As we begin seeing the first signs of spring by the way of longer days, carpets of snowdrops and rows of cheery daffodils emerging, the sense of relief that spring can bring often has a transformative effect.
The cold and darkness of winter may not be entirely vanquished yet, but from Imbolc onwards (2nd February) the days begin to lengthen noticeably and we start spotting more of those little changes that tell us the season is on the turn.
Spring is indelibly linked with the notion of “spring cleaning” and with the clocks going forward on Sunday 26th March this year, we thought now would be a good time to provide you with some spring cleaning tips, particularly useful if you’re planning to put your home on the market soon.
Clean Your Curtains & Windows
Is anyone else guilty of trying to fool themselves into believing that when the window cleaners come that the inside of the windows are magically cleaned at the same time? Just me? Moving on then, make sure you clean the inside of your windows but not just the glass, the surrounds and window sill too.
You might be surprised by just how must dust and grime accumulates in curtains and on blinds too. Depending on your window treatments, this will determine the best way to clean them.
When it comes to curtains, you won’t need to take them down and wash them every year (not least because some will be far to big to washing in a domestic machine or may be dry clean only) but every few years should certainly be considered whilst the top of roller blinds or slatted binds, particularly those located in kitchens are likely to be extremely grimy and will need annual cleaning with a soft cloth and warm soapy water.
Clean Your Carpets and Rugs
Carpets and rugs can hold a lot of dirt and dust so a deep clean is great way of helping to make your home feel really fresh and clean.
We’re not just talking about a few sprays of Febreze either. Carpet cleaners can be hired with relative ease, you might have a friend or family member you can borrow one from, or you might even want to hire a professional to come and do it for you.
Dust Your Home Thoroughly
We’re all so busy these days that some household tasks that might previously have been a staple part of regular housekeeping, might fall by the wayside.
Dust can accumulate quickly in homes, especially in areas that aren’t clearly on show like behind your TV, the top of picture frames and the top of doors and skirting boards.
Lampshades too need to be dusted. A damp cloth is ideal for trapping dust particles instead of sweeping them into the air and simply displacing them and a good old duster and polish works a treat too. Do make sure that you vacuum and clean your floors in rooms where you have dusted.
Organize Your Wardrobe
Spring is a great time to switch over your clothes to your summer wardrobe. If you are limited on space, you can use suitcases to store your winter clothes away in the attic. Have a tidy up of your wardrobes and other bedroom storage and work through your clothes to declutter.
Give away to charity anything you no longer wear or haven’t worn in a year or more and consider organising your clothing by type or colour to make it easy to find what you’re looking for.
Find more tips on organising your wardrobe here.
Clean Your Kitchen Appliances
Large kitchen appliances like your fridge, freezer and microwave, attract grease and grime over time and of course, there’s the dreaded oven! Although cleaning the oven isn’t high on most people’s list of fun things to do, getting into the habit of giving your oven a yearly deep clean can help to ensure your kitchen remains clean and sparkly.
Give your appliances a good deep cleaning, being careful not to get water or detergent into any electrical inputs or sockets, and ensure you use products fitting for the surface you’re cleaning, for example, a stainless steel oven hob will require a nonabrasive cloth and gentle cleaner, whilst the inside of your microwave may stand up to stronger cleaning products.
Freshen Up Your Bedding
Wash all of your bedding, including your sheets, duvet and pillow cases. You might want to check the condition of your mattress and if you’re using a mattress protecter you might want to give it a wash, air it out or look at replacing it.
As well as changing your bedding you might want to update the look of your bedroom with a fresh new bright and cheery duvet set that echoes the season.
Read our blog Easy Ways To Make Your New House Feel Like Home or whether you’re just curious or you’re thinking of moving home soon, why not get a fast, free online property valuation.