Your Spring Cleaning Checklist

Spring cleaning can seem like a scary task at first – those mountains of clutter built up over time, and you probably can’t just sweep it all into a bag and throw it out.

These tips will help you to come up with a systematic approach to spring cleaning, making the task easier, and hopefully more appealing.

Bedrooms

Your home away from home. The bedroom is one of those places we go to relax, so clean it up and air it out and get it ready for the new season.

1. Declutter your bedside table. Put away old books, throw out old magazines, and get rid of any cosmetics that have been open for more than a year.
2. Wash the duvet cover, pillow cases, and curtains.
3. Vacuum the mattress, and turn it over.
4. Treat your carpets to a nice shampoo session with a Vax Powermax or similar product.
5. Check under the bed for any socks or other items that may be hiding under there.
6. Clean out your cupboards. Throw out any clothes that you aren’t going to wear again. If your clothes don’t fit anymore, share with someone who can wear them.

Kitchen

It’s always nice to have a clean, fresh surface to work or eat at.

1. Clean off all your work surfaces, and give them a good wipe down with an antibacterial solution.
2. Clean the oven, all trays, the hob, and the grill.
3. Disinfect the sink and the drain.
4. Mop the floor. Make sure you know the type of surface they are so you use the correct cleaning agent.
5. Empty your cupboards, wipe them down, and check all the foods – throw out anything that’s gone out of code.
6. Defrost the freezer.
7. Clean the microwave. For tough cleaning, put 1/2 of a lemon in a bowl and turn the microwave on for 1 to 2 minutes. Don’t open for 3 – 5 minutes (depending on how bad it was) allowing the food to slide off the sides.

Bathrooms

1. Clean all surfaces, and throw out any toiletries that have been open for more than a year.
2. Clean the shower head.
3. Disinfect the basin, bath, and toilet.
4. Clean and re-grout the tiles. Call in the professionals if necessary.
5. Mop the floor, use appropriate cleaners for the floors you have installed.

Living Rooms

1. Clear off the table, mantle piece, and any other areas that gather clutter and dust. Bag anything that is not necessary to have in the room; maybe it’s time to pass it on to someone else.
2. Dust the TV / DVD player / Consoles.
3. Give the carpets a thorough cleaning with a Vax Powermax.
4. Clean your sofa, and shampoo it if necessary.
5. Dust any light fittings.
6. Re-organize your DVD or Blu-Ray collection.
7. Clean the curtains.

Outside

1. Mow the lawn.
2. Wash all the windows.
3. Weed and trim the gardens and make them a conversation piece.
4. If you have a fence, make sure are solid and secure, and that any your gate are oiled and working smoothly.

General Cleaning

In each room, wipe down the inside of the windows and the window frame using a solution of warm water and white vinegar (this is NOT a harsh detergent). Dust the radiators, and make sure that they’ve been bled (this may not apply to everyone).

The above tips should cover most parts of the house. You may have your own priorities and preferences. The best thing to do is to print out a list of things that you want to get done in each room, and work systematically. Do the bedrooms one day, and the kitchen the next.

Spring cleaning is an important part of home maintenance. When you’re checking windows, radiators, light fittings, and drains, be on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary. It’s often during spring cleaning that problems with plumbing, wiring, or damp are spotted. It’s best to get any issues that you see fixed as soon as possible, before they grow into expensive problems.