Get clever with your cleaning using these 14 expert shortcuts
From new life to fresh flowers, spring is the ultimate time to freshen up your space and give it a good deep clean. Resetting your home for spring not only gives it some much-needed TLC but also helps clear your mind, preparing you for a new season of joy.
When it comes to giving your home a spring refresh, it isn’t about money. Deep cleaning, decluttering, reorganising and adding small, affordable touches are just as effective as redecorating.
To help you give your home the spring makeover it deserves, we’ve collected some tried and tested hacks, tips, and tricks for you to try. These hacks can be applied to every living space no matter its size, all they take is a little time and elbow grease!
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Deep cleaning
When it comes to giving your home a spring refresh, the most obvious place to start is with the cleaning. It can seem like a daunting task but, when broken down into steps, isn’t as scary as it first seems.
We’ve selected seven areas of your home which may not make it into your weekly or monthly cleaning rota. These seven areas need only to be deep cleaned once a year, making spring the perfect time.
Clean these seven areas this spring and we promise your home will feel fresh and renewed.
1. Start from the bottom
The floor is arguably the most used part of your home yet is often the most neglected. Vacuuming is a weekly task for many of us but spring is the perfect time to give those floors some love.
In our eyes, there are three main options when it comes to deep cleaning your flooring. Firstly, there’s the modern way – hiring a carpet cleaning machine. You can rent these from many supermarkets and they’re great for giving your carpets a really good clean.
Secondly, there’s the old-fashioned way – a brush, bucket and some elbow grease. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but scrubbing flooring by hand (especially if you have stone or tiled flooring) arguably gets the best results. Mix warm water with white vinegar and essential oils for an easy, handmade floor cleaner. It’s hard work but will leave your floors sparkling.
Then there’s the budget-friendly, speedy option (a must for many of us): the squeegee. Once you’ve blitzed your space with a vacuum, use a squeegee over the carpet to remove any embedded hair and dust. You don’t have to do this every time you clean, but giving it a go once in a while will keep your carpets looking spotless.
2. Let in that spring light
Ensuring your windows remain sparkling and streak-free is less about the elbow grease and more about using the right tools. Ditch the expensive window cleaning solutions and reach for the trusty cupboard staple vinegar. Vinegar is a much more planet-friendly, affordable solution and has many household uses.
If you live in a hard water area, mix white vinegar with distilled water to prevent any streaks. When it comes to the soap, be sparing with it, a little goes a long way.
Now all you need to do is dry the windows. Black and white newspapers are highly absorbent and work brilliantly for drying your windows. If there’s still a streak or two left behind, buff with a microfibre cloth.
3. Don’t let the drapes down!
What’s the point of having beautifully clean windows if all your hard work is ruined by dirty blinds or curtains? Your next spring cleaning task is to give all the blinds and curtains in your home a good clean.
A quick, easy and cost-effective way of cleaning blinds is by placing an old, damp sock over your hand, and running it over each slat. For curtains that aren’t too heavy, soak them in cold water, then wash them in the machine on a delicate setting (according to the fabric type) for a short spin.
If you need to iron them, it’s best to do so when they’re still damp. This will simultaneously help to stretch the fabric, stopping the seams from puckering. Remember to hang your curtains up while they’re slightly damp so that they drop back down to the correct length.
4. Descale your home
Limescale builds up easily over time, especially in your kitchen and bathroom. Instead of buying pricey, harsh chemical solutions, we’ve got a DIY alternative for you.
All you need to do is fill plastic bags with white vinegar, then secure these to the grime with a hairband. Make sure the spot which needs attention is completely covered in the vinegar and leave it for at least two to three hours, or overnight for a really thorough job. The limescale should wipe off easily the next morning!
5. Spruce up those scuff marks
All homes tend to show a bit of wear and tear now and again, but don’t bother getting the paint out to cover up those marks; just use fabric conditioner instead.
Fabric conditioner has been proven to remove the most stubborn stains on walls and skirting boards, plus it won’t strip off the paintwork. It also leaves your home smelling wonderful and the fabric conditioner is a natural dust repeller – we love a two-in-one hack!
Even if your doors are scuff-free, this method still works brilliantly for giving them a deep clean. As momthatlovestoclean’s video shows, fabric conditioner has multiple uses.
@momthatlovestoclean Today I washed down all the doors in my house with #fabricsoftener it worked amazing 10/10 #cleantok #cleaningtiktok #foryoupage #gain #cleaningvideo ♬ Into The Thick Of It! - The Backyardigans
6. Light fittings
We can guarantee your home is full of lights. Whether it’s light fittings, lamps, under-cabinet lights, or the oven hood, these power sources often get grimy.
Start with the light fittings. Turn the lights off and allow them to cool down. Use a feather duster to sweep away cobwebs and dust, then go over the fittings and bulbs with a dry microfibre cloth.
For extra cleanliness, unscrew the light bulbs and gently wash them in warm soapy water. Ensure they’re completely dry and your lights are turned off before screwing them back in.
Use a microfibre cloth sprayed with a little antibacterial cleaner to clean light switches. A lint roller will take care of dust clinging to lampshades and velvety fabrics that can’t be washed.
7. Scrub the sofa
Thoroughly used but often neglected, spring is a wonderful time to give your sofa a refresh. Remove the sofa cushions then vacuum the seats, using a crevice tool to get into the cracks.
If your sofa cushion covers are removable, wash them as per their instructions and hang them up to completely dry before replacing them.
For those without removable covers (leather sofas for example) simply wipe them down gently with a damp cloth or vacuum on the lightest setting.
When it comes to spot-cleaning spills, Suzy McMahon, Buying Director at Sofology says: “Blot with water and paper towels and avoid rubbing the fabric. Use a solution of soapy water and a clean white towel to blot until you’ve removed the colour. To avoid water marks after cleaning, dampen a colourfast cloth with boiled water and wipe the entire panel or cushion.”
Your spring cleaning checklist
If you want to deep clean your whole house, as opposed to certain sections, then use our step-by-step task list. Broken down by room, this checklist is guaranteed to leave your home looking spick and span.
Entire home
- Clean windows and mirrors
- Dust furniture
- Vacuum, including under all the furniture
- Mop hard floors
- Wipe doors and door knobs
- Dust light fittings
- Wipe light switches
- Dust and wipe skirting boards
- Shampoo carpets and rugs
- Wash or spot-clean curtains
Bedrooms
- Vacuum mattress and turn
- Clean bedding including protector sheets and covers
- Clean out drawers and wardrobes, vacuum inside
- Wash pillows and duvets
Bathroom
- Go through cabinets and throw away anything that’s expired
- Wash walls
- Clean and disinfect the toilet, sink, bath and shower
- Clean accessories such as toothbrush holder
- Shine taps
- Clean grouting and reseal if needed
- Wash shower curtain or clean shower screen
Kitchens
- Go through cupboards, fridge and freezer and get rid of any out-of-date food
- Clean the oven and microwave
- Clean grouting and reseal if needed
- Clean cupboards and units inside and out – don’t forget the tops!
- Wipe baseboards
- Clean and disinfect sink
- Clean and reorganise the fridge and freezer
- Defrost freezer
- Shine taps
- Get crumbs out of the toaster
- Clean and descale the kettle
- Clean the extractor fan filter
- Clean and disinfect bins
Living rooms
- Vacuum sofas and remove any stains
- Clean the curtains or blinds
- Clean the TV, with particular attention to the screen
- Dust book spines and tops
- Dust picture frames
- Vacuum picture rails
Hall and entryway
- Shake out and vacuum doormats
- Wipe walls
- Wipe down the front door, cleaning any glass panels
- Clean and disinfect door knobs and letterbox
- Wipe down storage cupboards
Decluttering
For those of you who want an even deeper clean, decluttering is the ultimate solution! Many of us have homes filled with things we don’t need, use or even want. This makes our rooms feel claustrophobic and causes us to spend less time in them.
Start by focusing on one small area of your home, as opposed to a whole room. Focus just on your desk, your bedside cabinet or one drawer in your kitchen. Think about when you last used each item and if it’s serving any purpose (you can always try the Marie Kondo method too).
Once you have your collections of items, there are five ways you can clear them from your home.
1. Donate
Charity shops are the perfect solution for unwanted clothes, books, furniture and home accessories. The British Heart Foundation is encouraging people to continue to donate to its 730 shops across the UK.
As long as the item is in good condition and one that you think someone would want to buy, the BHF would love to receive it. You can post your donations for free or have larger pieces of furniture collected directly from your door. Visit bhf.org.uk/shop to find out more. There may be other local options, too.
2. Sell
If you’d prefer to sell your unwanted items, try eBay, Gumtree, Vinted or Depop. Just remember to send your items in eco-friendly packaging. Recyclable or reusable is best.
If your items aren’t in a condition to be resold, HIPPO offers a reliable waste disposal service. Simply order a HIPPOBAG, fill it with waste and book your collection when you’re ready. Over 95 per cent of the waste HIPPO collects is recycled and thus diverted from landfill, so you can rest assured your waste is being disposed of responsibly.
3. Recycle
We’ve all been recycling our food packaging for years now, so why not recycle unwanted homeware too? If your items aren’t charity-shop worthy, recycling is an easy way to prevent them from ending up in landfill. Recycling centres and local tips often fix and sell on electricals or they ensure they’re recycled correctly.
4. Upcycle
Upcycling is a fun and creative way to save old items from landfills – if there’s a way to give an old item a new lease of life, do it! When it comes to furniture, a lick of paint and a bit of creative thinking can go a long way.
5. Throw away
Finally, if all the other options are unfeasible, throw that item away. Let go of broken, damaged items and you’ll feel much freer for it. Sometimes the only option is the rubbish bin!
Maximising storage
Spring cleaning isn’t all about getting rid of items, it’s also about enhancing and organising the things you already have. Practical storage solutions will enable your home to stay clutter-free and help you use what you already have.
Here are a few storage solutions to consider…
Don’t waste the walls
Fitted base units which run the entire width of the room provide plenty of storage capacity for all your possessions. They can be added to any room and are ideal for storing more practical items like files, winter clothing and spare bedding.
Consider a combination of display shelving to show off your treasures, and cupboards with doors to hide away less aesthetic items. Display shelving around your TV offers ample space to show off your favourite objects and books.
Make the most of your doors
We often forget about the space behind a door, but this area can offer a useful place for hanging shelves. In bathrooms and bedrooms, hanging door shelves are ideal for storing toiletries and make-up without cluttering up surfaces. You can also use door cube shelves as shoes or toy storage.
Attach handy storage racks to the inside of your cabinet doors and use them to display your cleaning products, brushes and sprays in attractive reusable bottles. Hooks and clips can also be added to cabinet doors, making tea towels and pan lids accessible.
Build clever storage solutions
Creative storage solutions will help with the functionality and organisation of your space. Turn reclaimed wooden benches into hallway shoe boxes. Attach hanging baskets to a curtain rail for simple toy or accessories storage. Use extendable drying racks as baking tray holders or screw them to the wall for mini bookshelves.
If you’re stuck for inspiration then TikTok is your go-to. You’ll find hundreds of ingenious DIY storage solutions, like these from brialiving.
@brialiving Small space solutions for my bathroom and kitchen from the best japanese organization brand @Yamazaki Home ! #organizedhome #declutterwithme ♬ IT GIRL (Sped up Version) - Aliyah's Interlude
Setting the tone
Your home is clean and organised which means it’s time for the fun part! Adding touches of spring to your home is easy and more cost-effective than you may think…
Bring spring indoors through scent
Candles, diffusers, wax melts and even laundry conditioners are all ways you can bring a fresh, spring smell into your home. You can opt for floral scents such as lavender and lilac blossom or choose cleaner scents such as linen and eucalyptus.
If you want to level up your home’s scent, match your laundry powder and conditioner with your candles or diffusers. Matching the scents will create a gorgeous aroma that guests are sure to comment on.
Simmer pots are also wonderful ways of fragrancing your home. You may have seen them trending around Christmas but spring simmer pots are just as effective.
Beautiful blooms and botanicals
As obvious as it may seem, flowers really do bring a spring feeling into the home. Colourful tulips and sunshine yellow daffodils are go-to options, as well as peonies, hyacinths and iris.
Botanical plants also come to life in the spring and can fill your space with luscious green. Trailing plants like pothos are great as they’re easy to look after and grow fast.
Swap out the sheets
Depending on your budget, treat yourself to a new set of bedding or cushion covers. Swapping out your sheets seasonally will make more difference than you think. Bright whites, pretty pastels and delicate shades are all perfect for spring.
Use these new pieces from March to June then store them away safely, ready for the next spring. Once you have a beloved set you’ll be excited to bring it out year after year.
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