There’s no need to wait until the New Year or any major festivals before getting your spring cleaning done!

We’re all guilty of this because let’s face it, cleaning is kind of a chore. However, after getting the spring cleaning done, you’ll be left with a sparkling house and less clutter! There’s no need to overhaul everything in your house and clean everything at once. Going slow and from top to bottom, you’ll have a spic and span house in no time.

Living room

If you can’t remember the last time you vacuumed and wiped your walls and ceilings, it’s high time to do it. Vacuum your ceiling and walls with the brush attachment to help loosen any dirt and dust stuck on the surfaces. When you’re done, wipe with an all-purpose cleaner but do check on an inconspicuous area in case of staining.

Frequency: Clean your ceilings and walls every six months or annually to prevent grime build-up.

Tip: Pay attention to the wall near your vanity because that’s where you apply make-up and use spray products so the wall could have traces of it.

Ceiling Fans

Vacuum and wipe your ceiling fans as well so instead of circulating dust bunnies, you’ll have cleaner air to breathe. This is especially beneficial if you or anyone else in your house has a dust allergy.

Frequency: Dust and wipe your ceiling fan every two weeks especially if you live near a construction site or a highway.

Tip: Slip a pillowcase over the fan blade to wipe its top and bottom. Bring the pillowcase to a bin outside and turn it inside out to shake out the dust. Throw the pillowcase in the laundry as per usual afterwards.

Sofas and Pillows

Vacuum all throw pillows and sofas after stripping them of their covers and either throw them into the washing machine or get them professionally cleaned. Do the same to your curtains because they’re in contact with sunlight, dust, smells and more.

Frequency: Once every six months, wash your upholstery and curtains but vacuum your chairs and sofas every week to prevent dust build up.

Tip: For feather pillows, do check if they require professional cleaning but a quick shake and putting it under the sun could help disinfect and prevent mould from growing.

Bathrooms

If you have a shower curtain, you’ll need to clean it more than you think. Wipe down plastic ones with a diluted vinegar solution, let it sit for a few minutes then rinse. Fabric ones should be washed with bleach if it’s white and an oxygen bleach if it’s colourful.

Frequency: Wash your shower curtain thoroughly once a month! If the smell of mildew doesn’t go away even after a wash and dry under the sun, replace your curtain entirely.

Tip: Dry your shower curtain in afternoon sunlight to help kill all germs and prevent any mould from growing.

Mirrors

Wipe all your mirrors and inside of windows with a microfibre cloth and glass cleaning spray. Microfibre cloths are soft and lint-free so your windows and mirrors will be sparkling clean. Additionally, you can use microfibre clothes to clean your taps as well.

Kitchen, Oven and Gas Stove/Cookers

Always wipe down your stove after each use to prevent any of the stains becoming permanent. If you’re using a hob, clean the stove top with an appropriate spray that helps remove food stains and wipe with a soft cloth to prevent scratching the glass.

As for gas cookers, wash the grates with dishwashing liquid and hot water once a week using a scourer to help remove any caked-on stains.

Remove control knobs and dunk them in dishwashing liquid and warm water for a wash. Don’t scrub too hard or the markings on the knobs may come off. Dry the knobs thoroughly before reattaching them.

Frequency: For stove and counter tops, wipe them every day with an antibacterial spray that’s food safe.

Every few months, clean out your oven by soaking the racks in war soapy water for a few hours, scrub with a scourer, rinse then let them dry.

Frequency: Every two months, clean your oven or it will smoke while being used due to the debris left by previous dinners.

Tip: Spray the insides of the oven with a dedicated oven cleaner and leave for as long as indicated. Scrub or wipe clean the oven afterwards and replace the racks.

After each cooking session, wipe the floor with an all-purpose floor cleaner to prevent oily floors which could cause falls.

Cleaning as you go could help immensely especially when it comes to cleaning on a large scale. For people with dust allergies, do clean while wearing a face mask to prevent any reactions.

Short Term to Long Term Cleaning

Every 2 days/weekly:
Laundry, vacuum your floors and sofa, dust your shelves, clean your kitchen and bathroom sinks, wash your toilets.

Weekly/monthly:
Wipe your windows and mirrors, wash shower and/or bath tub, vacuum your mattress, change your bedsheets

Monthly/every 6 months:
Wash your duvet, clean your upholstery, steam clean your carpets.