It’s that time of the year when the mornings become brighter, daffodils start to appear and… oh, that’s right – the house needs spring cleaning.
You really can’t put it off any longer. But the good news? It’s actually pretty straightforward if you know where to start, where to finish, and what to focus your attention on.
We thought we’d give you a leg up with a full, no-nonsense guide to spring cleaning. And yes, it’s for people with next to no additional time on their hands; we’ve got you covered!
What is a spring clean?
Spring cleaning involves deeply cleaning your entire house from top to bottom. The idea is to leave no stone unturned.
A normal house clean usually prioritises rooms like the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms, and tidies things up. But a spring clean takes things a step further. It’s about shampooing carpets, cleaning appliances, washing the windows, and getting into every little nook and cranny.
Here are some common tasks you’ll want to include on your spring clean list:
- tile grout cleaning;
- deep oven clean (and the microwave!);
- sanitising every bin;
- clearing out all kitchen cupboards for a full clean; and
- washing the inside of the dishwasher and replacing its filters.
A spring clean is important because it refreshes your home after a long autumn and winter. More importantly, it gets every room ready for the warmer months to come.
It’s also the perfect excuse to have a declutter and throw out anything you no longer need or want.
When should you undertake a spring clean?
In the UK, spring starts in March and ends in June, and the most popular time during that period to undertake the big clean is usually in March or April.
It’s like the age-old saying: “eat that frog”. The quicker you tackle the biggest, hardest, and most unpalatable job on your list, the quicker you can get to the good stuff.
Our advice is to simply spring clean when you have time to do so. If that means June, no problem! It’s far more important to make the time work for you, rather than the other way around.
The tools and approach
There are a number of things you’ll need before you undertake the big spring clean:
- Spray bottles for homemade cleaning products
- A vacuum (you’ll be using that a lot)
- A mop or steam mop for hard floors
- A duster for removing dust from everything
- Microfibre cleaning cloths and sponges
- Old toothbrushes for hard-to-reach areas
- Rubber gloves to protect your hands
Tools to hand, the best way to approach your spring clean is to start with the rooms you use most often. Work from top to bottom in each one by dusting the ceilings and light fixtures.
The windows can then be thoroughly cleaned and, eventually, the carpets and floors either vacuumed or mopped. Remember to shampoo your carpets and steam clean the hard floors if they’re particularly dirty. If you don’t have a carpet cleaning machine there are people who can pop in and do this for you.
When it comes to the bathroom, undertake the following steps:
- remove all loose items;
- dust and sweep;
- apply cleaner to the shower, bath and basin;
- mix some cleaning solution for the floor;
- wipe off the cleaning solution you sprayed earlier (it’ll have done much of the work for you by now);
- replace the items you removed;
- clean the vanity area including countertops, taps, and the soap dish;
- clean the toilet (using that toothbrush if you need to); and
- mop the floor with the solution you made earlier.
Then, you can make your way onto the appliances in your kitchen.
How to clean your appliances during a spring clean
Can you remember the last time you cleaned your dishwasher or washing machine? These appliances are tasked with cleaning your stuff, therefore it’s only fair that you give them a taste of their own medicine once a year.
Here’s a quick guide to cleaning your big appliances.
- Oven: buy a cleaning bag and solution from your local supermarket – it’s relatively mess-free and very effective.
- Fridge: remove everything first, then clean each shelf separately in washing up liquid. Then, mix bicarbonate of soda with water and wipe down the inside of the fridge.
- Freezer: pick a colder day to do this and remove all of the stuff (or put it in cool boxes). Then, turn off the freezer and let all the ice melt. Repeat the fridge cleaning method.
- Microwave: fill a bowl with water, 1 x tsp of white wine vinegar, and a slice of lemon. Let the microwave boil the liquid and wait for the window to steal up, then remove the solution and wipe with a cloth.
- Dishwasher: remove any loose food items you can see (horrible, but needs to be done). Remove the filter and wash thoroughly, then wipe the inside of the dishwasher, paying special attention to the door and sides. Then, place a cup of white vinegar on the top shelf, and set off a hot wash.
Don’t forget outdoors
We could write an entire guide on spring cleaning the outside of your home, but it’s important to book some time in with yourself to do this, too.
Tackle it after you’ve spring cleaned the inside of your home. Focus on the patio furniture and patio itself (a jet wash does wonders for this), and then turn your attention to things like the barbecue and waste bins.
Treat it just like you did your home; this is an opportunity to give your garden a spring clean and get it ready for the warmer months!
We hope this has helped, but if your spring-cleaning desires extend into home renovations, remember to get in touch with the brilliant Modern Homes team!