How to do a deep spring clean
...It’ll soothe your stress AND help fight the virus
LYNSEY CROMBIE is the original ‘cleanfluencer’, with countless fans following her cleaning tips online. In this special pullout, based on her must-read new book, she’ll explain why a Deep Spring Clean is exactly what you need right now. And how her foolproof methods make it easy to turn your home into a happier, healthier and more peaceful place to live.
MY HOUSE was immaculate when I was growing up. I have vivid memories of my mum and my two grandmothers cleaning, but it wasn’t until I took a job cleaning in a housing complex that I learned some amazing tips and tricks that inspired me to help others.
The elderly people I worked for had so many shortcuts up their sleeves, and before I knew it lemons were my secret weapon ( they are a brilliant natural cleaner with so many uses).
I’m now evangelical about cleaning. I believe that if you can clean effectively using my little- and- often approach, your household will be happier for it.
Spending time in a clean house is so much more relaxing than living among
mess and clutter and, with so much time at home on our hands, now is the perfect opportunity to get busy with a duster.
As the clocks go forward today and the hours of daylight get longer, those extra hours can really highlight any windows that need a good wipe down or show up cobwebs that have hidden in the shadows throughout winter.
But it’s not just about making your home look lovely – cleaning can help relieve stress too. While we are cooped up at home, scrubbing and vacuuming can be very therapeutic.
Whenever I feel low, I always go into cleaning overdrive and it’s remarkable how much better I feel afterwards. And we can certainly all do with a lift right now.
It’s also a great way to keep fit. Cleaning has become a mini-workout for me. There’s no harm in having a little dance with your feather duster or a spin around your kitchen with your mop, and the endorphins your brain releases as you exercise will improve your mood even further.
A deep clean will help to remove allergens from your home – whether that’s dust, pollen or animal hairs – so giving the house a really thorough going-over just as spring begins can help alleviate the sniffling that signals the start of hay-fever season.
I promise you that while it might seem daunting, getting cracking now will revolutionise your home – and your life – for the rest of the year.
ALITTLE bit of prep before you begin your spring clean will pay dividends. Schedule a whole day or two to do it with the entire family. Have a quick walk around your home and make a list of the tasks to be done – ticking them off as you work through them will help keep you motivated.
On the day itself, turn off everyone’s phone – yes really! Otherwise it’s too easy to get distracted. TV is the same, so make sure it is switched off and play some upbeat music instead.
Plan breaks every few hours for a cup of tea, a biscuit and some phone time, otherwise you’ll never get the kids on-side. Remember, cleaning is hungry work!
Decide who will take responsibility for what. Make it a game for younger ones and play to the strengths of older ones – they can do the heavier jobs such as running the vacuum around, while little ones can look through drawers, sorting things into piles.
Finally, make sure everything is prepped. The vacuum cylinder should be empty, the cleaning caddy stocked ( see the box on Page 62 for more on this), then it’s time to put on those rubber gloves and aprons…
THERE are certain tasks that you are going to need to carry out in every room. When was the last time you washed your curtains, for instance? Where possible, take them down and pop them in your machine at home – just make sure you check the label first.
You should be able to wash most curtains on a low temperature. If they can’t be machine-washed, you can steam them instead. Running them over with a steam cleaner will kill any germs, banish dust and remove creases.
While they’re down, give the curtain poles a good wipe with a damp cloth and soapy solution. You don’t need special products for this task – a bit of washing-up liquid in some warm water works well, and it’s antibacterial too.
This solution will also work on your windows. Wipe dry with a clean microfibre cloth in an ‘S’ shape to minimise smears. Don’t forget to wash the windowsills too. My best tip when cleaning windows? Avoid doing it on a sunny day – the soap will dry too quickly and smear the glass.
At a time when we are so conscious of germs, wiping down door handles and light switches is vital. Again, you don’t need fancy or expensive products. I like to use warm water with washing-up liquid or a Dettol spray if you have one.
Never spray directly on to a door as you’ll discolour the paint – spray on to your cloth instead.
Remember when cleaning that you should always work from t he t op down, so use a l onghandled duster to remove any grime from the walls and the ceiling before targeting anything lower down, and then do the vacuuming.
Lamps and lights can really hold on to dust, especially if lampshades are made of fabric. Give lamps a dust using a microfibre cloth or feather duster and use a lint roller on the shades to remove dirt without damaging the fabric.
Finally, clean the bulbs t hemselves. Turn t he lights off, let the bulbs