It’s coming up to that time of year when we throw open the windows and let the fresh air in. It feels great, doesn’t it? And spring cleaning is definitely part of that “getting ready for summer” ritual that households up and down the country go through.
Why do they call it spring cleaning?
There are quite a few theories as to why the ritual is called ‘spring cleaning’. In Europe and North America, people believe the idea of spring cleaning came from the generally wetter climates. In 19th Century America, before vacuum cleaning was invented, it was thought that March would be the best month to thoroughly clean and dust your home.
This is because it was warm enough to throw open your windows and your doors, but not quite warm enough to attract insects, which become a problem in the summer months. It was also believed that higher spring winds could carry any dust and debris out of your home, aiding the cleaning process.
Spring cleaning checklist
In this guide, we’ve put together a helpful checklist of the things you should be keeping an eye on as you go room-by-room this spring cleaning season.
Living room cleaning
For your living room spring clean, you will need the following items:
- Vacuum cleaner
- Microfibre cloths x4
- Multipurpose polish
- Window cleaning solution
- Bowl of warm soapy water x2
- Mop (if your flooring is tiled/laminate/vinyl)
- Extendable duster
- Bin bags
- Plastic storage boxes
Before you begin, remove as many small items from the room as possible – this will allow you to get to different surfaces easily and quickly. From there, you should look to complete the following tasks:
- Using one bowl of soapy water and a cloth, wipe down your skirting boards and door frames – rinsing your cloth regularly with the other bowl of soapy water
- Vacuum your flooring, using the hose attachment in corners if needed
- Using another cloth, polish any surfaces you may have by spraying the surface and wiping – think TV stands, side tables, fireplaces, the inside of lampshades
- If you have hard floors, use your mop (we love spray mops as they dry quickly and are perfect for laminate and vinyl floors)
- Using another two clean cloths, spray your windows using your window cleaning solution, wipe down and use another cloth to dry
- Your extendable duster is perfect for coving, tall, hard to reach spaces and venetian blinds
- Use your bin bags to throw away anything that might be broken
- Your plastic storage boxes can then be used to sort through anything that could be sold or donated to a local charity shop
Top tip: you’d be surprised how much dirt gets into the gaps between your sofa cushions – carefully give them a vacuum using the hose attachment.
Kitchen cleaning
The heart of the home! But one that requires a bit more upkeep than a lot of the other rooms in your house. For your kitchen spring clean, you will need:
- Surface spray of your choice
- Mop (if your flooring is tiled/laminate/vinyl)
- Vacuum cleaner
- Window cleaning solution
- Bicarbonate of soda
- White vinegar
- Microfibre cloths x4
- Bin bags
- Plastic storage boxes
As with your living room, remove as many knickknacks as possible to make cleaning a little easier. From there, have a go at completing the following tasks:
- Using one bowl of soapy water and a cloth, wipe down your skirting boards and door frames – rinsing your cloth regularly with the other bowl of soapy water
- Vacuum your flooring, using the hose attachment in corners if needed
- Using another cloth, polish any surfaces you may have by spraying the surface and wiping – think mirrors, frames, radiators, fridge and oven doors
- Use your surface spray and cloth to wipe your countertops as well as cupboard doors and kickboards
- If you have hard floors, use your mop (we love spray mops as they dry quickly and are perfect for laminate and vinyl floors)
- Using another two clean cloths, spray your windows using your window cleaning solution, wipe down and use another cloth to dry
- Your extendable duster is perfect for coving, tall, hard to reach spaces and venetian blinds
- Use your bin bags to throw away anything that might be broken
- Your plastic storage boxes can then be used to sort through anything that could be sold or donated to a local charity shop
- Bicarbonate soda and white vinegar is a great way to freshen sink drains – simply pour some bicarb down your sink and add vinegar for a quick and easy clean
Top tip: a small bowl of bicarbonate of soda left in your fridge will soak up any unpleasant odours.
Bathroom cleaning
It’s a room no-one likes to clean, but is probably the room that needs the most attention. If you can’t face the prospect of cleaning your bathroom, why not let our experts take the dread from you. Our domestic cleaning services really are second to none!
If you want to have a go yourself, you’ll need the following:
- Bathroom cleaner of your choice
- Window/glass cleaning solution
- Mop
- Microfibre cloths x4
- Bin bags
- Limescale remover
- Toilet cleaner/bleach
- Toilet brush
Bathrooms are generally smaller spaces that can be difficult to work in, so try and remove as many smaller items as you can before getting started. Once you’re ready, have a think about completing these tasks:
- If you have a shower or shower screen, use a spray limescale remover and wipe across the surface of the glass to remove any chalky deposits – if the brand of limescale remover allows you to do so, use it on your taps too
- Your bathroom cleaner is perfect for spraying around sinks, toilets, baths and shower trays to get them sparkling again – use a microfibre cloth for this
- Using your toilet cleaner or bleach, squirt around the rim, scrub with your toilet brush and leave for around 30 minutes before flushing
- Bin bags can be used to remove anything you have decided to throw out, whether that be out of date cosmetics or broken bathroom knickknacks
- Mop your bathroom floor thoroughly
- Clean mirrors and windows with your window cleaner and two microfibre cloths – one to wipe, and one to dry
Top tip: when bleaching your toilet, leave your toilet brush in the pan in the time before you flush it again – this will help clean your brush as well as your toilet.
Bedroom cleaning
Your bedroom should be a place of relaxation, so getting it ready with a spring clean is a great way of bringing back that calming vibe that you might have lost over the rest of the year. To spring clean your bedroom, you will need:
- Vacuum cleaner
- Microfibre cloths x4
- Multipurpose polish
- Window cleaning solution
- Bowl of warm soapy water x2
- Mop (if your flooring is tiled/laminate/vinyl)
- Extendable duster
- Bin bags
- Plastic storage boxes
- Fabric refresher spray
- Bicarbonate of soda
You know the deal by now – before you begin, remove as many small items from the room as possible – allowing you to get to all the different surfaces easily and quickly. From there, you should look to complete the following tasks:
- Using one bowl of soapy water and a cloth, wipe down your skirting boards and door frames – rinsing your cloth regularly with the other bowl of soapy water
- Vacuum your flooring, using the hose attachment in corners if needed
- Using another cloth, polish any surfaces you may have by spraying the surface and wiping – think TV stands, bedside tables, fireplaces, lampshades, wooden wardrobes
- If you have hard floors, use your mop
- Using another two clean cloths, spray your windows using your window cleaning solution, wipe down and use another cloth to dry
- Your extendable duster is ideal for coving, tall, hard to reach spaces and venetian blinds
- Use your bin bags to throw away anything that might be broken
- Your plastic storage boxes can then be used to sort through anything that could be sold or donated to a local charity shop
- Remove all your bed sheets and sprinkle a fair amount of bicarbonate of soda on your mattress to absorb any odours. Leave for 4 hours and simply vacuum away
- Once everything is clean, give your bedding and any soft furnishings a spray with a fabric refresher
And there you have it – your spring cleaning checklist to get you ready for the summer season! Want some help from the Crystal Cleaning Servicing experts? Get in touch with us today!
