You might've already seen the early signs of it: crocuses, purple and bulbous, poking up from dirt patches and daylight holding its own past six o'clock, sprigs of bright green asparagus and chard peeking out of farmer's market stands and great big picnic tables in pubs' back gardens, crowded with groups of friends. Springtime is finally on the horizon (even if things are a little chilly at the moment). With the looming advent of a new season of warmer days, more daylight and colour by way of fresh blooms and veg, however, there comes a responsibility: the spring clean.
Why should we spring clean?
Plenty of cultures have their own dictates for a spring clean well done. To welcome in Nowruz, the Persian new year, celebrants will give everything in their house a deep clean, from armchairs to zesters; in anticipation for Passover, a candlelight cleaning is done the evening before the big celebratory dinner. The day before Good Friday (called 'Maundy Thursday'), Catholics might take the time to clean their houses thoroughly. Of course, regardless of your beliefs or cultural background a good spring cleaning is always a good idea this time of year. Not only does it gives time to clear out the old to welcome in a newer, happier season, but also keeping your space clean and tidy is a boon for overall wellbeing.
Essential cleaning products you'll need
There are plenty of cleaning products on the market. However, you don't the latest spray or scrubber to get the job done. Cut through the cleaning faff with our curated list of the essential products you'll need for a good spring clean.
- All-purpose cleaner (we like Dettol Tru Clean and the eco-friendly multi-purpose spray from Kinfill)
- Oven cleaner (we recommend Oven Brite, or our all-natural solution as detailed in our guide to oven cleaning)
- Scrubbing sponges (along with the population of TikTok, we like the Scrub Daddy sponge, as well as the eco-friendly sponges from The Seep Company)
- Bicarb soda
- White vinegar
- Vacuum cleaner (try the cordless Dyson V12 Detect Slim® vacuum or its dupe, the cordless vacuum from Shark)
- Bucket
- Baby oil
- Rags or chamois mop (check out the chic mop and bucket from Garden Trading, but any good cloth will do)
- Washing up liquid (you can't go wrong with Fairy Liquid, or, for those who enjoy an aesthetic bottle, we like the dishwashing liquid from Diptyque)
- Toilet brush (try this rather stylish, Swedish-designed brush from Iris Hantverk via Nordic Nest)
- Glass and mirror spray (we like the all-natural version from Kinfill, as well as the heavier duty spray from HG)
The spring cleaning checklist
Whilst everyone's level of tolerance for uncleanliness is different, there are a few base guidelines for an efficient spring clean. By room, homekeeper extraordinaire Martha Stewart has helpfully broken down the basic items to which attention should be paid during your deep cleaning session:
- Kitchen: refrigerator and freezer
- Living room: curtains, drapes and throws
- Bedrooms: bedding and blankets
- Closets: clothing
- Utility rooms: washing machine and dryer
Beyond Martha's baseline advice, we've a few other suggestions for your spring clean…
Get into nooks and crannies
Crumbs, crumbs, everywhere! With a high-powered vacuum cleaner, dive into the nooks and crannies between your sofa cushions, cabinets and countertops – you'll be surprised with how many crumbs (and loose change) you'll collect.
Change up your bedding
There is nothing better than refreshing one's bedding. We'd recommend sorting through your stockpile of sheets, bed coverings and pillowcases, tossing, donating or repurposing those with which you are simply no longer excited to go to bed. This also provides you the perfect opportunity find new patterns or fabrics you love (I've just exchanged my scratchy old sheets for Toast's linens decorated in colourful ticking).
Clear out and clean up your refrigerator
As a refrigerator serves as a functional necessity, it is often neglected in the weekly clean. However, after months of milk spills, neglected veg and the forming of mysterious, funky-smelling gunk, the refrigerator is in desperate need of a good spring clean. Toss any expired products, wipe down surfaces and defrost the freezer (making sure to line a few towels at the appliance's base to sop up melted ice). Using bicarb, neutralise any strange smells that may still linger. To do this, simply open a fresh canister of bicarb and let it sit in the back; it will absorb any and all errant smells. For those with stainless steel refrigerators, add a few drops of baby oil onto a clean, dry rag and wipe the surface in an ‘S’ motion – this will buff away any marks or scuffs and get your refrigerator gleaming.
‘Keep, Donate or Toss’: the closet-cleaning mantra
For those of us with bursting closets (or living in smaller flats), a closet clean-up is in high order during a spring clean. Using the helpful mantra of ‘Keep, Donate or Toss’, methodically sort through your closets and drawers, putting clothes you wish to keep or get rid of into separate piles.
Organisational specialists recommend doing this with a friend (especially one who pulls no punches); not only is it a bit more fun, but your discerning friend will help you finally, finally, finally rid yourself once and for all of that pilling, threadbare jumper from your high school boyfriend you just can't seem to part with.
Give your washing machine a good washing
There's little point in running a washing cycle if your washing machine itself isn't clean, and it turns out that a rather large proportion of people don't know how to clean a washing machine, or do it regularly at all. Learn the art of washing machine cleaning with our all-out, definitive guide on the subject.
Give windows and mirrors a spritz
After an entire season of hard rainfall, snow and sleet, it's safe to say that your windows are probably a tad grimy. Clear off the build-up and let the spring sunshine in; whilst you can clean from the inside, it might be a bit trickier to clean off the other side of the glass, so we'd recommend hiring a professional to assist with this portion.
Like windows, mirrors, too, tend to get a bit dirty. From splatters of hard water, toothpaste and lotion in the bathroom to collections of dust on those found in mirrors or behind doors. Arm yourself with a good glass and mirror cleaner and dry rag, give your mirrors a good spritz and clear away the grime, wiping in a zig-zagging motion to avoid streaking.
Take them to the cleaners (your duvets and drapes, that is)
Come springtime, one usually needs less and less their heavy-duty winter bedcovers, as well as their heavy-duty drapery. Martha recommends swapping them for those meant for warmer weather; in the case of duvets, those usually less bulky and made from microfibre and for drapery, usually those made from lighter fabrics such as organdy or cotton. Before storing them, take your duvets and drapes to the dry cleaners; come next winter, your future self will thank you.
De-clutter your nightstand
Bookworms and magazine connoisseurs will usually build up quite the reading pile. Sort through any unwanted books and magazines; for those you'd like to keep, place them back on a well-ordered bookshelf or coffee table and for those you're ready to part with, donate them to your local library (for magazines, donating them or using them for art projects is your best bet).
Ungoop your oven, cooktop and extractor hood
Keeping your kitchen's most important – and most-used – appliance clean is paramount, but, unfortunately, easy to overlook. After all, oven doors remain closed and no one's peering into the depths of the extractor hood (probably). Grimy cooktops may get a quick wipe down, to be fair, but it can be a Sisyphean task, with new oil splatters and rogue droplets of sauce appearing the next use. However, keeping your oven, cooktop and extractor hood clean is vital to keeping your kitchen in good working order.
(Lucky for you, we've put together the ultimate how-to guide on how to ungoop your oven, cooktop and extractor hood).
Pantry raid
If you fall more into the “put away and forget” camp of cleaning, chances are your pantry and cabinets are a tad bit full and definitely disorganised. During your spring clean, go through each cabinet, tossing any expired items and cleaning up any spills or crumbs that may have cropped up. Reorganise your spice rack and stock-up on staples, should you be running low.
Hard water begone!
For those living in countries with hard water, it's often the case that shower heads, taps and faucets become caked in hard, white powder. To decalcify, use helpful, targeted cleaning agents and, once de-caked, give metal parts a good rub to let them shine.
Mould and paint
After many months of blasting furnaces and steamy showers, there's likely a chance that mould has grown somewhere in the house. When the weather is warmer, take the time to scrub away any build-up of mould (be sure to don a mask!). If the clean-up job has been thorough, chances are a paint refresh is in order. With a small brush and a matching paint can (perhaps you'll only need a free sample bucket for the job), simply paint over any patches and let it dry.
