Spruce up and Spring Clean

Hip hip hooray it’s the first day of spring today and we’re feeling ready to shake off the winter gloom and spruce up and spring clean our homes! The tradition of spring cleaning has been around for hundreds of years and goes back to the days of coal fires, animal fat candles and cramped airless spaces. Modern homes have moved on, but many of us still revel in throwing open the windows and giving the house a thorough clean. If that’s you, here are some expert tips to get you started.

1. The oven. If you’ve neglected your oven over the winter, then this is one job that can be put off no more! Martha Barret a professional cleaner at Variety Cleaning said: “Simply place a high-temperature tested bowl with water on 400 F and let it cook for about 20 minutes. When done, turn off the oven and let it cool. During the high-temperature peaks, the water from the bowl will evaporate onto the walls of the oven, softening the grease and grime from cooking.” Then, grab your sponges and scourers and get scrubbing, this freestanding grid mesh has 4 wire baskets making it just the thing for storing cleaning tools and equipment.
2. Duvets and pillows. Think about it, you wash your bedding year round but how often do you wash your actual duvet and pillows? One study reckons that most of us haven’t washed our duvet for 10 years with an average duvet or pillow harbouring dust mites, bacteria and even more unmentionables! Make spring the time to clean those duvets and pillows. Martha says: “If you learn to play around with the temperature of your washing machine, there are a number of things you can throw into it.” A delicate cycle and about 40°C is about right for pillows. If you have a large enough drum you can wash your duvet in the machine too, choose the duvet setting or around 40°C then pop it onto the line to get it fully dried.
3. Carpets and upholstery. Wooden floors and tiles get a regular clean but carpets, curtains and sofas often aren’t as lucky! Stewart Gerardin, founder of Best Carpet Cleaner Guide said: “Rugs, sofas and drapery tend to gather and hold both dust and allergens that can affect the wellbeing of both pets and family.” Use the arrival of spring as your cue to give carpets a clean, do this first thing on a bright spring day and leave open the windows so carpets will be dry by evening. Check labels on your sofa covers and curtains and see if they can be machine washed, hand washed or steamed. If steam cleaning is an option, carefully take down curtains and give them a once over with a steam cleaner.
4. Toys. Dragged along the floor, slobbered over and left in a jumble in the cavernous toy box, it’s little wonder that children’s toys can become germ laden. Tackle the toy box this spring by emptying it out and cleaning items. “You would be surprised how efficient the dishwasher is for items such as toys,” says Martha Barret. Non battery operated plastic toys can often go through a dishwasher cycle, just check the tag, whilst soft toys can often be freshened up in the washing machine. Anything else can be wipe cleaned or hand washed and you can even get your children involved in this part of the spring cleaning. And once you’re done, our range of storage boxes will keep things looking tidy.
5. The final tidy. When you’re in the midst of a spring clean, your home can often look worse before gets better. The final stage is putting everything back together. Clean and clear the surfaces in the kitchen (all the better to show off your newly gleaming oven), re-hang the clean curtains, make the bed with fresh linen and plump up the pillows on your newly freshened sofa. Then maybe pop into the kitchen to make a well-deserved brew!