Spring Cleaning Guide
Isn’t there just something about kicking off spring cleaning that feels so satisfying? When you stretch out your checklist over a few weeks, it doesn’t seem like this overwhelming task.
Whether you’ve got fifteen minutes for a quick refresh or an entire weekend for a deep dive into spring cleaning, check out some top tips below to get you started!
Around Your Home:
Organise your wardrobes
Start by sorting your clothing into categories and create piles for 'keep’, ‘donate’ and ‘recycle’.
If you haven't worn something in a year, consider letting it go—unless it holds sentimental value.
Following Marie Kondo's advice, only keep items that spark joy.
A clutter-free wardrobe allows you to easily see everything.
Freshen Up your carpets
Start by thoroughly vacuuming to remove loose dirt.
Sprinkle baking soda over the surface, gently brushing or raking it into the fibres.
Let it sit for 15-30 minutes.
Finally, vacuum again to leave your carpet refreshed and odour-free.
Declutter your cosmetics
Clearing out expired makeup, skincare, and hair products is a swift method for decluttering.
Not all products note an expiration date, but many say how many months the product will last after opening.
TIP: Use a permanent marker to note opening dates in future.
Refresh your mattress
Start by giving your mattress a deep clean!
First, kill surface dust mites with a clothing steamer.
Next, sprinkle baking soda all over the surface. Let it sit for 30 minutes - 2 hours, and then vacuum thoroughly.
Don't forget to flip your mattress regularly!
Hard to reach areas
Use an extendable duster to give pendant lights, sconces, recessed lights, mouldings, and the door tops a wipe.
Don't forget to check for cobwebs in those sneaky wall corners!
Complete your cleaning routine from the top down, to save you from double vacuuming the floors.
Hard water build up
The buildup of hard water can lead to unsightly stains and impact the water flow from your shower head.
You can rejuvenate your shower head by combining equal parts white vinegar and water in a plastic bag. Secure it around the shower head, making sure to immerse the shower head entirely, and tie it securely.
Leave it in place for about an hour, then wipe away any remaining residue.
Finally, run hot water through the shower to flush out the vinegar from the openings. (Note: This method is best suited for chrome fixtures.)
Outdoor storage
If you use your garage or garden shed as storage space, consider using the wardrobe method of organising your items into three piles:
‘keep’, ‘donate’ and ‘bin/recycle’.
Afterwards, vacuum and clean the floor thoroughly. Then begin sorting the things you'll be keeping.
Organise smaller items by product type in labeled boxes. Store them on shelves along the walls to optimise floor space.
Kitchen Cleaning Guide:
Preparation
Tidy kitchen space
Gather all cleaning supplies, cloths and sponges
Remove everything from countertops
Remove rugs and runners
TIP: Always start with a list and complete a job before moving on to the next, so if you need to spread the list over a number of days, you will always know what’s left to achieve
Windows
Clean windows, inside and out (if safe to do so)
Wash or dust curtains
Wipe down blinds
Surfaces
Clean the tops of your kitchen cabinets
Wipe down walls and splashbacks
Wipe down cabinet doors
Clean door handles
Wipe down countertops
Wipe down pendants/downlights
Wipe down light switches and plug sockets (with dry microfibre cloths)
Pantry & Cupboards
Clear completely
Wipe down cupboards
Throw out expired foods
Use jars and air-tight containers to organise your food
Organise by types of foods
TIP: Use white label stickers to add expiry dates underneath the containers
Flooring
Vacuum and mop floors
Shake out and clean rugs and runners
Dust and wipe down skirting boards
Sink
Scrub and polish sink, tap and handles
Sort sponges, cleaning brushes and replace regularly
Clean and disinfect dish rack
TIP: Add a good handful of baking soda into the drain, let it sit for 15 minutes, then pour 1/2 cup white vinegar down. Watch the fizz, and let it sit for another 15 minutes. Then, add some boiling water and voila!
Appliances
Deep clean fridge shelves, drawers and door built-in storage. Don’t forget all the grooves! Re-organise and discard old jars
Dishwasher deep clean: scrub the filter thoroughly with dish soap using a small brush (or toothbrush) and run dishwasher on a hot cycle with 1 cup of vinegar or dishwasher cleaner
Washing machine deep clean: Add two cups of vinegar to the detergent dispenser, 1/2 of baking soda directly in the drum and run on a hot setting. Don’t forget to clean the filter and the door rubber seal first!
Steam clean your microwave: Add a bowl with water and half a lemon, microwave for 5 minutes, let it steam a little and then wipe down
Throughly clean your oven, soak the oven racks, clean trays, grooves and doors/handles
Wipe down and descale your kettle using one sliced lemon (into thin rounds), place in kettle with cold water and boil. Boil for a second time after 30 min and then rinse with cold water
Wipe down toaster and empty crumbs tray
Bin & Recycling Bins
Clean inside the bins and let them air dry outside
Clean lids and openings thoroughly with anti-bacterial wipes
TIP: Deodorise bins with baking soda or deodoriser at the bottom of the bin, before placing bags
