A new season with longer, brighter days is the perfect time to get things in order.
Nothing feels quite as satisfying as coming home to a clean, organised abode. But since deep cleaning your home can be overwhelming — not to mention tiring and time-consuming — we’ve collated a comprehensive list of spring cleaning tips to restore your home’s sparkle.
Consider this blog your spring cleaning checklist, helping you tackle your home’s grubbiest spots (the fridge, shower curtain, and microwave, to name a few) to restore its sparkle in time for summer.
What you’ll need to spring clean
Before you start your spring clean, ensure you have the following cleaning supplies on hand:
Now you’re equipped, we’ll visit each room one by one and explain how to deep clean your home.
Cleaning the kitchen
Kitchen sink
Eliminate kitchen sink stink by running a couple of lemon rind slivers through your rubbish disposal and follow with cold water to eradicate unwanted odours.
Microwave
To clean those cling-on stains once and for all, fill a large microwavable bowl with a cup of water and a chopped-up lemon, lime, or orange and stick it inside. Turn the microwave on high for several minutes or until the solution boils, then let it cool with the door closed After five minutes, remove and clean any debris with a sponge.
Washing machine
Before odours proliferate, freshen up the washing machine by adding bleach and activating the special washer cleaning cycle.
Tumble dryer
After removing the fuzz from the filter after each load, use your vacuum’s crevice tool to remove hard-to-reach lint. Finish by vacuuming under, around, and behind the dryer.
Reusable shopping bags
Reusable bags reduce plastic waste, but often get grimy with time. If they’re machine washable – bundle them in, but if not, clean them thoroughly with a soapy sponge or cloth. Rinse with a clean cloth and let air dry.
Countertops
Use hard surface cleaners to restore shine and repel stains on your kitchen surfaces. For daily wipe-downs, use cloths or wet wipes as their mild formula cuts through grease and removes surface stains without the damaging effects of vinegar or ammonia.
Chopping boards
Run the cut side of a lemon over your chopping boards to remove food stains and odours. For extra sparkle, sprinkle them with salt or baking soda first.
Fridge
As well as regularly cleaning the fridge’s interior shelving, it’s essential to deep clean the removable bins every so often. Pop out the door shelves and bins, and wash in warm, soapy water to eliminate food bacteria and spillage stains.
Pots and pans
Soften burned-on residue by adding washing up liquid and water to your cookware and letting it simmer on the stove, before using a scourer to remove any leftovers. You may be stunned to learn that ketchup can dissolve tarnish on copper cooking utensils – simply massage the sauce over the surface and add a pinch of salt if you come across seriously stubborn spots.
Oven
Use the oven’s self-cleaning function to remove stubborn, baked-on grime. If it doesn’t have one, place a hot, wet cloth on top of the burned spots to help soften the gunk. Then scrub with a sprinkle of baking powder and a heavy-duty pad, before rinsing and wiping dry. Specialised oven and grill cleaners will achieve the same results with a lot less able grease, mind!
Kitchen cabinets
Unsightly kitchen grime is an is a mix of dust and grease that accumulates over time. Running the fan when you cook helps grease from settling, but if the gunk has hardened, consider using a hard surface cleaner to restore your cabinets’ shine.
Stainless steel appliances
Make your metal surfaces sparkle again with stainless steel cleaner. Using a microfiber cloth, rub the detergent onto any marks, going with the grain. Rinse with clean hot water and dry immediately with a clean cloth.
Cleaning the bathroom
Shower curtains
Along with a few bath towels, put your plastic or vinyl shower curtains on a gentle wash cycle with your favourite detergent. Let it hang dry before showering. To keep the curtain cleaner longer, spritz it a few times each month with a bleach all-purpose cleaner. Then just let the shower rinse it off before hopping in!
Grout
White grout picks up almost everything, so keep on top of it with a bleach cleaner or mould remover. After applying your chosen product, let it set for a few minutes before scrubbing the area with a stiff brush and rinsing.
Shower drain
To freshen drains and keep them free flowing, mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup table salt. Pour the mixture down the drain, followed by 1 cup heated vinegar. It will foam and bubble. Let it stand for a maximum of fifteen minutes, before running the hot tap for at least 15 to 30 seconds. This is especially helpful for seldom-used drains, like in guest bathrooms. To unblock the drain completely, you’ll likely need a specialised drain cleaner.
Makeup brushes
To break down oil-based foundation and concealer, squeeze a few drops of baby shampoo or washing up liquid into your palm and rub the bristle tips into the soap, before gently working the suds through them. To rinse, hold the brush bristles down under warm running water. Gently shake over the sink to remove excess water and lay the brush down on a paper towel to dry.
Cleaning the living room
Furniture
Pull furniture away from walls and vacuum behind and under it, before focusing on the woodwork and air vents. Next, switch to the upholstery tool on your machine and go over both sides of your cushions, remembering to vacuum underneath them, too. Top tip: the crevice tool is a great way to remove any gunk along the trim and stitching.
Curtains
Put your dryer to work and toss curtains, drapes, and throw pillows in the dryer for 15 minutes on the “air-only” cycle, before hanging them immediately to avoid wrinkles.
Bookshelves
After all of those cosy winter reading sessions, your library will likely need a clean – and it only takes a few minutes to organise those bedside novels and coffee table volumes. You can alphabetise, coordinate by colour, or sort by size. Just ensure you dust the shelves before replacing any books. For some extra sparkle, buff up your bookshelves with our best-in-class surface polish.
Ceiling fixtures
Spring cleaning is about tackling those often-overlooked areas, and ceiling fixtures are a prime candidate. Grab an extendable duster and attack ceiling fans, hanging and recessed lights, mouldings, and more.
Cleaning the bedroom
Bedding
It’s time to tackle those bulky items it’s tempting to avoid, like pillows and comforters. However, as they only need washing two or three times a year, they should top your spring-cleaning list. Remember to check the manufacturer’s label before tossing them into the washing machine, though!
Mattress
It’s the perfect time to focus your attention beneath the sheets. To clean the top and sides, press firmly with your vacuum’s upholstery and crevice tools. After vacuuming, sanitise your mattress with a disinfectant spray, and use an iron to kill dust mites near the surface. Finish by giving it once last vacuum.
Wardrobe
Survey your clothes and shoes, removing anything stained, in need of repair, or worn out. Try on anything you’re unsure about before giving it wardrobe space. For the garments that make the cut, spritz them with fabric freshener for an instant refresh.
Cleaning outside
Doormats
Trap more dirt by using two mats, one outside the door and one inside. For a quick refresh, simply hose off and air-dry the mats. Remember to vacuum your indoor mat on both sides, as going over the back will push trapped dirt out onto the floor where it’s easier to pick up.
Windows
It’s best to clean your windows on an overcast day, as the direct sun can lead to streaks. Starting on the shady side of the house, raise the blinds or vinyl shades and wash the windows with glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth. Next, lower the blinds and shades and dust with a duster, before vacuuming the shades and drapes.
Patio furniture
Summer’s around the corner, so it’s time to get your patio furniture ready for long-overdue barbeques and get-togethers. Simply add a squirt of washing up liquid bowl of warm water, then wipe down the tables and chairs. Finish by respraying them with water and letting them air dry.
Miscellaneous cleaning tips
Kids’ toys
If you have a box full of plastic toys that need a quick clean, the dishwasher is your best bet – just select the crystal or quick cycle and skip the heated dry. For stuffed animals, wrap them in a mesh bag or pillowcase and machine wash them on a gentle cycle.
Bits and bobs drawer
Once you emptied the drawer, suck out dust and crumbs with your vacuum’s nozzle, and either toss or find a new home for any items that don’t belong there. Then repurpose the drawer for a specific use.
Bags and purses
Take everything out, bin anything you don’t need, and organise your items by category. Sort smaller items, like lip balms, into little pouches or purse organisers, before putting them back inside. If your bag is made with durable, water-resistant material, wipe down the exterior with a disinfectant wipe.
Vacuum
Cleaning appliances need cleaning, too! Replace the bag, clean the dust cup, and replace or wash the filters. Next, snip any threads snarled in the brush with scissors or a seam ripper.
Brush
Clean your brush’s bristles by swishing the head in warm, soapy water, or vacuum it for a quick alternative.
Take A Look At Our ‘Operation Spring Clean’ Infographic Below!
If you are feeling inspired to get stuck into spring cleaning, why not download our FREE commercial cleaning schedule? We’ve also got everything you could ever need to conduct the spring clean of your life on our website – so make sure to browse the full range here