Springcleani YOUR EASY GUIDE TO

Think about your Spring clean as a reset button for your home – a chance to reacquaint yourself with areas of the house you haven’t seen since, well, last Spring! For a really green clean, you need to ditch the chemicals (where possible) in place of more natural cleaning solutions.

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

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For many tasks, a simple feather duster will suffice – no need for sprays and polishes.

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Start from the top down, so any dust from light fittings, pictures, mirrors, etc, falls to the floor to be scooped up later.

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You’ll need to vacuum your fitted carpets, but take rugs and cushions outside to beat by hand, giving yourself a mini workout and saving electricity.

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Use the cleaning process as an opportunity to rearrange your furniture – this will give your room a whole new feel and let you see what lurks behind the sofa.

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For stained carpets and rugs, soak an old towel in a 3:1 water to distilled vinegar solution, wring out well, then place the towel over the stain and iron carefully. The heat should lift the stain.

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Wipe wooden blinds with a tumble dryer sheet to remove dust and static at the same time – or pop your hand into an old sock so you can clean both sides of the slats at the same time.

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Clean windows with newspaper and a solution of equal parts white vinegar to water, popped into an old spray bottle.

19 TOP TIP

Invest in a a doormat by every external door and instigate a ‘no outdoor shoes in the house’ policy. This way, toxins and pollen are left at the door, and you have to clean less as there’s no dirt tracked through the rooms.

BLITZ THE BATHROOM

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Clean the toilet bowl (and drains) by adding half a cup of baking soda and 1 cup of distilled vinegar. Leave to sit for half an hour, then flush.

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Remove soap scum on tiles with a paste made from eco washing-up liquid and baking soda.

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Clean shower curtains by popping them on an ecosetting laundry cycle with an eco-friendly detergent.