Everything is better in the spring!
- When the sun starts to come up earlier, I find myself jumping out of bed rather than groaning and pressing snooze ‘just one more time’.
- I suddenly have time in the morning to do things I have been meaning to do for ages such as a spot of exercise or tidying the kitchen.
- I can spend more time outside enjoying the sunshine and still have a little left in the tank in the evening to do ‘just one more thing’ before I have to head off to bed.
The extra sunshine is just like a vitamin for my soul.
Spring is, off course, also the perfect time to tackle a bit of spring cleaning. Does the idea of that fill you with terror? If it does, I think I know why. By the time we have tidied the area and cleared up enough to actually clean it, we have usually run out of time, energy and motivation to get the actual job done. It’s very difficult to clean around clutter. I know, I’ve been there too.
When there is less to maintain, there’s more time to relax and my goal for you is to have your cleaning done quickly and easily so that you can enjoy the things you really want to be doing in life.
Check out these simple spring cleaning tasks. If you are not ready to start cleaning because your home is too cluttered, click here for decluttering advice to get you started.
Spring cleaning is all about focusing on those spots you ignore for the rest of the year. They take a little bit of extra time but they don’t need to be done very often and the return for your efforts is huge.
Spring Clean your home with these 20 tasks.
Shower Curtain/Screen
1/20
You can clean your shower curtain in the washing machine. Use a gentle cycle and add a couple of towels in the wash, then hang to dry.
Clean a glass shower screen with a white magic eraser. Soap scum and calcium will come right off.
Rinse immediately.
Make-up Brushes
2/20
Make-up brushes can be cleaned by placing a few drops of shampoo in the palm of your hand and gently rubbing the bristles back and forth.
Rinse under warm running water and allow to dry.
Ceilings and Light Fixtures
3/20
Use an extendable duster or pop the handle of a regular duster inside a short piece of PVC pipe to extend your reach.
Wipe over crown molding, light fixtures, fans and other ceiling decorations.
Washer and Dryer
4/20
Clean out all of the crevices inside the dryer to remove any lint which may catch on fire.
Run the cleaning cycle on the washing machine with 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda in the detergent drawer and 1/2 cup white vinegar in the drum.
Microwave
5/20
Add some chopped up lemon to a large microwave-safe bowl and pop inside the microwave.
Turn on high for several minutes or until the water boils and the window is steamy.
Sit to cool for 15 minutes before opening the door.
Remove and wipe out the inside and outside with a sponge.
Windows
6/20
Wash windows with glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth.
Dust blinds and vacuum fabric shades and drapes.
Cutting Boards
7/20
Sprinkle with salt or baking soda then run the cut side of a lemon over the board.
Rinse and allow to dry.
Fridge
8/20
Empty shelves and dispose of out-of-date produce.
Dip a cloth in a sink full of hot soapy water and use to clean shelves and inside walls.
Dry and return produce to fridge.
Oven
9/20
If you are lucky enough to have a self clean function, use that.
Otherwise, place a hot, wet cloth on top of burned spots to help soften the gunk.
Scrub with a heavy-duty pad and wipe dry.
A paste cleaner can be a big help for baked on mess.
Stainless Steel
10/20
Mix a solution of 1 teaspoon dish detergent with 4 cups of hot tap water.
Using a microfibre cloth, rub the detergent solution onto the appliance in small sections, going with the grain.
Rinse with clean hot water.
Dry immediately with a soft, clean cloth.
Grout
11/20
Use a white magic eraser sponge to quickly and easily clean grout between tiles in the bathroom, kitchen floor, etc.
Rinse or wipe immediately with a damp microfibre cloth.
Bedding
12/20
Pillows and comforters need cleaning a couple of times per year.
Be careful not to just throw them into the washing machine. Check the label and follow your specific item’s directions.
Walls
13/20
Dust also settles on walls so use a damp towel to wipe them over.
Always work from top to bottom.
Vacuum the floor afterwards.
Floors
14/20
Even when we clean the floors regularly, we don’t always get in to every corner or under every piece of furniture.
Move furniture and vacuum/wash underneath.
Make a point of getting into every hidden spot and corner.
Cabinets
15/20
Wipe down the fronts of cabinets with a damp, soapy microfibre cloth.
Do this in the bathroom and kitchen.
Stubborn spots can be removed with a paste cleaner.
Shelving
16/20
Shelving and cabinets can quickly accumulate dust.
Move any decorative items and wipe shelves over with a damp microfibre cloth.
Dry if required.
Always work from top to bottom.
Water Filters
17/20
Water filter devices only work if the filter is clean and not blocked up with gunk.
Depending upon your water quality, you may need to replace your filter more regularly than once a year.
Mattresses
18/20
Give mattresses a good vacuum to remove dust and mites.
Allow to air uncovered for the day before making the bed with clean linens.
Drains
19/20
Mix 1/2 cup salt with 1/4 cup baking soda.
Pour the mixture down the drain and follow with 1 cup of heated vinegar.
Allow to foam and bubble then leave for 15 minutes.
Run hot tap water down drain for 30 seconds to rinse.
Clean Door Tracks
20/20
The tracks of sliding glass doors fill up with a lot of dust and dirt.
Vacuum with the crevice nozzle or pop a paper towel roll over the end of the vacuum tube and squash the end to shape.
Wipe over with a damp cloth.
Once done, these tasks can safely be left for quite some time before they need to be tackled again.
Don’t wear yourself out trying to do everything all at once. Make a list and work through it a little bit each day until all of the tasks are completed.
Break tasks down by using the 15 minute rule if necessary to give yourself the motivation to get started.