The big spring clean: 7 tips to get the job done
There's just something about the days getting brighter and longer that makes us want to get our homes tidy and organised!
Some historians trace 'spring cleaning' back to the Persian New Year, which falls on the first day of spring, while others suggest that it could come from Jewish people cleaning in anticipation of Passover.
Though it's a long-standing tradition, the big spring clean can be an overwhelming task. So before you start, read this guide we've put together to help prepare yourself to get the job done.
1. Take it one step at a time
A common mistake when doing a spring clean of the whole house is to be overambitious by trying to get everything done in one day. This can not only lead to you feeling defeated, but you can also end up creating clutter without the time to tidy up.
Instead, just take it one room at a time. Finishing cleaning one room before moving onto another will give you a greater sense of achievement than trying to clean multiple rooms bit by bit. Don’t worry about telling yourself you need to have the room cleaned by a certain time, take as long as you need.
More importantly, make it fun! Pop the radio on or your favourite podcast, and lean into it.
2. Be prepared
Just like a chef gathers up all their ingredients, tools, and gadgets before they start cooking, you should do the same before you start cleaning. This will save time, as you won’t be running back and forth to the cupboard under the kitchen sink looking for cleaning products.
If you have the space, separate your cleaning products by room, e.g. bathroom cleaning products, kitchen cleaning products, and living room/bedroom/hallway products.
The GHI’s essentials include:
Rubber gloves — we love the Spontex Soft Hands gloves
Cleaning cloths
Multi-surface polish
Multi-surface cleaning spray — OceanSaver requires only one bottle, making it an eco-friendly option
Glass spray
Bleach
Old toothbrush
Floor cleaner
Mop and bucket — we rate the E-Cloth Deep Clean Mop. For a deeper clean, opt for the Kärcher SC5 EasyFix Steam Cleaner
3. Keep it green
Want a greener alternative? Save time and money by using store cupboard items you probably already have.
Vinegar is ideal for removing limescale build-up on taps (though not gold plated ones) and shower screens too. It’s also great when it comes to cleaning windows.
Mix half bicarbonate of soda and half water to make a scouring paste. It’s brilliant at removing stains from worktops, sinks, cookers, oven doors, and saucepans.
Lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent. Use it to remove stains from chopping boards by rubbing with fresh lemon (or the bottled stuff) and leave overnight. It’s also effective at removing rust stains. Also, add half a capful into your wash-load to brighten whites.
4. Deal with clutter before you start
Have a few bin liners or storage boxes with you so you can sort the things you want to keep, store, recycle, sell, give to a charity shop or chuck. Be honest with yourself and be ruthless — you almost certainly need less than you have!
If you can, move all of your clutter into a different room before you start cleaning, so you’re not having to move around boxes and bags.
5. Start with the ceiling
Once you’ve chosen your room, work from the top down. Dust can move and resettle so, for example, wiping the mantelpiece before the mirror will just leave dust resettling on the clean surface and make more work for yourself. This order is worth remembering: dust, vacuum, wash floors.
6. Prevention is key
A big clean will be a lot easier if you establish house rules that reduce mess. Try these:
Place an empty baking tray on the lowest shelf of your oven to catch spills rather than baking them onto your oven floor. Alternatively, purchase an oven liner to do the same job.
Put sheets of old newspaper in the bottom of bin liners to absorb any liquids to stop them from leaking onto your bin.
Spray shower surfaces after every use to stop limescale build-up. Make your own solution by using an empty spray bottle and adding half parts water and half distilled white vinegar.
7. Make your gadgets do the hard work
Cleaning the extractor fan filters or your fridge shelves in the dishwasher means you’ll spend less time scrubbing — just make sure that they're definitely dishwasher safe!
Utilise the tools on your vacuum, such as the crevice and upholstery tool to make whizzing round the house much more efficient.
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