Top 10 spring cleaning tips & tricks

I’ll be the first to admit that during winter, I get a little lazy with the cleaning. Who wants to spend hours slaving away over household chores when it’s cold, wet & windy outside? That kind of weather is far better suited to snuggling up on the couch with a good book or movie and a cup of tea or glass of wine.

But when spring rolls around, motivation starts to creep back and suddenly I actually feel like cleaning – and let’s face it, by now the house needs more than just a quick dust and vacuum. Now’s the time to spend a good chunk of time paying attention to all of those jobs that were conveniently swept aside over winter.

To help you (and me!) along, here’s our top 10 favourite spring cleaning tips:

• While it might seem tempting to spend a little time in each room before returning to finish off at a later date, it’s more efficient and satisfying to focus on one room at a time. By doing this, you’ll also ensure that nothing in that room gets missed in the cleaning process.
• Deodorise couches, cushions and beds by sprinkling them with baking soda and leaving it to sit for 15 mins before vacuuming it up. You can also add a couple of drops of essential oil, such as lavender, for a sweet lingering scent. Don’t forget the dog’s bed!
• Clean the inside of your washing machine by running an empty cycle with just bleach, followed by an empty cycle with white vinegar.
• Remove dust and grime from your outdoor furniture by washing with dishwashing detergent and warm water. Follow this by spraying it off with the garden hose – bonus points for doing this on the lawn.
• Keep shower doors free of scum by rubbing a teaspoon of lemon oil on them twice a month. This will cause water to bead and roll off.
• Give the inside of your microwave a clean by mixing vinegar and water together in a bowl. Put this in the microwave and run for about 10 minutes. Remove the bowl and wipe down the walls.
• Use white vinegar to brighten your windows. Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with about four litres of water and pour into a spray bottle. Squirt on and wipe away with a clean microfiber cloth. Do not use paper towels as these can cause streaking.
• Remove the build-up from shower heads by filling a bag with vinegar and tying it to the shower head. Leave it there overnight and in the morning, it should be sparkling clean.
• Clean your oven door by mixing 1/4 cup of baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Cover the inside of your oven door with the mixture, let it sit for 30 minutes and then wipe clean.
• Use a lemon to remove stubborn stains and smells from cutting boards. Just rub the cut lemon over the board and let it sit for about 20 minutes, then rinse.

Don't forget, for those jobs that are just too tough, you can always contact your local cleaning specialist.