Spring hacks

Rejuvenate Your Home 

We often have a compelling urge as spring arrives to give our home an overhaul - it could be something relatively minor, (a sort out and spring clean), or something more significant, involving decoration and renovation. Do you need some ideas and inspiration? Look no further....

General Tips:

• ​Open the windows - indoor air pollution is a thing, and opening the windows helps to clear it all away
• Rearrange ornaments
• Rearrange furniture
• General declutter including:
• Sort books and donate unwanted items
• Sort out clothing and donate unwanted items
• Sort out linens and donate unwanted items
• Refold blankets and towels and removed unused hangers
• Store away winter clothing and bedding
• Check globes and replace any required
• Battery check and replace, if necessary, in smoke and carbon monoxide monitors
• Sort out all recycling and take items to the recycling centre

Spring Clean:

We know that a spring clean is a deep, thorough cleanse of our home which may happen only once a year, at around this time. But from where does the term actually originate? In 19th century America, prior to the advent of the vacuum cleaner, March/early April, (the advent of the northern hemisphere spring), was often the best time for dusting: it was warm enough to open windows and doors, but not so warm that insects would be a problem. The high winds could then carry all the dust out of the house.

The ultimate spring clean - at risk of stating the obvious!

• Bedroom 
• Strip the bedding and give it a wash. If you wash it in the order in which you put it back on the bed, this makes it easier
• Flip the mattress
• Check under the bed and pull out anything ‘stored’ (hidden!) there. If it has been under there for a year or more, you most likely don’t need it!
• Tidy up the bedside tables and dressing table
• Empty cupboards; sort out and box up any unwanted clothing  and pack up winter items
• Dust everything
• Vacuum carpets, vacuum and wash wooden or ceramic flooring
• Wash and polish mirrors, wash windows
  
  
• Bathroom  
• Wash bath mats and towels
• Throw out all out-of-date toiletries
• Soak toilet, shower, sink and bath with cleaning product and leave for a while before washing clean
• Wipe down ceiling and walls
• Clean the grouting: this can be unbelievably stubborn. Use oxygenated bleach, (not corrosive), dissolved in warm water. Apply and leave, then use a toothbrush to brush clean. Lemon juice (use it sparingly) is good for more stubborn stains
• Clean the mirrors
• Wash the flooring - a steam mop is really effective
• Replace the shower curtain - stubborn mould can build up which is unsightly
  
  
• Kitchen
• Declutter your cupboards of all unnecessary, unused gadgets
• Empty the drawers, which tend to be a gathering place for every elastic band, plastic bag, stray jar lid, defunct pen and all and any other junk!
• Empty fridge and freezer and put food in coolers. Remove all shelves and drawers, then scrub the interior, and the shelves and drawers before replacing
• Degrease all appliances. Grease can build up easily in kitchens, especially around the stove. Don’t forget to remove the panels in the extractor fan, which are often forgotten
• Wipe down tables, cabinets, countertops and splashback. NB different surfaces, (metal, wood, granite etc.), may need slightly different products
• Vacuum and mop the floors - again , steam mops are really effective
• Vacuum rugs or carpeting
  
  
• Living room
• Declutter any cupboards and drawers - old books, puzzles, DVDs
• Dust every surface
• Wash walls
• Remove cushions from sofa, chairs, and vacuum thoroughly. Upholstery can then be steam cleaned and leather furniture cleaned with an appropriate commercial product or white vinegar/warm water

                                                   … and in the interests of the planet

Try swapping out harsh chemical cleaners for these natural alternatives.

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• for a filthy stove top, mix baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide to make a paste, leave for 10 minutes, then, wearing rubber gloves, use a kitchen scourer to gently rub clean
• for hard water stains in the bathroom, use lemon juice
• make an alternative bathroom cleaner using half and half white spirit vinegar and water, with 10 drops of tea tree oil added to keep mould away
• for ugly toilet stains, try sprinkling with baking soda then scrubbing with white spirit or vinegar
• for stubborn burn on stains on pots and pans, try a vinegar and water mixture, and placing the pot on a low simmer for a little bit. If that doesn’t work try the baking soda/hydrogen peroxide mixture
• for a smelly fridge, use a small amount of baking soda and water, and rinse with a clean cloth. This will both clean and deodorise. A cup half filled with baking soda can also be left in the fridge to get rid of bad smells
• for blocked or stinky drains, sprinkle baking soda over the drain then pour in vinegar. A baking soda and vinegar mixture once a month in sinks and basins can prevent the build-up that can cause a blockage

By simply stocking up on white vinegar, castille soap, lemons, baking soda and some essential oils, you can make virtually any household cleaner you will need. And furthermore, in addition to a naturally clean, fresh home, you will be using less packaging and reducing your personal carbon footprint. A spring win!