IN THE MOOD FOR SPRING CLEANING
The arrival of Spring seems to always get me in the mood for positive change! One of the things I love to do when the daffodils begin to bloom, and the trees start sprouting new leaves is to have a really good clean of my home. After a long Winter of central-heating and hardly any air flow going through the house, I love opening up the windows to let in a fresh breeze, and then getting started on refreshing my home in time for (my version of) the most wonderful time of the year.
Today I thought I would share some of the ways I clean my home once the Winter has come to an end - from the most effective ways to dust a room, to making everything smell fresh and new.
I always start from top to bottom
When dusting, I always start from top to bottom - starting at the ceiling mouldings and working my way down to the skirting boards. This allows all of the dust at the top of the room to be collected, and then if any of it lands on a surface below, it can be removed as you work your way down. It is a much more effective way to dust and will decrease your workload, making life so much easier.
A damp microfibre cloth is my secret weapon
I used to dust my home with a dry dusting cloth. It would look wonderful for about three days, after which I’d notice that the dust was back and I had to do it all again. This is because a dry duster will only really move the dust from one surface to another, or depart it into the air. The dust then settles after a few days and you have to start over.
To effectively dust your home and keep it clean for longer, I always recommend using a damp microfibre cloth. I fill a bowl with water, white vinegar, and some essential oil, then I saturate the cloth into it before wringing out thoroughly. The white vinegar will make your surfaces shine, and the essential oil will fragrance the room.
The damp cloth will actually pick up the dust from your surfaces, rather than just moving it around the room. After cleaning a few areas you should rinse the cloth into the water, then continue the process.
THE VACUUM CLEANER IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
Once I've dusted the entire room, I then like to use the brush attachment on my vacuum cleaner to eliminate any dust that has been left behind. Using this makes the job so much easier! You can reach awkward spaces, like bookshelves and skirting boards, it is also handy when it comes to cleaning fabrics like upholstery and curtains.
Some ways I like to use the Vac
To remove dust from book spines
To clean the outside of lamp shades
To make skirting boards gleam
To get rid of crumbs and dirt from upholstery
To remove dust from house plants
It’s all in the detail
Spring cleaning is an opportunity to really dig deep into your home and have a thorough clean - that means focusing on areas you’d perhaps normally neglect. For me, one of these places is the inside of lamp shades. Although I always remove dust from the outside, I often forget the inside. Think about all the spaces you regularly abandon when cleaning - perhaps it’s time to give them some TLC.
my spring cleaning checklist
1. Decluttering:
Go through each room and declutter the items that you no longer need or use. Donate, sell or discard them accordingly.
2. Dusting and Wiping:
Dust and wipe all surfaces, including furniture, shelves, and baseboards. Use a damp cloth or a microfiber cloth to avoid scattering dust.
3. Windows and Mirrors:
Clean windows and mirrors throughout the house using a glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth.
4. Vacuuming and Mopping:
Vacuum carpets and rugs, and mop hard floors. Move furniture and clean underneath it.
5. Kitchen:
Clean the oven, stovetop, and refrigerator. Scrub the sink and countertops. Toss expired food and organize the pantry.
6. Bathroom:
Scrub the toilet, shower, and bathtub. Clean the sink and countertops. Replace old shower curtain or liner.
7. Bedding:
Wash and change bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, and comforters.
8. Outdoor Cleaning:
Sweep the porch, deck, and patio. Wash outdoor furniture and clean grill.
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