10 spring cleaning tips
Dreading the spring clean? We’ve got your back. Our 10 spring cleaning tips will help you blast through your spring cleaning session in no time, no sweat. Just follow our spring cleaning checklist for a deep cleaned house.
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Spring cleaning your whole home may seem daunting, but it doesn’t need to feel like a dirty word. These helpful tips and tricks will save both time and hassle, making your tasks feel effortless and your home look spotless. You never know, you might even enjoy yourself…
Tips to make spring cleaning less of a chore
1. Do the prep early
Before you start scrubbing every surface in sight, it's important to take a little time to prepare. A little pre-cleaning organization can go a long way towards making the whole process more efficient and less stressful. For example, you could take inventory of your cleaning supplies and make a list of anything you need to buy. Take some time to declutter each room, so you can focus on cleaning surfaces rather than moving things around. And finally, make sure you have all the tools you need, such as rags, cleaning liquids, and microfiber cloths.
Remember, it’s much easier to deep clean a home when it’s tidy. So set aside a day to do your spring cleaning and in the week leading up to it, tidy around as you go. Carry a basket with you and every time you go into a room or open a cupboard, pick up something that doesn’t belong there and return it to its rightful place. It will make spring cleaning day a much quicker operation.
2. Steam before you clean
Before cleaning the oven, loosen hardened oils or burnt food by filling an oven-safe bowl with warm water and placing it in the bottom of the oven. Turn the heat to high and leave for 30 minutes, letting the steam get to work. Then you can remove any remaining grease with a lot less elbow grease.
You could also try to clean the oven with baking soda for a more efficient scrub. To do this, simply mix equal parts baking soda and water to form a paste. Spread the paste over the inside of the oven, then let it sit for several hours or overnight. Once the baking soda has had time to break down the dirt and grime, wipe it away with a damp cloth. For tougher messes, you may need to scrub with a sponge or brush. Baking soda is a gentle cleaner that won't damage your oven, so it's a great option for those who want to avoid harsh chemicals. Plus, it's inexpensive and easy to find!
3. Target your limescale properly
If you feel like you’re always battling limescale and watermarks in your kitchen and bathroom, we have the solution. Viakal has smart water-sheeting technology, so it will easily remove stubborn limescale and protect your surfaces for three times longer than other limescale removers – keeping things super shiny for weeks.
To use Viakal, add a small amount of the solution to a washcloth or sponge and wet the area you would like to clean. For tougher stains, you may need to scrub the area with a brush. Once you have finished cleaning, rinse the area with water and dry it off with a towel. Viakal is safe for use on most surfaces, but you should avoid using it on sensitive materials such as wood or stone. With Viakal, you can easily clean up any mess, big or small.
4. Try the newspaper trick
Use up yesterday’s news by laying sheets of newspaper on the tops of your kitchen cupboards and on the shelves of food cupboards. Then when it’s time for spring cleaning, you just have to lift and throw away the old newspaper and start again – so easy, it’s newsworthy!
Not only will this save you time, but it will also help to keep your cupboards and shelves clean. The newspaper will absorb any dust that settles on top of the cupboards, and it can be easily removed and replaced when it gets dirty. Plus, the newspaper will provide a barrier between the dust and your cupboards, making it less likely that the dust will scratch or damage the surface. So, if you're looking for an easy way to keep your furniture clean and cut down on this spring’s vacuuming, laying down sheets of newspaper is a great solution.
5. Grab a small paintbrush
Did you know that in most homes, the computer keyboard is five times dirtier than the toilet seat? If you eat at your desk or have pets that like to lounge on your keyboard, it can get even dirtier. But there's no need to despair - a few simple steps can help you get your keyboard clean and sparkling. In the end, cleaning your keyboard should be part of your deep clean house routine.
Step one: unplug the keyboard and turn it upside down over a bin to catch the dust and crumbs you knock out.
Step two: use an unused paintbrush or other soft brush to dust off the surface of the keys.
Step three: if there are any crumbs or other debris stuck in-between the keys, you can use a slightly dampened wipe to clean them out.
Step four: once you've removed all the visible dirt, you can use a can of compressed air to blow away any dust that's collected in the crevices of the keyboard.
Step five: finally, use a lint-free cloth to give the keyboard a once-over. Optionally, dampen a cotton wool ball with antibacterial cleaner and swipe over the keys to kill any germs. You could use the Microban 24 Disinfectant Spray to make sure you’re killing any bacteria or viruses that might’ve covered the surface of your keys.
6. Just erase the dirt
Sticky fingerprints can make door frames, walls and kitchen cupboards look dingy quickly. Fortunately, Flash Magic Eraser is a master at getting greasy prints off with very little effort. Just wet the eraser sponge, and give the prints a light scrub.
7. Catch-up while cleaning up
The best way to make your deep clean routine more fun is to add in some distractions. Use a hands-free earpiece or just put your phone on speaker and call a friend or family member you haven’t spoken to for a while. Then chat away as you scrub away and the time will fly by.
Extra tips to make your spring cleaning easier, cheaper and more eco-friendly:
Spring is the perfect time to give your home a good deep clean. But it can be tough to know where to start, and it's easy to end up spending a lot of money on cleaning products. Here are a few extra tips to help make your spring cleaning easier, cheaper, and more eco-friendly.
Skip the store-bought cleaning products and make your own instead. Not only will this save you money, but it will also reduce the amount of harmful chemicals you're exposing yourself and your family to. There are plenty of recipes online for DIY cleaning solutions that work just as well (if not better) than the store-bought versions. Some recipes we’ve mentioned above include baking soda and vinegar.
Clean your cutting board using lemon. Just rub a slice of lemon back and forth over the surface of the board, and the acid will help to kill any lingering bacteria. For best results, follow up with a rinse of hot water and soap. And if your cutting board is particularly dirty, you can even let the lemon sit for a few minutes before wiping it away. It’s better to reach for a lemon instead of harsh chemicals – it'll do the job just as well, and your kitchen will smell nice and fresh, also.
If you’re not in the mood for making your own cleaning supplies, use green cleaning products for a deep clean house! Since your favorite cleaning products can contain toxic chemicals, they can be quite harmful to your health - and you might not even know about it. Luckily, there are now more options available for non-toxic cleaning supplies. These products are made from natural ingredients and are safe to use around everybody in your household.
8. Vinegar for spring window cleaning:
One of the most dreaded tasks is cleaning the windows. However, this activity doesn't have to be a pain. Vinegar is a great way to clean your windows and get them streak-free. All you need is a spray bottle, some vinegar, and water. Just mix the vinegar and water in the bottle in a 1:1 ratio. Then spray it on your windows and wipe it off with a clean cloth. That's it! You'll be surprised at how clean your windows will be. And if you're worried about the vinegar smell, don't worry. Once the windows are dry, there will be no scent left behind.
9. Add baking soda to white laundry
If your white laundry seems to come out of the wash looking dingy and yellowed, you may want to try adding a little baking soda to your load. Baking soda is a natural whitening agent, and it can help to brighten up your laundry without the use of harsh chemicals. Simply add a half cup of baking soda to your washing machine along with your regular detergent. You can also sprinkle a bit of baking soda directly onto stains before washing.
10. Disinfect air in your house with essential oils
Disinfecting the air in your house with essential oils can keep it fresh and clean. Some best oils to use are lemon, lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, and peppermint. Simply add a few drops of each oil to a diffuser or burner, and let the lovely smell fill your home. Not only will the air be disinfected, but you'll also enjoy the refreshing scent.
You could also add some essential oils to your vacuum cleaner. Simply add a few drops of oil to your vacuum bag or filter, and you'll be able to enjoy the fresh scent every time you use the vacuum. If you have pets, adding a few drops of lavender oil can also help to keep them from scratching furniture or carpeting.
What are your spring-cleaning tips?