GABRIELLE FAGAN
Traditional spring cleans may be out of fashion – but it’s still a good time to clear any lingering winter cobwebs and clutter, writes
“With spring around the corner, it’s the perfect time to re-evaluate your home, de-clutter and get it organised,” says Nicola Lewis, aka pro sorter-outer of stuff, This Girl Can Organise (thisgirlcanorganise.com), who offers a professional home organiser service and counts celebrities including Gemma Collins among her clients. Nicola suggests. “Ask yourself, ‘How can I improve this and manage the available space better?’ Clarify in your mind what you should keep or get rid of.”
Nicola’s step-by-step plan: First, clear the room as much as possible.
Next, sort items into four piles: Keep, donate, sell and bin.
Clean away dirt and dust, then before placing furniture and items back into their places, really consider their location and position, so that it all really suits you and the people living in your home.
Add to that glow of satisfaction at the end of a good clean by knowing you’ve used planetfriendly products.
There’s a wide variety of ecofriendly ranges out there these days – or you could Google DIY recipes and make your own (that way you can avoid excess packaging and harsh chemicals altogether).
The National Trust’s new range of household cleaning items is made in the UK and uses a combination of natural ingredients, fragrances and 100% bioplastic bottles.
Tool up Clean it green
There’s a homely, nostalgic feel to a vintage-style cleaning kit – even though it might remind you that in the past you’d have been spared the annual cleaning chore, which would have been delegated to below-stairs servants!
Companies such as Re-Found Objects specialise in reclaimed, vintage and hand-made household items, meaning you can stock up in a more sustainable way too.
Dunelm’s chic housekeeper’s range is full of vintage-inspired designs too – including a housekeeper’s lambswool duster £6.99, feather duster £7, utilities grey storage tin £15, and Housekeeper’s wooden airer, £29.99.
Whatever task you’re tackling, ensure you’ve got all the right tools for the job at hand from the start, so your enthusiasm doesn’t wane as you search for that missing dustpan or broom.
Mattress makeover
Most of us wash the bed sheets every one to two weeks, but when was the last time you actually cleaned your mattress?
“It’s a little-known fact that you should actually clean some mattresses every six months to prevent dust mites, dead skin and dirt accumulating,” says Neil Robinson, chief sleep officer for bed specialists, Sealy UK.
“Use a vacuum-cleaner to remove dirt, hair and crumbs. One old home-remedy suggests using baking (bicarbonate) soda to freshen a mattress,” he adds. “The theory is, it draws out the dirt, moisture and odours.”
If you want to try it, pour a small amount into a sieve and sprinkle over the mattress aiming for an even dusting over the surface – apply more in areas which are particularly stained.
Leave it to air for a few hours, or ideally
Re-Found Objects (re-foundobjects.com) offers a range of reclaimed, vintage and hand-made household items: Fly swat, £10; loo brush with rim cleaner, £13.95; red handled brush,£7.50; rice straw hand brush £7.75; scrubbing brush with handle, £14; twisted bottlebrush with black nylon tip, £7.75; twisted bottle brush with soft cotton tip £6.75; dustpan with metal handle £3.50