Spring Cleaning Checklist
Spring cleaning is the ideal way to ring in the new year, which naturally brings with it the promise of new beginnings. As the long winter months start to come to an end, we look to spring, the season of new life and fresh starts.
If you’re setting new goals and plans for the year, it makes sense to spring clean your home. In doing so, you can set your intentions for the rest of the year, focus on what lies ahead and begin a new, organised way of life. Helping your mind, brain and home stay clutter free.
And it has been proven that those who successfully achieve their goals surround themselves with a clean, organised and functional home. This means that spring cleaning is a great way to reset mentally, create change and improve the physical environment around us.
Once your house is in order you will feel more prepared to achieve. Tidy homes can also improve relationships within the family as they encourage a sense of peace and calm. We all know the old saying, cleanliness is next to godliness. So let your home become your sanctuary, a place that holds sacred memories of those you love and where you can close the door to the outside world.
If the thought of spring cleaning your home feels a little overwhelming then have a read of our handy guide below. We are sure it will help get your home ship shape in no time.
1. Create a Spring Cleaning Plan
You are the project manager of your own home.
Begin by creating a plan, time scheduling each task to make it manageable and the end goal visible. This will help you complete each task more efficiently and make a big task feel more achievable.
Create a spring cleaning checklist to ensure not one part of your home is neglected. Allow yourself a time period for each task to encourage you to clean efficiently to complete. Be realistic with your time frames and always allow a bit of extra time in your spring cleaning plan as some tasks can take longer than expected.
If there is more than one person in your household, consider allocating tasks to each person. From sorting their own bedrooms to working with you on communal spaces. A shared responsibility is important in setting the tone for how you wish to run your home moving foward. It also gives a feeling of pride for their completed work.
Plan in detail remembering to include every room with the necessary tasks sub-headed, then you known every task is listed and accounted for.
2. Declutter and Organise
The first step must always be to declutter. Decluttering can be life-changing if done well.
If you’re lost on where to begin or would like a more thorough approach than your usual methods, try the well respected Marie Kondo method.
This offers an uplifting approach to decluttering your home. Each task is broken down into categories, making them simple and achievable.
Marie’s ethos is to select which items give a spark of joy when held. It is this sense of mindfulness which leads to you being surrounded only by that which gives joy.
Once completed, this shift in perspective then leaks into other elements of your life.
3. Deep Clean Room by Room
Now you have said goodbye to the mundane and the unuseful, deep clean room-by-room.
Clean every room – including storage cupboards. This will leave the feeling of complete order in your mind and will give you more satisfaction that your house is in order and you are in control of your life, knowing exactly what you have and where it is.
Clean with love, “I get to clean this lovely home I have been blessed with”. This makes cleaning so much more pleasing and your house will feel more welcoming. Love your home and it will love you back.
Carefully clean every item of furniture in your home. This will not only benefit the overall appearance of the room but will also prolong the life of your furnishings.
4. Don’t Forget the Details
From the light switch to the skirting board, it’s the little things that can make the biggest difference.
Scrub away till the door knobs are smiling at you. Leave no part of your home uncherished. Pay attention to detail and overlooked areas. Perhaps try eco-friendly and natural cleaning products, avoiding harsh chemicals.
Use this time to bring well-used furniture back to life. That sofa you spent so much time carefully selecting for your home? Check it for snags. Wash the cushion covers. Give it a deep clean.
If time isn’t on your side, consider turning to professional cleaning services. If you prefer to give it a go yourself, be sure to follow the unique care guide for your sofa when cleaning.
Take a read of our furniture care guide if you’re not sure where to start.
If you have a leather sofa, begin by vacuuming away the dust and then wipe with a slightly damp cloth. You may discover grease on your sofa but don’t worry. Use a mild soap followed by buffing with a soft, dry cloth. Make sure to avoid harsh scrubbing and excess water.
If you have a fabric sofa with removable covers, clean carefully following the manufacturer’s guidelines. Some slight shrinkage may occur, even with dry cleaning.
When replacing loose covers back onto your sofa, pull the fabric to ensure a neat fit. If the guidelines allow you to wash the covers, replace them on the sofa while slightly damp to decrease shrinkage and minimise creasing; make sure the covers are not wet to avoid damaging the upholstery.
As part of your spring cleaning, give the covers a day to settle on the furniture and they will be as good as new. If you find your covers have been creased, iron them while on the furniture using a damp cloth. With a fabric sofa, you can lightly vacuum or gently brush to remove dust but take care around the delicate details.
If you have feather or down-filled cushions, only use a brush to avoid pulling any feathers out. Don’t forget the legs! With a damp cloth wipe down the wood to remove dirt or dust.
Polishes are not a safe option as they may damage the facings or fabric. If you can’t resist a polished shine on your sofa legs, spray a small amount on a soft cloth in an area away from your furniture and carefully wipe the wood, avoiding any contact with the fabric.
5. Maintain a Clean Home
Commit yourself to cleaning a little each day. Create a checklist allocating daily, weekly, monthly and annual tasks. Follow the routine even if areas look clean – this ensures everything is kept to a high standard.
Invest in aesthetic and practical storage solutions making sure everything has a place and is labelled. This helps guarantee everything is returned to its proper space and avoids clutter. It has the added benefit of helping other family members contribute to maintaining a tidy home as everything is clearly labelled for them.
Regular maintenance is also vital to ensure your hard work does not go to waste. This can range from regular tidying of organised areas, such as the pantry, to regular plumping of your sofas.
Plumping helps to maintain the shape of your sofa so instead of crying into your pillows give them a good beating. Creases are like wrinkles, smooth them out as soon as you notice them to ensure they don’t become permanent.
Reversible seat and back cushions should be turned weekly to ensure longevity.
If you have a velvet sofa, quickly mop and blot any liquid spills with a clean white cloth. If this is not effective, take a cloth with some water and blot to draw out the liquid. Be aware this could itself cause damage so only do so if it’s absolutely necessary. The key is to avoid spreading the stain. Do not use detergents or rub the liquid. For more information, check out our blog on how to take care of a velvet sofa.
And when it comes to spring cleaning, please don’t forget your mattress! Sprung mattresses should be turned and rotated through 180° weekly for the first three months of use, then once every month. If your mattress is one-sided, rotate it without turning it over; too much time on one side can cause distortion or damage.
Vacuum your mattress regularly. Make your life easier with a mattress protector to keep your mattress clean. Your bed is where you rest to regenerate – making sure you rest in a clean relaxing environment is vital for your health so you must be sure your mattress is void of dust and debris.
Clean up any spills using soapy water but do not soak the mattress – this could encourage mould. Make sure the mattress is fully dry before putting the sheets back in place. Unpleasant odour? Baking soda is an excellent way to reduce odours – simply sprinkle over the mattress and vacuum after 20 minutes.
Maintaining a clean home can seem like a lot of work but a good spring clean is a great place to start. From here, stick to regular routines and rituals – it will soon become second nature to you.
