A clean home is a stress-free home for many people, but the idea of cleaning it during cold and bleak winter months is simply off putting. That’s why it makes perfect sense to stay on top of things as much as you can while it’s winter time and do a major clean in spring.
When the days become longer and brighter, it’s easier to spot dirt that went by unnoticed and you might feel more driven to tackle it. Here are tested tips and methods to help you give your home a spring cleaning it deserves.
Preparation
Before you immerse yourself into the dirty business, make sure you have everything prepared. The essential supplies usually contain sturdy rubber gloves, sponges, cloths, brushes, all-purpose cleaner, bin bags and baking soda and vinegar, if you’re going for a greener cleaning venture.
Start by decluttering your home. Get rid of all unwanted, broken and unused clothes, toys, ornaments, towels and linens. Sort it out into boxes for charity and recycling and once they’re gone, you’ll feel better and lighter, and your home will already look a bit tidier.
Start with the kitchen
The kitchen is probably everyone’s least favourite room for cleaning as it tends to be the dirtiest, especially the appliances. It’s best you start with the fridge and freezer and do it before you go grocery shopping as that’s when its contents are at their lowest. Empty them out, throw away anything that has past its best before date, including those you’ll never consume anyway.
Wipe down the interior of the appliance with a damp cloth and disinfectant. Do the same with the freezer as well, but make sure you defrost it first.
The most tedious work awaits when you set out to clean your oven, but it needs to be done as months of baking and roasting leave tons of residue. Remove the racks and clean them in a mix of warm water and dishwashing liquid. While they’re soaking, spray the oven interior with a degreaser and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Then scrub it, rinse off and dry so no chemicals are left on any surface. Do the same with the racks.
Don’t forget the bathroom
Right after the kitchen, your bathroom will demand equal attention. Before you start cleaning, it’s a good idea to contact a reliable Perth plumber to examine all the pipes and drains and make sure there are no clogs or damage that can cause leakage.
If everything proves to be in order, proceed to clean your shower and tub. An easy and eco-friendly method is to coat the surfaces with a 1:1 mix of water and baking soda and scrub it off. This will obliterate any soap scum and grout dirt. Then spray it with a 1:1 combination of water and vinegar before you wipe it off and your surfaces will be sparkling clean.
Clean the curtains, beds and linens
Over longer periods of time, various fabrics around your home, such as your bedding and curtains absorb a lot of dust and dirt, and spring time is ideal to give them a thorough clean. Curtains are most likely to be neglected in your routine cleaning sprees but are usually very easily cleaned. Depending on the information on the care label, most of them can be machine washed and dry cleaned.
Next, remove all your bedding and while it’s being washed, clean the mattress. Start by vacuuming it to remove all the dust and hair, and follow by washing off the stains using a damp cloth and a stain remover. Another great hack is to sprinkle the mattress with a light layer of baking soda and allow it to sit for a few hours before you vacuum it off. It will absorb moisture and give it a fresh smell.
Hopefully, these practical tips will help you clean your home this spring and enjoy life to the fullest.