The trees are blossoming. The flowers are blooming. The birds are chirping. The bees are buzzing. The days are becoming longer. The weather is getting warmer.
It’s that time of the year again! The dark days of winter are gone and spring, nature’s time for regrowth and renewal, is here!
As Tolstoy already knew, “Spring is the time of plans and projects” which, in today’s world, basically means, it’s officially time for the annual spring clean!
Some of us enjoy the annual spring clean tradition while others dread this annual ritual of decluttering, tidying and cleaning which, at the outset, can seem like such a gargantuan task! Whichever camp you fall in, most people who engage in spring cleaning, find that they feel happier and more energised in their newly refreshed and revitalised home.
Some experts even suggest that spring cleaning is good for your mental and emotional health and that the spring clean ritual provides a sense of calm and well-being and will leave you feeling in control, refreshed, stimulated and more creative.
We can’t promise anything, of course, but a spring clean should, at least, leave you with more space, a fresh smell and a sparkle in your home! We’re not saying though that the annual spring clean doesn’t require time and effort but we do believe that if you plan ahead, prepare a check-list and ask for help from friends, family or a Zauberfee cleaning fairy, your annual spring clean will not be as daunting as you may think now and may even turn out to be fun, and, most of all – will be absolutely worthwhile!
Whether your home is big or small, cluttered or bare – we know it can be hard to get motivated and to figure out where to begin but using your organisational skills and preparing a to-do or check-list in advance, will ensure your spring clean runs smoothly and is effective and efficient.
However, before you write your task list, you need to be clear in your mind as to what you want to get out of your spring clean and how much time and effort you wish to commit to it.
1. Your spring clean goals
A general tidy-up and clean-up? A thorough cleaning? The removal of clutter? Freeing up space? Eliminating asthma and allergy triggers? Preventing germs or illness from spreading?
Are you planning on having a “light” clean (i.e. a general surface-level cleaning of your household) or are you going for the “deep” clean (i.e. a thorough cleaning of the entire household, including windows, doors, floors, furniture and surfaces)?
Will you focus on the inside of your home (including basement and attic?) or also tackle your home’s outside appearance including garden, garden fence, garden furniture, shed, patio, courtyard, porch, balcony, garage etc?
- Bathroom:
Are tiles and grouting safe from your spring clean endeavours or do they need a special clean? How about the shower head, shower curtain and bathroom mats? Do you need to tackle watermarks on stainless steel (e.g. taps)? - Bedroom:
Will you air/wash/clean/hoover mattresses, quilts, duvets and pillows? Do you have to replace some of them? When did you last flip your mattress over (recommended every 3 months)? Do you regularly switch head and foot to maintain its shape? - Living Room:
Will you only clean/hoover/wash furniture, upholstery and upholstery covers inside your house/flat or will you include the garden/balcony furniture? - Kitchen:
Do you need to review the food products in your cupboards, fridge and freezer? Do oven, hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, coffee maker or kettle need a special deep clean? Do you need to tackle watermarks on stainless steel (e.g. taps and sinks)? - Will you clean drawers, cupboards and wardrobes inside and out? Do you need to clean the shelves? Will you clean windows and doors?
- Do you need to clean, sanitise or disinfect your dishwasher, washing machine or dryer to get rid of bad odours, germs, bacteria or mould?
- When did you last deep clean your carpets and rugs? Recommended is twice a year, particularly, if you have pets. Do you need to rent a carpet cleaning machine?
- Will you only dispose of items that are broken or will you also get rid of things that you haven’t used in a long time?
- Will you focus on furniture and decorations only or will you also take a firm look at your clothes and shoes? Maybe even at those piles of books gathering dust? The kids’ toys? Your pets’ toys, baskets and food and drink bowls? Are you planning on taking old clothes, shoes, books and toys to charity shops, giving them to friends/family members or will you just pack them into boxes and store them in the basement, attic or garage?
- How about the curtains? Can you wash them (e.g. cotton) or do they need a dry-clean (e.g. velvet, tapestries, brocades, chenille etc)? Maybe your tired looking curtains should be replaced with the bright and fashionable ones you saw online? And what about the blinds – do they need to be cleaned or replaced?
- Are your lightings, lamps and lamp shades safe from your spring clean or do they need a thorough clean? Do you need to consider replacements? Do you need to buy new bulbs?
- Will you take a stern look at your towels and bed linen? Pans and pots? Plastic containers? Dishes, cups, mugs and glasses? Are they still pretty? Are they still healthy for your home or should you throw them away?
- Will you limit your spring clean exercise to your indoor plants or will you also shake up the flowers, shrubs and trees in the garden?
- Will you buy materials to clean your home and make it smell fresh or will you prepare your own products (e.g. using vinegar, lemon, salts, natron, baking soda, oils, lavender, oranges etc)? Include a list of cleaning supplies (including buckets, mops, sponges, cloths, wipes, broom etc) needed in your to-do/check-list to make sure there are no oversights.
Remember, there are no set rules, your annual spring clean can be as narrow or as extensive as you like! Some people go as far as including a review of unwanted or unread emails in their inbox and checking the content of their make-up bag, toiletry bag and their medicine cupboard.
Others include cleaning their make-up brushes, hairbrushes and computer screens and keyboards while others squeeze in a little Feng Shui after the decluttering.
Anything goes. You decide. You’re the boss!
2. Write your spring clean to-do/check-list
Structure and efficiency are key in getting your spring cleaning done as fast as possible.
Most “spring cleaners” start at the top of their house and work their way down room by room, (i) decluttering, (ii) tidying, (iii) dusting, (iv) hoovering and (v) last but not least, cleaning (start with ceilings, walls, windows, then the interior of furniture, then the exterior of furniture and other items).
Follow the same structure/principles in each room, develop a rhythm and get into the swing of things!
Clean the inside of your property first, then move outside and tackle patio, courtyard, porch, shed, garden, garage etc.
3. Prepare ahead of spring cleaning
The timing and duration of your spring clean is up to you and depends on the scope you have set.
You may decide to split your spring clean into manageable chunks or you may be keen to race through it from start to finish. You may decide on a light to-do list which can be completed in one day or you may go for a thorough spring clean exercise stretching over several days or weekends.
Make sure to buy and/or prepare the necessary cleaning materials well in advance to avoid surprises and delays on spring clean day.
Next key point – you need help, don’t you? Especially, if you have chosen to go for maximum “spring vibes” by deciding on a comprehensible and intensive spring clean.
There is nothing else to it, you need to enlist the help of family and friends. Do not hesitate to ask your nearest and dearest and, if necessary, shamelessly bribe them with a little party after the spring clean is done. After all, it has been said that “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s Party!”. Maybe the promise of a nice barbecue and exotic drinks will do the trick? Or, if the weather doesn’t allow for a barbecue just yet, the offer of your delicious spaghettis with meat (or veggie) balls together with your best red wine will entice them?
You could also try to persuade your girl-friends to have that long overdue catch-up at your home, spending the day cleaning, tidying, sharing life stories and toasting the completed exercise with a bottle of bubbly!
You may need to get more creative when it comes to enlisting the assistance of your beloved but self-absorbed teenagers, although, the promise of a constant supply of home-made cake, ice-cream, smoothies or pizza (or all of those together) throughout the day may just get you there?
If your family and friends prove resistant to your “bribery attempts”, you can, of course, always contact Zauberfee Cleaning Services Limited and request a “spring cleaning fairy” to either work alongside you or to carry out your annual spring cleaning on your behalf. Our magic fairies will make sure your rejuvenated, vibrant and spring-cleaned home will make you feel blissful and sparkling – ready for summer!
4. Spring clean day
Make sure your carefully planned exercise doesn’t deteriorate into chaos and disorder. Remind everyone that you are in charge!
Other than that, take a deep breath, play loud music and try to stay positive throughout – it is spring after all!
5. After your spring clean
Spring fragrance and colours
Now that your home has been decluttered, tidied up and cleaned, why not go one step further and fill your home with spring fragrance and colours to fully capture the freshness, energy and vitality of spring?
Bring the beauty and smell of spring in your home by filling your vases with bright tulips, daffodils, peonies, lilies and hyacinths! Bring in arms full of fruit tree blossoms (cherry, pear, plum, apricot, peach) – they look stunning and smell divine.
Allergy sufferers who want to get that spring vibe should check out silk flowers or other artificial or hypoallergenic flowers which also look beautiful and last a long time.
It’s spring – so start growing herbs on your window sill, put sachets with dried lavender in wardrobes and drawers as a natural moth and insect repellent and put lavender oil on your pillows to improve your quality of sleep.
Will the spring mood inspire you to buy new towels, bed linen, table cloths, napkins, lamp shades, pillows, rugs, baskets and boxes in spring colours and with spring motives?
Does “spring fever” mean you absolutely have to buy vital spring decorations with butterflies, bees, lady bugs, birds and flower motives?
Will butterfly or flower light garlands be essential to give your garden, balcony or patio that spring feeling?
So many spring options to ponder… Enjoy the season of fresh flowers, green grass and light sunshine!
How to keep your household clean and tidy after spring clean
Now that you have completed your annual spring clean and your home is blissfully free of clutter, tidy, organised, fresh, clean and sparkly – how can you make this last?
The answer is simple really – you need a system! Create a regular structured cleaning schedule that sets out the periodic tasks and chores – similar to the to-do list you created when you planned your spring cleaning.
Think about regular decluttering, tidying and cleaning.
Would you be able to tackle tidying away dishes, clothes, shoes, papers, books, toys etc daily? If not daily, then at least weekly?
Do you clean the most germ ridden areas in your household (e.g. kitchen sink, sponges/cloths, mobile phone, toilet, door handles/knobs, pet bowls, tv remote control, toothbrush/toothbrush holder, coffee maker, kettle etc) regularly and adequately?
Yet again, you need a plan, motivation and persistence. Bear in mind that our homes have a big impact on our health and well-being. Make sure your home remains the oasis of relaxation you have created, the one place where you can feel calm, comfortable and at ease.
If you feel unable to commit to a regular cleaning schedule due to time constraints or for any other reasons, Zauberfee’s cleaning fairies happily provide regular as well as one-off cleaning and ironing services customised to meet each client’s specific needs – leaving homes nice and tidy and sparkling clean at all times.