spring cleanSpring cleaning perhaps takes us back to childhood. We may not have knsown what it meant then, but it usually involved one or both parents opening the windows, playing music and cleaning practically everything. Perhaps you carried on that tradition and feel it’s now time for the annual spring clean. But how to go about it? Here are some essential tips for creating a nice, clean living environment to take you into the warmer and drier months and long evenings of sunlight.

First – Clear Out the Clutter

Before you start having a good clean, it’s essential to create as much space for yourself as possible. That means getting rid of all the things you’ve been meaning to get rid of all winter – put winter clothing into storage and clear out unwanted furniture, either selling it or donating it to a local charity outlet. Green waste should go to the local recycling depot; many now have depositories for this type of home refuse.

Clean the Cupboard Exteriors and Interiors

The darker months of autumn and winter don’t tend to show up the dirt and grime that accumulates on handles and around kitchen cupboards, but brighter sunshine will. First, empty your cupboards of food so you can clean the interiors of spillages that might attract rodents. This may also be a good time to clear out unwanted food. Anything within date can go to a food bank. If it’s slightly out of its “Best Before” date it will still be edible. Anything that says “Use By” should be discarded.

Do the Same with the Refrigerator

It’s a good idea to do the same with the fridge. Throw away that out of date food, prioritise the stuff that’s getting close to expiry. It’s amazing how much food sits in the fridge: jars with a spoonful in, food bags with rotting vegetables. Once sorted, give the interior a good clean. Wipe it down of all dirt – the shelves, trays and inside the door.

Cleaning the Windows

Sunlight shows grubbiness on windows more than ever before in the spring and summer. It is lighter for longer so that handprint, those stains caused by snow and rain and dirt and muck that accumulated during the wet weather is noticeable. Clean the insides and outsides of all windows for a clearer viewer and a much nicer all-round experience when indoors. Do the main windows and patio doors.

Clean the Oven

It’s the job everyone hates, but it must be done a couple of times a year at least. Over time, grease, grime and bits of food accumulate. They get stuck and burn, leaving an unpleasant smell every time you use it. Keeping the oven clean of debris keeps it working efficiently and reduces the horrid smells of burning bits of food. Pay particular attention to the bottom as that is where most debris ends up.

Carpets and Flooringspring clean

No spring clean is complete without a thorough going over the floor surfaces. Most of the year, we simply vacuum the exposed surfaces quickly. But spring is the ideal time to move the furniture out of the way and do the floor beneath your sofas. Don’t simply do another quick sweep of the wooden floors, get as much dirt as you can. It won’t be long before you’re walking bare foot. You want that floor as clean as possible.

Cleaning the Bathroom

If you only ever squirt a cursory amount of bleach down the toilet, now is the time to give it a really good clean. Toilets are not hygienic at the best of times and you’ll be doing yourself a favour by making it as clean as possible. The bath is probably grubby and not very appealing – ditto with the tiling. A clean bathroom is an attractive place to be. You’ll enjoy those longer soaks without the tiles covered in congealed soap.