tree’s upholstered surfaces, easily navigating the nooks and crannies with the 4-inch Tough Stain Tool to banish stains, odors, and allergens.
“It got rid of the stain that’s been there for ages!” Emma says. “It looks so much better now.” BISSELL® Little Green Oxy Spot and Stain solution is tough on even the oldest stains, plus it has StainProtect® Technology to prevent future ones. And the HydroRinse™ Self-Cleaning Hose Tool rinses out the machine’s hose after each use, so it’s always ready to go.
Then Emma wiped down Phoebe’s litter pail to clear dust and restore its stainless-steel shine. This is one of those little tasks, like wiping down your trash cans, that really helps contribute to an overall clean feeling.
Loving on the Houseplants
Emma wiped her plant leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust and restore them to a glossy green. It looks great, but it’s not just an aesthetic choice: Dust inhibits plants’ ability to photosynthesize, so Emma is setting them up to thrive in the spring — and she’s doing the same for herself, too.
“My home felt so stale and a bit dingy, honestly. Now, it feels like everything is just a bit brighter. I’m way more at ease and feeling totally refreshed and ready for spring!”