Spring is when every aspect of our surroundings awakens after the long cold winter months. We will not write about the blossoms of greenery, but we will share some tips on some not-so-pleasant chores we must do in early spring.
Spring cleaning is equivalent to a deep cleaning of your property which most of us need to do more regularly. So this is the perfect time to freshen up your home and free it from the unnecessary.
The following rows are dedicated to some essential and proven spring cleaning tips and practices that you can try this year, if you haven’t done before. So, let’s turn tedious housework into a more organised, fun and satisfying duty.
Table of Contents
1. You will need a good plan
Getting started is the most challenging part of spring cleaning. The thought of the amount of cleaning work ahead might be overwhelming. But don’t worry, this process can be flawless by following one simple rule – correct planning.
Take your time and write down your plan for the cleaning process. For example, take notes of your priorities and the most time-consuming areas you need to clean. You can add the necessary tools and equipment; if anything is missing, you can provide it before you start.
2. A written checklist works wonders
Creating a checklist is a mandatory part of the spring cleaning process. So, take your time to prepare your list according to the furniture and other belongings you have.
- Include each room and space in your house so you can easily cover it later.
- Star with the organisational and decluttering tasks.
- Continue with dusting, vacuuming and wiping down.
We’ve got you covered and have a detailed spring cleaning checklist that you can download print to save time.
3. Get everything needed for the spring cleaning in advance
The right cleaning tools and equipment are essential for the results and the smooth spring cleaning process. So, choose wisely between brands, types, shapes and sizes. In addition, you can gather information from forums or reviews on products that work best for specific surfaces and materials. As you probably already know, some fabric and materials cannot be treated with popular all-purpose cleaners.
Here are our tools suggestions that should be sufficient:
- Powerful vacuum cleaner: vacuum cleaner is unarguably the tool you need the most. We highly recommend using a vertical and wireless one, that is also powerful enough. They are excellent solutions as you can easily manoeuvre around hard-to-reach areas. The battery should endure the deep and long cleaning of your floor and carpets. Vertical vacuum cleaners also go with detachable parts for different surfaces and you can use them for your furniture. If you don’t have such, you can ask a friend to lend one for the spring cleaning session.
- Microfibre cloths or duster: Microfibre cloths are excellent for wiping any surface. They work great for both dusting and soaking up spills. Microfibre cloths are also reusable. However, there are great extendable dusters that are designed to quickly grab dust and lock it even from hard-to-reach places. They can access spaces under the bed or couch, ceilings, the top of the wardrobes or kitchen cabinets.
- Sponges: They can be helpful for more stubborn stains. You can look for a non-scratching but double-textured sponge which will work perfectly.
- Steam cleaner: Steam mop is an eco-friendly solution to give a deep clean of your flooring. This tool is known to disinfect the flooring very well even without the use of chemicals. Anyway, a simple wet mop and a cleaning solution are acceptable if you don’t own a steam mop.
- Spray bottles: Empty spraying bottles are excellent for creating your cleaning solution. You can label the bottles with the cleaning product’s name or its purpose. You can also add the recipe of the solution to be handy while you run out of it.
- Other helpful cleaning and decluttering kit: For the cleaning process, you can add cleaning products for different purposes (bathroom tiles, furniture, disinfectants etc.), window cleaning equipment, gloves (to protect hands from harsh products), dish detergent, laundry detergent, mould remover spray for walls. For the organisational part of the spring cleaning, you can get boxes, labels, containers, duct tape, jars, stickers, and plastic bags.
4. Start your spring cleaning only if you have enough time to finish it
As we have already established, spring cleaning means deep cleaning the whole property without skipping any spot. You can already imagine that this will be a very daunting and time-consuming job. So doing it between your work, child care, or other responsibilities will be very frustrating, and the results won’t probably be as satisfying.
Therefore, we suggest you set enough time for this project and do it all in one take. Postponing tasks over a large period of time could lead to abandoning the whole project altogether. As time passes, you may find it more and more difficult to master your cleaning enthusiasm.
So, as spring cleaning can take from 3 to 7 days to complete, we suggest you give yourself enough time to do the cleaning chores fully without rushing and stressing yourself too much. Of course, the time may vary depending on the size of your property and areas to cover, so don’t hesitate to adjust it.
Do you need your home deep cleaned?
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For questions about the services we offer visit our main site or you can always call us at 020 3404 0145
5. Four-box decluttering method
It’s not enough to dust and vacuum furniture, carpets and windows. Decluttering is also essential, but that can turn into a very time-consuming chore, especially if you skipped it for the past few years.
So, if you want it to go smoothly, you must learn some tricks on how to do it properly. One of the best ways to declutter your house is to use the four-box method. This approach includes the use of four labelled boxes. Each one has its purpose:
- The throw-away box: This box contains belongings that you no longer need. They are somehow broken, have missing parts, or you cannot give them to someone else. These items can be damaged appliances, old newspapers, broken toys, or furniture.
- The storage box: In this box, you can collect all possessions that you’ll need at some point. They can be seasonal or will be functional in the future. Such items include Christmas decorations, clothing and shoes, sports equipment (snowboards, ski equipment).
- The giveaway box: In this box, you can put items that are still in good condition but that you or your family no longer use or need. For example, clothes you don’t wear, children’s toys, and appliances that are not functional in your kitchen anymore. You can give them to friends or family members or donate them to local institutions where they can fit better.
- The keep box: This box is the most tricky one as you should very carefully decide what items to assign there. This box should be dedicated to belongings that you will use for sure. Don’t be tempted to add things that “you might need one day or just in case”. So, keep only items that will be functional and have a purpose in your daily life.
Of course, the idea of the four boxes can be very abstract as, in the end, there could be much more than simply four labelled boxes. You can be more creative with the labelling or use plastic containers instead of boxes. Once you are aware of what stands behind this method, you can adjust it to fit your family’s needs.
6. Use the 80/20 rule
This rule is known as the Pareto Principle, stating that 20% of your efforts bring on 80% of the results. So, how does this rule apply to the spring cleaning and decluttering process?
It can be beneficial when you organise your wardrobe. Most of us use only 20% of our clothing 80% of the time. This rule helps you arrange your clothes and shoes better.
Another way to apply this rule is by clearing regularly 20% of the areas that impact your daily routine. For example, you can start by decluttering the countertops or washing the dishes, when cleaning the kitchen. Next, you can continue with folding your laundry and changing bedroom bed sheets. Clearing those areas will create a nice and tidy atmosphere and make the deep cleaning involving the rest 80% of the chores less stressful.
7. Clean room-by-room
Before your start, it’s good to have a cleaning technique in mind. Cleaning one room at a time can give you a feeling of completion. That’s probably what makes this a highly popular spring cleaning strategy. The process is straightforward, you stay focused by having to clean a single room in full before you can start working on another one.
As far as the sequence of the rooms goes, we suggest prioritising the most challenging ones, such as the kitchen and the bathroom. That’s because you are more motivated and concentrated during the first few days. You can keep the easier rooms for last.
8. Work your way from top to bottom
Speaking of best spring cleaning practices, we have another one. Cleaning from top to bottom has proven to be among the most successful ones for a reason.
It means you must dust ceilings and light fixtures first, then move on down to furniture, carpets and so on. This guarantees that you won’t make dust and debris fall on already clean surfaces. If you clean your kitchen countertop, for example, and then wipe your kitchen cabinets, you might have to re-clean the countertop in the end.
9. Start cleaning one element at a time
We’ve already mentioned that cleaning one room at a time is a golden rule, but there is also the option of cleaning one element at a time. The idea is that there are elements like windows, for instance, that are present in more than one room in a house. So, if you find it more reasonable, you can choose a different strategy and work this way instead.
Examples of such repetitive elements or tasks could include window cleaning, dusting blinds and ceilings, wiping light fixtures, disinfecting door knobs and light switch handles, etc.
10. Make it fun
Remember to entertain yourself while doing these cleaning activities. Spring cleaning can be exhausting, so to keep your motivation high, you can:
- Create a playlist with the most favourable songs;
- Listen to an exciting or relaxing podcast;
- Dancing between the tasks;
- Invite a friend to help;
- Play a decluttering game with your kids: organise cleaning activities with a timer. The one who finishes first will get a prize (cinema tickets or a favourite treat), or whoever loses the game must do something (for example, walk the dog). We’ll leave this idea to your imagination.
Don’t feel like spring cleaning this year? A professional can do it faster!
So, if you don’t have the time, are not motivated enough or need professional help, you can count on the Fantastic Cleaners for a deep spring cleaning.
The teams we work with are well-prepared with the know-how and equipment and have years of experience making different types of homes and properties fully clean again. Contact us to make your arrangements and leave the rest to the professionals.
Need a cleaner?
Enter your postcode to view our rates and availability in your area.
For questions about the services we offer visit our main site or you can always call us at 020 3404 0145
Takeaways
Let’s outline the most important things you need to know:
- Create a whole plan of when and where to start from;
- Create a checklist for each room;
- Make a list of the tools and equipment needed;
- Don’t just clean but declutter your house as well;
- Enjoy the process by adding some pleasant activities such as listening to music, taking a rest after you complete a task, transforming it into a game etc.
Ultimately, you will be happy with the results and left with a sense of satisfaction and gratitude.
Image source: Shutterstock / Africa Studio
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