You know what that means - fresh flowers, the promise of warmer weather, and of course, spring cleaning. If you've been dreading the annual clear out of your home since last year, you've come to the right place. While spring cleaning is an important way to keep your property in tip-top condition, it can also be exhausting - particularly if you don't know where to start.
The following spring cleaning tips for 2019 will ensure that you tackle your cleanliness routine the right way this year and set yourself up for a sensational summer.
1. Have a Plan of Action
It's tempting to wait until you have a day away from work and simply jump into cleaning head-first. After all, surely, you'll be able to see which parts of your home need the most TLC, right? While there's nothing wrong with taking advantage of any bursts of cleaning inspiration you might have, implementing a plan and schedule is often a much better option.
Take some time to scope out your home and figure out which areas need extra work before you get started. This will stop you from going to work on a lengthy project when you have limited time to spare. No-one wants to end up stuck half-way through a cleaning job.
2. Declutter First
Before you begin dusting, sweeping and scrubbing your way to a happier home, why not try a little decluttering first? Getting rid of unwanted belongings before you finish up your spring cleaning will give you fewer items to work around as you go. Once your spaces are de-cluttered, even the biggest tidying jobs can seem a lot more manageable.
Remember, if possible, set aside bags and boxes for items you want to store in the attic, throw away, or donate to charity. Be brutal with your choices. If you don't use it, don't keep it.
3. Always Work from Top to Bottom
Our friends from Easyway Maid Service which is an Austin house cleaning company recommend that one of the most important rules for spring cleaning your home is always work from top to bottom. The last thing you want is to have glimmering and gleaming floors that you cover with dust from your furniture and ceiling. Start from the top with a vacuum cleaner and get rid of any debris or cobwebs first. When that's done, you can start dusting your belongings and finish off with the floor.
Trust us - this process will save you a lot of time in the long-run. Remember, your walls, skirting boards and even windows can benefit from scrubbing too. An old newspaper is excellent for cleaning glass and eliminating streaks. The ink in the paper acts as a mild-abrasive to make your windows gleam.
4. Get Crafty
If our tip above about newspapers has left you feeling inspired, there's plenty of other natural and creative ways that you can boost your spring cleaning sessions. For instance, cut a lemon into halves and squeeze the juice into a cup of water. Add the rinds and place the mixture in your microwave. Heating the lemony water for 3 minutes will help to clean out your microwave by loosening any burned-on grime. It also makes your microwave smell better too.
If you need a hack for the bathroom, how about this? White vinegar is excellent for dissolving the mineral deposits that accumulate in your shower head and stop water from running smoothly. Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and secure it over your shower head overnight. When you come back in the morning, your shower will be good as new.
5. Know Your Soft Furnishings
Spring cleaning is an excellent time for homeowners to get old stains and smells out of their sofas and rugs. However, before you start scrubbing your soft furnishings, it pays to check out the label. It's all too easy to ruin upholstered furniture just by using the wrong cleaner. Most manufacturing labels won't always tell you which substances to use. However, they may feature some "codes," that give you a hint. For instance:
- X: Brush or vacuum only
- S-W: Water-based cleaners and dry cleaning solvents
- S: Dry cleaning solvents (don't use too much water, or any if possible)
- W: Stick to water-based cleaning solutions
6. Protect your Floors While You Fung Shui
Finally, if you're going to be moving furniture around frequently while you clean, or you're planning on rearranging your room, try to plan ahead. Spring is a good time of year to try a change in scenery by doing something new in your living room or dining room. However, you don't want to scratch your floors with heavy furnishings.
Before you move your sofas, cabinets or bookshelves, ask a friend or family member to help you place some clean and folded towels under the weight-bearing feet of the furniture. The result will be easier sliding and safer floors.
Happy cleaning!
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