Top Tips for a Quick Spring Clean in Your Home

With the warmer, spring weather in the Northern Hemisphere, many of us start looking around our homes and notice perhaps that they are not as clean and sparkling as they could be.

While some will enjoy the act of spring cleaning, others find housework impossible to keep on top of at the best of times.

We share some tips and tricks to spring clean your home - taking just five minutes at a time - to make it easier for you...

Start with the five minute evening routine

Before you go to bed at night, cast your eyes around to check for anything that needs a quick tidy up.  It can include clearing the sink of any cups or mugs; plumping up cushions in the living room; or picking up anything left on the floors.

Once you get into the habit, you will hardly notice you are doing it and it will feel very satisfying when you come down in the morning and there is no mess!

Give your microwave a cheat clean!

Put some slices of lemon in a bowl and place in the microwave.  Turn it on for around three minutes.  Then leave to sit for five minutes.  The steam mixed with the acid of the lemon will cut through any grease residue on the walls of the oven.  It is then easy to simply wipe the grime away.

Deodorize carpets and upholstery

Sprinkle baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) on carpets and upholstery (especially if you have pets).  Leave it on for fifteen to thirty minutes before vacuuming it up.

This action will help to make your carpets and upholstery look and smell a lot fresher.

How to reduce dust build-up

This is how to make yourself a quick DIY dust repellent spray:

• Combine 8.5 fluid ounces ml olive oil, 2 fluid ounces white vinegar, three to four drops of Lavender Essential Oil in a clean spray bottle.
• Shake well and test before using - especially on untreated wood.

As well as working as an excellent spray and polish, it will also prevent dust accumulating because the oil stops dust from settling as quickly, turning weekly dusting to a monthly task.

Shaving cream tip for boys' bathrooms!

Parents of boys often complain about the unwanted aroma in their bathrooms with the smell of urine hanging around in the floor by the toilet.  A trick to use is to squirt shaving cream around the base of the toilet, leave for up to thirty minutes before mopping or wiping away.

How to refresh mattresses

The suggestion is every three months to sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) on the mattress before adding about ten drops of Lavender Essential Oil. Leave it on for about thirty minutes before carefully vacuuming the mattress including any crevices.

If you discover the presence of any stains, rub in shaving cream, letting it sit for fifteen minutes before blotting it away.

How to ensure sparkling faucets and sinks

Get rid of any streaks and finger marks quickly by buffing your faucets and sinks with a small amount of baby oil or candle wax with a soft cloth to help repel watermarks as well as cutting down on the frequency of needing to clean.

Make sure your closet smells good

An idea on how to naturally scent your closet.  Use some of the small self adhesive pads used to stick on the undersides of chair legs.  Spray them with some essential oil and then stick them inside drawers or closets.

Mopping shower tiles

You can save time and energy by mopping the tiles in your showers instead of scrubbing them which can involve a lot of stretching and bending.  

Freshen your refrigerator

Unwanted aromas can easily build up in your refrigerator.  You can deal with this by placing a small open bowl of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) on one of the shelves.  Leave it in place to absorb any odors.  Then replace it every few weeks.

Housework is never finished!

Instead of aiming for completion, aim for consistency - taking small steps every day to keep on top of things.  And it does not hurt to enlist the help of your family too!

SOURCES

https://ellieandliv.com/2025/03/04/illustrating-the-5-minute-clean-routine-by-anna-louisa/