Spring cleaning is a popular concept for a good reason. This is the time of year when you want to cast off the gloom of dark winter evenings and get ready to enjoy the summer sun. Once the evenings get longer, however, you can see into all those dark corners that you did not pay attention to during the winter months. Suddenly, there are cobwebs and specks of dust accumulating in areas seldom cleaned, and you realise that now is the time to clear out your cupboards and give your family home a good sprucing up in time to enjoy the better weather. If you don’t know where to start, here are a few tips on what to look out for and how to enjoy the spring cleaning experience more than you might expect!
In the kitchen
Over time, especially in cooking areas, grease and dust tend to build up on kitchen cabinets. If your cabinets are made of wood, you can clean them down with a proprietary cream that will remove oily stains and fingerprints easily and quickly. In addition to removing dirt, the cream will moisturise the wood to keep it in good condition.
Stainless steel in your kitchen can become cloudy and grimy despite regular general cleaning. You can tackle surfaces with vinegar and oil and using kitchen paper. To get them really shining again, you might want to follow up with a branded cleaner created especially for stainless steel.
Granite countertops should be properly sealed when they are first installed and again about a year later. This helps them shrug off liquid from accidental spills. If you have never sealed yours, now is the time to do it.
Appliances
Appliances are often neglected when it comes to deep cleaning, but they need just as much care as your cabinets and work surfaces. Most dishwashers have a speciality cleanser that is designed for them, so make sure to run a cleaning cycle regularly. Once a month is just about right if you have a busy family life and you use your dishwasher regularly.
The inside and outside of your refrigerator should also be cleaned. Empty the contents and use warm, soapy water internally before drying off shelves and drawers and putting everything back.
There are plenty of oven cleaners available, but it can be just as effective to first gently chip off any loose particles of food and then spray burnt-on food pieces. To clean the bottom of the oven, sprinkle on a little baking soda and a few drops of white vinegar. When they mix together, they will bubble up and you can then wipe away any underlying dirt and grime.
Use the baking soda and vinegar method to disinfect the inside of your washing machine after running it empty using hot water. Allow the mixture to sit for half an hour to an hour before draining it and wiping the interior dry.
Living and sleeping areas
Throughout your home, you should clean the doors, windows, floors and walls. The outside of the doors and windows are often neglected, so take the time to scrub any smudge marks and remove dirt. If the paintwork on window frames, doors or internal walls is looking tired, why not give them a fresh lick of paint to brighten them up for summer?
You can choose to undertake the marathon chore of washing and then rehanging curtains and blinds in every room, or you could simply replace the blinds and curtains with easy-to-clean shutters. Why choose shutters? In addition to being easy to look after, elegant shutters come in a wide variety of styles, colours and materials, so they are very versatile and provide light control and privacy.
You might have a combination of hard and soft flooring material in your home. Both materials need to be looked after as part of your general spring cleaning. Area rugs don’t require professional cleaning more frequently than about once every ten years, although stains should be treated promptly using carbonated water with added minerals, such as club soda.
Finally, if carpeting is dirty, have it professionally cleaned to promote your family’s health. Otherwise, it’s fine to just vacuum regularly and shampoo occasionally, depending on the fabric, texture and level of traffic. Spot clean your wooden floors and windowsills as needed, and wet clean them every couple of months. Use furniture protection to avoid scratches, and place saucers under plant pots to prevent water damage.