Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.
With spring just around the corner, chances are you’re starting to think about getting your home in order. It’s always nice to refresh your home at this time of year when nature itself is renewing and things seem bright and new, but if we’re honest, spring cleaning can be a bit of a nightmare! That’s why I’ve put together a few tips that will take some of the hard work out of the process and ensure that you have a beautiful home from which you can enjoy the season.
Draw up a schedule
Drawing up a cleaning schedule isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time (well okay it might be some people’s idea of fun) but taking an hour or so to do just that will save you time when the spring cleaning commences. If you know exactly which rooms and jobs you’re going to tackle on any given day or time, it will mean you can get through your chores far more methodically than you might otherwise.
And schedule any professionals
From pest control services to gutter cleaners, there are a number of professionals you may want to bring in to do some of the jobs you can’t or don’t want to do around the house this spring. If you schedule them as soon as possible, you can miss the spring peak and ensure that your home is in tip-top condition right from the start. Be proactive and get the professionals booked now.
Update your cleaning products
Next, you’re going to want to take some time to go through your cleaning supplies, getting rid of anything that is out-of-date and making a note of anything that is missing so you can stock up on all you will need ahead of spring cleaning day. There’s nothing worse than going to clean the windows only to find you’re out of vinegar or planning to dust the light fittings only to find your feather duster has lost most of its feathers, so plan and ahead and avoid any interruptions.
Go from room to room
Spring cleaning one room at a time is probably the best strategy simply because you get the satisfaction of having one area that’s completely clean, clutter-free and fresh when you’re finished, whereas if you do a bit here and there, it can be hard to notice a real change within your home.
Ditch the clutter
Before you start cleaning, if you have a lot of stuff, it could be worth taking a little time to declutter. The fewer possessions you have, the less cleaning you will need to do now and in the future, after all. Clutter can be placed into three piles – keep, toss and donate – for ease.
Start at the top
When you’re cleaning a room, it makes the most sense to start at the ceiling and end at the floor simply because dust and dirt from the ceiling are likely to fall on the floor as you clean and dislodge it, and if you start by vacuuming or scrubbing the floors, you’re just going to have to cover them again. This is something a lot of people don’t think about and it can lead to a lot of annoyance so do it right.
Freshen up with vodka
If you have a lot of soft furnishings and things like fabric couches in your home, they can get a bit smelly from time to time, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they need a full clean. A quick fix that can work wonders is to pour a little vodka and a drop or two of your favourite essential oil into a spray bottle. Simply spritz the fabric until its damp and once dry the smell will be gone. This works great for freshening up your wardrobe too.
Or the sun
Another method that’s great for freshening up bulkier items like duvets and rugs is to hang them on the washing line when the sun is shining. The sun will cleanse them and leave them smelling, and looking as good as new. This is particularly good for white fabrics as the sun can also have a bleaching effect.
Baking soda is your best friend
Whether it’s getting grease off your oven or removing mould from your bathroom tiles if you want the job to be as effortless as possible, you need baking soda in your life. When you mix it with a little water, and maybe a squeeze of lemon juice, it forms a thick paste that can be applied to problem areas and left for a little while. When you come back to it, you’ll find that the dirt and grime that troubled you so comes off with more ease than you thought possible.
Invest in vacuum packs
If you have a lot of clothes, when spring comes around, chances are you’ll want to switch out your winter wardrobe and put it into storage in order to make room for your warmer weather wardrobe. Make this easy for yourself by investing in vacuum-sealed packs which will not only minimise the amount of time it takes to deal with your clothes, but also minimise the amount of space they take up and protect them in perfect condition until you need them again next winter. They’re cheap., easy to use and very good atg keeping clothes safe.
Fresh flowers are amazing
A great way to make your home smell amazing in time for spring is to use freshly cut flowers. Place a few bouquets around the house and not only will they add a sophisticated design touch, but they’ll also give off a beautiful, yet subtle scent without you having to worry about all manner of air fresheners, candles or wax melts.
As you can see, there are a lot of simple things you can do to make spring cleaning easier, which means you can complete the task far more quickly and get back to enjoying family life and having fun in the (hopefully) beautiful spring weather.
Time to start spring cleaning?
