Spring Cleaning Checklist

As we say goodbye to 2023 we begin the new year with the promise of new beginnings. In addition, we are entering spring, the season of new life. New goals and plans for the year have already been planted into our minds during the colder month of January and as warmer months entice the flowers to blossom so can we. 

What better way to get ready to achieve our goals and a fresh start than with a clean, organised and functional home. The best way to create change is to start at home. Spring cleaning is a good chance to reset mentally as well as improve the physical environment around us. 

It is now common knowledge that our home is a reflection of our mind but our homes can influence our mind making us feel positive and empowered. Once you have your house in order you will feel more prepared to achieve your goals, be it big or small, and take over the world. It can improve relationships within the family as we feel more at peace and at ease. We all know the old saying, cleanliness is next to godliness. Your home will become your sanctuary, the place that holds sacred memories of those you love and where you rest your head protected from the outside world. 

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. Giving yourself a time period for each task can encourage you to clean quickly and efficiently to complete the task within that time frame. However, be realistic with your time goals 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, perhaps allocate tasks to each person. This will give them a sense of responsibility and a feeling of pride for their completed work. Allowing them to choose the tasks will encourage them to cooperate as some members may be less than willing. You can even agree together, a time that is suitable for them. 

Plan in detail remembering to include every room with the necessary tasks sub-headed and you will have peace of mind that every task is listed and accounted for. 

2. Declutter and Organise

The first step must always be to declutter to avoid bringing up the old dust, hidden secrets and uninvited guests from your cupboard after you’ve spent hours, or even days, cleaning and dusting. 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 Mari Kondo method. She has an uplifting approach to decluttering your home. She breaks down each task into categories, making it simple and achievable. Her ethos is to select which items give a spark of joy when held, leading to the result that you will be 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. Include a Spring Clean Checklist in your plan. Head up each room individually with subcategories.  If you are stuck for inspiration or want to make sure every task is considered there are a myriad of Spring Cleaning Checklists waiting for you online, find one and tailor it to you. 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

Love every part of your home from the light switch to the skirting board. 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. 

This is the perfect time to bring back to life, the sofa you spent time so carefully selecting for your home. Start by checking for snags. Next give your sofa a deep clean to avoid build up. Perhaps schedule in a professional clean in your Spring Cleaning Plan. If you prefer to give it a go yourself, be sure to follow the unique care guide for your sofa when cleaning.

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 do not be afraid, mild soap followed by buffing with a soft, dry cloth will do the job. 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. 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

Clean 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.

WARNING: Organising your home to perfection may cause you at random to open your cupboards to stare at your masterpiece frequently. Don’t worry. This obsession is ok and will wear off once you become accustomed to being a domestic superstar.

Regular maintenance is 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.  

If you have a Leather sofa remember, like our skin, we need to keep it moisturised, you can use Leather Protection Cream. Unlike your skin, this only needs to be done up to four times a year. Soft Leather Cleaner should be used prior to the protection cream and more frequently when needed. Do not use furniture polish or ‘Hide Food” on pigmented or protected, semi-aniline leather.

Now for the 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 with regular routines and rituals, it will become second nature to you.

…And relax

Now you can dance in your kitchen, sing in the shower and replace that dust and dirt with joy and treasured memories.

Author: Esmee Herbert