The days are getting longer and the temperature is rising as we shake off the winter blues to welcome Spring; and what better way than to refresh our homes with some easy cleaning tips?

The thought of cleaning or organising can be daunting for many people, but with these easy tips, you can refresh your home effortlessly.

Cleaning Supplies

The first step is getting your cleaning supplies ready, which you probably already have and some you can find in your kitchen.

• Bucket
• Microfiber cloths
• All-purpose cleaner
• Glass cleaner
• Mop
• Vacuum
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Reusable spray bottle
• Dish soap
• Sponges
• Window squeegee
• Gloves

One thing to keep in mind when it comes to supplies and tools, especially with those cleaning cloths, is to make sure they are clean! So, replace any materials that are worse for wear to ensure your cleaning efforts aren’t in vain.

Declutter & Donate

It can be surprising how quickly things accumulate in the home. From clothes to toys, or books, a lot of items go unused over long periods and some are just not needed anymore.

Use boxes to help you collect the items and separate them into piles for discarding and donating. Start with easy spaces like the living room, or your cupboards and drawers. Bigger spaces like the attic or garage can be considered a separate project altogether.

Decluttering can be a fun family activity too so everyone is responsible for their own space. It’s a great way to keep the kids entertained and busy!

Dust All Spaces

Dust is dry dirt in the form of very small particles that find their way onto every surface. This is the time to dust every surface and corner, including bookshelves, photo frames, and on top of your cabinets.

A key tip to dusting; remove objects so you are not just dusting around things, and don’t forget to dust the objects too!

When it comes to products you use to dust, be mindful of the different surfaces and do some research to understand more about what solutions are best.

You can also try a DIY dust-repellent spray using 2 cups of water, 1 cup of white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

Vacuum Floors, Curtains, & Carpets

Start with a clean vacuum - emptying bags and cylinders, and cleaning filters to get the best suction.

The advantage of modern vacuum cleaners is most are wireless now - so ensure they are fully charged and don’t forget about those cool attachments to help you clean hard-to-reach places and different surfaces.

Don’t forget to vacuum your sofas and curtains too!

Mop Hard Floors

The flooring around the house is exposed to the most amount of dirt. So it is very important to keep it clean. Using the right amount of liquid and water can make a difference. Your mop should be damp and not drenched. Do not use too much cleaning liquid either to avoid stains.

To get squeaky clean results, change dirty water often.

Clean Windows

There’s nothing like clear glass windows to enjoy the spring sun and view of the outdoors.

However, there are a few common mistakes to avoid:

• Do not clean windows on a sunny day to avoid the cleaner drying very quickly and leaving marks.
• Do not spray window cleaner on dirt, grime or dust first. Use a microfiber cloth to remove dust and dirt before spraying.
• Only use a window squeegee if you are confident about using it. They require a certain finesse while using.
• Use a generous amount of cleaner to get rid of grime and dirt to avoid streaks.
• Don’t use old cleaning cloths to dry windows. Instead, use super absorbent cloths for a shiny finish.

Cleaning windows is not done regularly, so invest enough time and if you need to, split the job across multiple days to ensure the job is done well.

Clean Kitchen Appliances

This is a good time to deep clean your fridge by removing shelves and trays. Try a homemade formula of equal parts warm water and vinegar and let it set before wiping. Remember to wash away all cleaning product residue with water.

A key tip is to use a toothbrush for those nooks and crannies.

When it comes to cleaning the microwave, place a bowl of water and vinegar and set the microwave for 5 minutes. The steam will help you clean through the grime easily and quickly and also remove any odours.

Remove Stains from Bathroom Tiles

Over time, our tiles and grouting can discolour. To clean bathroom tiles well, combine a little dish soap, water, and white vinegar in a spray bottle. After cleaning, if you find some stains are still visible, you can combine some baking soda and water to create a paste and let it sit on the stain for up to 20 minutes before removing it.

Common Spring Cleaning Mistakes

Cleaning may seem straightforward, but you would be surprised at how easy it is to get a few things wrong.

• You don’t have a plan: You are feeling excited to get started and that’s great but without a plan, you could end up with more mess than you started with.
• You try to do it all in one day: Spring cleaning is a marathon and not a sprint. Take your time and stick to a plan.
• Start from top to bottom: It all has to get cleaned right? But don’t double your work by cleaning lower surfaces first. Start with ceiling fans, on top of cabinets, and furniture, and work your way down to the floor. Dust will naturally fall from higher surfaces so you can avoid having to mop twice!
• Keeping too much stuff: The Marie Kondo method has been keeping households decluttered and organised for a while now. If you aren’t able to let go of things easily, you can follow her wisdom, to separate the items that “spark joy” from the ones that don’t help you declutter like a pro.
• All-purpose cleaner is not for everything: Contrary to its name, you can’t use all-purpose cleaner on everything. Understand the different surfaces in your home and get the right products accordingly to get the best results.

If you are ready to start spring cleaning or need advice, then we have the right place for you.

Get More Tips on Ovvio

Hiring professionals for anything can be expensive. But luckily, so many people have found affordable, easy, and simple ways to clean the house and that information can be shared instantly on Ovvio.

Spring cleaning is time-consuming and you may feel like giving up along the way, especially if you can’t see the results you were hoping for. That’s when a little advice to keep you going can work wonders.

Especially, if you can connect in real-time and over video to discuss your problems with real humans on Ovvio who have experience in the specific areas you are looking for.

Can’t decide what clothes to keep or donate? Not sure how to remove pet hair on your sofa? Need to get a wine stain out of the carpet?

Ask your question on Ovvio and find a real person to guide you with your specific challenges.

Create an account and get started right away! Don’t put off a good spring clean and get the right advice to help on Ovvio today.

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