Spring clean your home on a budget – spring cleaning secrets!

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We may still be in the midst of winter, but spring is ahead. For many people spring is a time to make a fresh start, and get on with things that need changing in our lives. Part of this is freshening up our homes after the long winter months. 

The practice of spring cleaning exists in many different cultures around the world. Whether it is for practical reasons, to prepare for a religious festival, or just a seasonal tradition, it is something that many people do.

So in this article we want to share some spring cleaning secrets with you. We will look at:

  • How to do your spring cleaning in one weekend
  • Everyday products you can use for spring cleaning
  • How you can avoid doing spring cleaning ever again!

 

How to do your spring cleaning in one weekend

You want your home to look clean and nice, but don’t want to spend weeks on it. So here is our quick and easy plan to do it in one weekend.

Plan it as a whole home operation, rather than doing room by room. It’s easier to get distracted if you are just doing one room at a time. You can end up looking through things as you are tidying up and forget what you are supposed to be doing.

Also plan it as a whole family operation. Spring cleaning involves everyone, not just one person trying to do it all. If everyone gets involved, you could even get it done in a day. Then sit down and have a family celebration at the end!

Here is what you need to do. The more you can split the tasks between you, the quicker it will be:

  • Start high. Vacuum ceilings, light shades, walls, tops of cupboards and doors, blinds, curtains.
  • Dust or polish every surface, including vertical surfaces such as doors.
  • Vacuum all carpets (and under every rug) and skirting boards.
  • Vacuum/sweep and wash every uncarpeted floor, including under furniture.
  • Wipe every electrical appliance and light fitting.
  • Clean every mirror and window.
  • Clean every sink, bath, shower, shower screen, toilet.
  • Clean kitchen appliances including oven, fridge, washing machine, dishwasher.

 

Everyday products you can use for spring cleaning

One thing that puts many people off the thought of spring cleaning is the cost of all the cleaning products you might need. But did you know that there are many household ingredients that can do the job just as well, and are also more environmentally friendly? Here are a few of our favourites:

  • Bicarbonate of soda

This is an excellent all round cleaning product. Bicarbonate of soda is a mild abrasive which can be used on a variety of surfaces, including kitchen and bathroom. It cleans to a shine with no scratching or damage. 

  • Salt

Salt is also a mild abrasive, and is particularly effective for scrubbing away rust and mildew. It also makes an excellent metal polish, for example on brass or silver.

  • Vinegar

Vinegar is well known as a window and glass cleaner, but is also a good all-purpose cleaner for surfaces and floors. Simply mix 1 part vinegar with 1 part water and you have an excellent cleaning solution at the ready. Vinegar can also be a very effective stain remover. 

  • Lemon juice

Lemon juice is brilliant at cutting through grease, for example on kitchen dishes and pans. It is also a natural bleach, so can be a very effective cleaner for the kitchen and bathroom. And of course it leaves behind that lovely fresh lemon scent, which makes everything feel even cleaner!

  • Essential oils

Many of us love to have essential oils to fragrance our homes, but not many people realise that they can also be used for cleaning. Orange and pine oil both make excellent natural floor cleaners, and cinnamon and pine are very effective against mould. Thyme has natural antibacterial properties so is ideal for cleaning kitchen surfaces and also chopping boards. And whichever oil you use, it has the added bonus of a wonderful fragrance.

  • Cornflower

Cornflower mixed with a little water is a powerful stain remover for kitchen worktops, furniture and even clothes. It is also excellent for freshening up rugs, mattresses and trainers: simply sprinkle on some dry cornflower, leave on for a while then shake or vacuum off as needed.

  • Toothpaste

Toothpaste is an effective cleaner for any metallic surface, for example stainless steel sinks and taps. Simply rub it gently into the surface – you can use a toothbrush for this – and then rinse off. It is also really good at removing stains from white fabrics, including tennis shoes. 

 

How you can avoid doing spring cleaning ever again

Fun though all this has been, wouldn’t it be nice never to have to do it again? The way to avoid major spring cleaning is to build cleaning into your daily, weekly and monthly routines so that everything is done on a regular basis. By creating a simple cleaning plan, and getting into the habit of doing things regularly, you will be surprised at the difference it soon makes to your home. 

Taking a relatively small amount of time on a regular basis will actually end up freeing up much more time, because there will be no chaos to sort out when things get out of control. Also for visitors, parties and family events (dare we even mention Christmas?!) you won’t have to rush around cleaning because it will all be done.

You need to develop a cleaning plan that works for you, but a typical cleaning plan might include:

  • Every day

    • Tidy things up and throw things out as you go
    • Tidy and clean kitchen properly after every meal
    • Wipe down bathroom surfaces after use
    • Sweep or vacuum main floors if needed

  • Every week

    • Vacuum and dust everywhere as needed
    • Clean either kitchen or bathroom(s), including floors
    • Clean mirrors and windows in a couple of rooms – rotate round each week

  • Every month

    • Choose one room to declutter and deep clean. Get rid of anything that is not being used or that you don’t like. Why have it taking up valuable space? Tidy up cupboards and drawers, giving them a good clean in the process. Thoroughly vacuum and dust everything and clean windows and skirting boards. If there is anything in the room that does not work or needs fixing, then make sure that gets done as soon as possible.
    • Clean one or two kitchen appliances on a rotating basis. For example:
      • Month 1 Oven
      • Month 2 Fridge and freezer
      • Month 3 Washing machine, tumble drier, dishwasher
      • Month 4 Kettle (descale), toaster, any other appliances

  • Every year

    • Decide in advance when you are going to do seasonal changes such as putting winter clothes and bedding away and getting summer ones out. Always go the extra mile when doing jobs like this. Declutter as you go – there is no point taking up space storing things that you don’t really want or need. Also ensure that items being stored are clean, and are neatly folded to minimise creasing.

 

We hope that this article gives you some ideas about how to spring clean your home on a budget this year, then never have to do it again!

If it makes you realise that you need to make some improvements to your home during 2021, and you need some extra money to get things started, then do get in touch with us at Simple Fast Loans to see if we can help you with one of our online loans. 

Check back here soon for more lifestyle and financial tips from Simple Fast Loans.

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