Why do we spring clean?

‍Traditionally a spring clean was done to get rid of the coal dust that sets into rugs, drapes, and furniture due to the constant comfort of the winter fire. Thankfully spring cleaning now is not so intense thanks to central heating systems and clean burning fireplaces. It can still feel like an overwhelming task, yet we have some shortcuts for you.

The great news is you are probably itching for a clean-up this time of year. The sun is out and you are ready for a fresh start. Now is the time to seize the moment and tackle those jobs you have been putting off all year.

It doesn't need to be a big deal, take a lot of time or use a truckload of products. Here are five ways you can get started and be inspired by how simple and easy it is to get your spring clean done and dusted.

Lights

Over time light covers get really dirty, dusty and littered with small dead bugs. Getting access to them is the hardest part. Make sure you use a sturdy, well-placed ladder to get a good reach to clean. All you need is to wipe over the fixtures with a damp cloth. Be very careful not to touch any hot elements, especially glass bulbs with cloths or dusters as they can shatter. The best way to do this is after the light has been off for a while, although you might want to flick them on to see your cleaning progress.

If dust and bugs have gotten inside your light cover unclip it and wash in warm soapy water in the sink. Dry carefully before refixing in place.

When dusting and cleaning start top-down, with your lights first and work down to the skirting boards and carpets. That way any dust that gets knocked down as you clean will still get picked up, rather than undoing all your hard work.

Kitchen

Your kitchen is a very important part of your home to clean because it's an area for food storage, preparation, and eating. It's really important to do a deep clean and get into those tiles, corners, and crevices to get rid of bacteria, food scraps, and grease that can cause germs to spread or bugs to thrive.

Spring is the perfect time to empty your pantry cupboards and wipe down all your shelves and benches, keeping a close eye out for any weevils or bugs that might spell an outbreak of trouble in your food storage areas.

Give your bin a thorough scrub and throw away any old spongers or scourers as well as tea towels, hand towels and oven gloves that have seen better days. Rather than use harsh chemicals, wipe over your bin and benchtops with a damp cloth and bicarb soda and finish with some lemon juice for a clean smell and natural bacteria deterrent.

A damp cloth sprinkled with baking soda is also the perfect way to naturally and safely freshen up chopping boards. Coconut oil and lemon juice is also a great way to liven up wooden chopping boards and kill bacteria.

Drains

We often don't think about the muck and grime that accumulates in our drains because we can't see them to know how bad they are getting. A bad smell or inability to move water is a pretty good giveaway that your drain care is overdue.

Having a catcher in place is the first line of defence against blocked and smelling drains. Drainpipes are narrow and curved so food particles get stuck quickly and start to rot and slick the inside of your drains with grime. A drain catcher will make sure you stop those particles before they cause trouble. From there you can simply put them in your composting worm farm or rubbish.

Regular drain cleaning is important but if you keep putting it off make sure you get to them during your spring clean. It takes no time or effort at all. Use 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of white vinegar. Pour a large portion of baking soda down the drain and around your sink and follow with a generous portion of white vinegar. It will bubble and foam, breaking down the build-up and cut through germs. Allow the foaming mix to go to work, repeating the pattern of baking soda and vinegar until you have used it all. Allow it to rest for 5 – 10 minutes and finish by pouring boiling water down the drain.

Windows

You don't notice how dusty your windows get and how impacting that is on the light flow of your home until you clean them, then the difference is so stunning you wonder how you managed to see anything through them before.

You don't need stinky, streaky chemicals to get a sparkling finish for your window glass, simply take a spray bottle and add equal parts of water and white vinegar. Spray on the glass and wipe immediately with a microfibre cloth or piece of paper towel. Wipe with a horizontal motion. It really is that simple.

For best results and fewer streaks do one window at a time so you can wipe the solution off the glass more promptly

For the outside glass, it's best to rinse with a high-pressure hose to remove dust and dirt before applying the diluted vinegar spray.

Oven

Ovens seem like a tough job, those baked-on stains seem impossible to budge. Actually, getting your oven clean can be a breeze, free of chemicals and taking you no time at all.

Start by warming your oven a little to help melt the grease and get it soft. Just be sure that the oven parts are not hot when you go to clean, you want warm to cool only. Make a paste using bicarb soda and warm water (you won't need much water to get a good paste consistency.) Take out the oven racks and set them aside. Now rub the paste all over your oven. You can use rubber gloves to apply the paste with your fingers or a basting brush to get a thick coating into the corners. When done spray everything over with vinegar. The mix will bubble and start to break down the grime. Leave it for an hour to do its best work.

In the meantime, rub the bicarb paste over the oven trays and leave for 5 minutes. Give it a light scrub with a scourer and let sit in clean water for a few minutes. Repeat on any stubborn areas.

When your oven is ready, wipe it over with a cloth to remove the dried mixture.

That's it, it's done!