Spring in Columbia is synonymous with shopping from local vendors at the Soda City market, watching the Gamecocks or Fireflies at bat, and strolling along the city’s Riverwalk. However, the gradual shift in weather and return of azaleas, dogwoods, and gardenias also signals the oft-dreaded ritual of spring cleaning.

For those who tend to sweep daily, weekly, or even monthly cleaning practices under the rug, spring cleaning is a sensitive subject. Open one closet and out fall all of the skeletons. However, for cleanfluencers, spring cleaning is just another day on the job.

Cleanfluencers — individuals who create and share cleaning-related content on their social media platforms — came onto the scene around 2019. Since then, many have gained significant traction by means of expanding their cleaning services, offering downloadable how-to manuals, and promoting their own brands of products. Ironically, their rise preceded the pandemic by mere months, incidentally creating a niche opportunity for cleanfluencers to share every at-home remedy and recipe known to mankind in the name of cleanliness.

Go Clean Co (@gocleanco) has gained a hefty following on Instagram for what they describe as “cleaning education.” Based out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Go Clean Co is a female owned and operated cleaning service with the motto “#bleachpraylove.” Scouring their Instagram profile can lead to the discovery of a slew of tips and tricks, some of which include:

• Homemade hand sanitizer: pour ¼ cup rubbing alcohol into one pack baby wipes and voila, sanitizing wipes.

• Pet patrol cleanup: for carpets, drag a squeegee across to rake hair into a pile; for upholstery, rub a dry scrub brush or pumice stone over fabric “until the hair balls up.”

• Mattress refresh: sprinkle baking soda directly onto mattress, let stand for one to two hours, then vacuum it up — if stains are in the mix, combine 2 tablespoons baking soda with 1 teaspoon Dawn Dishwashing Liquid and 1 cup hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle; lightly mist stained area and make sure it is completely dry before remaking bed.

Clean Mama (@cleanmama) is another Instagram account that has earned its official status by posting how-tos, cleaning calendar suggestions, and even their own line of products. Clean Mama promotes daily cleaning practices so as to avoid cleaning on the weekends. A few of their everyday hacks include:

• Cushion cleaning: after unzipping any removable covers from cushions, use a white bar mop towel to spot clean using a drop of gentle soap, then lightly scrub with the same damp cloth; rinse any removable covers and pre-treat with laundry detergent spray, then wash on semi-warm, extra rinse cycle.

• DIY all-purpose disinfecting spray: 1¼ cups water, ¼ cup white vinegar, ¼ cup vodka or rubbing alcohol, 15 drops essential oil; *hint: to intensify the disinfecting power, use 1 cup Everclear instead of vodka — it has a higher alcohol by volume percentage!

Tik-Tokers Noell and Daniel Jett of Jett Set Farmhouse (@jettsetfarmhouse), frequently use a Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber — which resembles an electric toothbrush — to clean every nook and cranny inside and outside their home. A few of Noell’s cleaning remedies include:

• Homemade toilet bomb: 1 cup baking soda, ¼ cup citric acid, 40 drops essential oil, and a few squirts of Dawn Power Wash; combine in a mold and dry overnight.

• Sink stench solution: toss 2 cups of ice and a hearty dose of salt into the garbage disposal; turn on the disposal and water until ice is gone; pour in a cup of baking soda, then a half cup of vinegar, then scrub the *unplugged* disposal with Dawn Power Wash and Rubbermaid Reveal; finish by grinding a lemon slice along with running water.

No matter the method they tout or product they prefer, one recommendation that rings true throughout many cleanfluencers’ content is that, when it comes to cleaning, frequency is key. In a video from December, Jett Set Farmhouse says, “What really leads to a clean household is the day-to-day lighter cleaning that you do.”