Learn how to spring clean your whole house – working from top to bottom to ensure the whole house gets a good clean.
Although you probably give some parts of your home a regular clean, it’s rare to thoroughly clean every room from top to bottom. Spring is the perfect time to give your home a once-over, so it’s looks and feels clean for the summer months ahead. “Work methodically so you’ll be more efficient and more effective,” says consultant at Platinum Housekeeping, Cathy Littlejohn. “Firstly, pull all the furniture away from the walls, so you can thoroughly clean and vacuum behind. Then remember to clean from the top to bottom of each room so you don’t dislodge dirt from above and have to re-clean skirting boards and floors.”
1. Clean the lights
“When grime and dust gather on lights, it can make the whole room feel dark,” says Littlejohn. Before cleaning them, turn off the lights and power. “Then, if possible, take down the light fitting so it’s easier to clean, and rest it on a towel so it’s safe. Dust around the light fitting and ceiling fan.” For the light itself, glass or metal cleaners work particularly well on high-shine finishes, getting rid of greasy residue or smudges. “Hillmark Glass Kleen Wipes contain a special ingredient that removes dirt and grime – and the fabric of the wipe removes residue, leaving glass surfaces sparkling clean,” says Adeyinka. If your lights are crystal, avoid any moisture altogether, advises Littlejohn. “A delicate shot of canned air will prevent basic dust build-up,” she says. For fabric lightshades, “roll all over with a lint roller, and use a microfiber cloth on the rest of the shade to dust and get rid of dirt.”
2. Vacuum the blinds
Blinds can be tricky to clean, and it’s common for them to be neglected throughout the year. “Start by giving the bottom of the blinds and the surrounds a really good vacuum to get rid of any clumps of dirt,” says Littlejohn. “Then with a microfiber duster, go over both sides, then open the slats and go over each one with a damp cloth. Use a dry cloth on each slat, then finish off with another vacuum so all the dust in nooks and crannies disappears.”
3. Wash the curtains
“Curtains and rails can quickly gather dust, so giving them a wash can make a room seem a lot brighter,” says Littlejohn. “Firstly, remove the curtains from the rail, then gather the hooks and weights and give them a dust. Soak curtains in cold water, making sure all the washing detergent is dissolved first. If suitable, you can wash your curtains in the machine on a delicate cycle, but always check washing instructions first. When washed, iron the curtains when they’re still damp to bring them back to their correct length, then hang on the line to complete drying. Dust and clean curtain tracks, windows and sills before re-hanging the curtains.” Want to give your curtains a bit of a refresh rather than washing them completely? “Put them in the tumble-dryer for 15 minutes on a “air only” cycle and rehang them quickly to prevent wrinkles,” says Littlejohn.
4. Refresh your bedding
You might change your pillow cases and duvet cover every week, but when was the last time you actually washed your duvet? A duvet that hasn’t been washed for a year could be home to around 20,000 dust mites, so it’s time to get yours in the wash. “Synthetic duvets can be washed in the machine at 60 degrees, and dried outside on the line,” says Littlejohn. “If you have a feather or down duvet, take it to the dry cleaners for a proper wash so you don’t damage it.”
5. De-smear the windows
It’s tricky to get windows that show no streaks, but cleaning both inside and outside a window with the right technique will help you get sparkling glass every time. “Hillmark Glass Kleen Wipes contain a special ingredient that removes dirt and grime – and the fabric of the wipe removes residue, leaving glass surfaces sparkling,” says Adeyinka. “Wipe inside vertically, and then outside horizontally,” says Littlejohn. “This means that if there are any streaks you can see them easily, and wipe them away.” It’s best to wait for an overcast day for this job too. “When it’s sunny, any product will dry quickly, leaving streaks,” says Littlejohn.
6. Clean toys
There’s no point cleaning the whole house if dusty and dirty toys get transferred from room to room. “Pop soft toys in the washing machine on a low temperature,” says Littlejohn. “Use an old toothbrush to get into tricky parts of bath toys, then put them on the top shelf of the dishwasher to give them a really thorough wash. Electronic toys can need cleaning too, so remove any batteries and replace the cover. Then dip a clean cloth in warm soapy water, wring it out, and wipe over the toy to remove any dirt or grime.”
7. Refresh your bedding
You might change your pillow cases and duvet cover every week, but when was the last time you actually washed your duvet? A duvet that hasn’t been washed for a year could be home to around 20,000 dust mites, so it’s time to get yours in the wash. “Synthetic duvets can be washed in the machine at 60 degrees, and dried outside on the line,” says Littlejohn. “If you have a feather or down duvet, take it to the dry cleaners for a proper wash so you don’t damage it.”
8. De-smear the windows
It’s tricky to get windows that show no streaks, but cleaning both inside and outside a window with the right technique will help you get sparkling glass every time. “Hillmark Glass Kleen Wipes contain a special ingredient that removes dirt and grime – and the fabric of the wipe removes residue, leaving glass surfaces sparkling,” says Adeyinka. “Wipe inside vertically, and then outside horizontally,” says Littlejohn. “This means that if there are any streaks you can see them easily, and wipe them away.” It’s best to wait for an overcast day for this job too. “When it’s sunny, any product will dry quickly, leaving streaks,” says Littlejohn.
9. Clean toys
There’s no point cleaning the whole house if dusty and dirty toys get transferred from room to room. “Pop soft toys in the washing machine on a low temperature,” says Littlejohn. “Use an old toothbrush to get into tricky parts of bath toys, then put them on the top shelf of the dishwasher to give them a really thorough wash. Electronic toys can need cleaning too, so remove any batteries and replace the cover. Then dip a clean cloth in warm soapy water, wring it out, and wipe over the toy to remove any dirt or grime.”
