How to Spring Clean in One Day

If you’ve been wondering when to start spring cleaning, our view is that there is no time like the present! It’s fast approaching that time of year when your home needs a good old blitz ready for the warmer months ahead. According to Good Housekeeping, there are many benefits of spring cleaning your home, including a blissful sense of achievement. However, the very idea of spring cleaning can seem daunting with many people anticipating days, even weeks, to get their house fully in order. But, what if you could do it all in one single day? Read our quick spring cleaning tips for advice on how to spring clean in one day and help speed up the heavy duty cleaning that all our houses need every once in a while

 

1. Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail

 

A key secret to how to spring clean in one day is preparation. It’s the key to the best results and when you’re on a tight schedule it’s the most effective way to be time-efficient. Make sure you have an empty dishwasher, sink, washing machine and tumble dryer, ready for the onslaught of items coming their way during the big spring clean. It’s also worth writing a checklist of all the cleaning equipment you will need. It’s important to work out whether you have it in the house already or if you need to pop to the shops to get any extra bits the day before. There is nothing worse than having to break off in the middle of your spring cleaning session because you’ve forgotten to buy a new mop bucket!

Create a timetable the night before and try to stick to it. It will help you to be productive and keep working towards your cleaning goals. Make sure you give yourself enough time for each room (bathrooms and kitchens often need a little longer than other rooms) and give yourself a couple of breaks for a much-needed refuel!  

 

2. Start with the Laundry

This often takes the longest amount of time. Make sure you have gathered everything you need to go in the washing machine ready to re-fill after every wash. This includes clothes, bedding, cushion covers or any other items you think could do with a clean. Did you know you can purchase washable rugs that you just fling into the washing machine when they need a clean? Find out about the 3 benefits of washable rugs here. 

Assemble your clothes airer in advance and if you have an outdoor washing line, give it a quick wipe to catch any dirt that may have accumulated over time. After getting everything washed and clean, the last thing you want to do is hang it up on a grubby line!

 

3. Head to the Room you Dread the Most

Part of learning how to spring clean in one day is figuring out the best order for your tasks. For most of us, the best place to begin is the bathroom! Getting the hardest tasks out of the way sooner will help you feel a stronger level of achievement and keep you pushing forward around the rest of the house. Once you’ve tackled the bigger tasks, the other rooms will feel like light work in comparison. If you do attack the bathroom or kitchen first, remember to postpone cleaning the sink until you have finished cleaning the whole house. Otherwise, any time you go to rinse a mop or sponge, you will need to re-clean the sink!

 

4. Use Our Spring Cleaning Checklist by Room

If you need a little more guidance on how to spring clean in one day, we break it down in a checklist to help!

Bathroom:

• Ensure towels, bath mats and any other soft furnishings are ready to go into the washing machine.
• Using a good quality cleaning spray, spray in the bath, shower, and sink. Also pour bleach inside the bowl of the toilet, then leave the spray and bleach to work its magic for 10+ minutes.
• In the meantime, spray and clean any remaining surfaces such as cabinets, tiles and mirrors (we recommend using a microfibre cloth on mirrored surfaces).
• Once you’ve left the spray to loosen any dirt and work on bacteria in the bath, sink, or shower, use a sponge to scrub the surfaces before rinsing away with the shower head or tap.
• Next, using the toilet brush, scrub the inside of the toilet bowl, from top to bottom. Begin by working the bristles of the brush under the inside of the rim at the top of the bowl and finishing in the water at the bottom of the bowl, scrubbing away any build up. Use antibacterial wipes or a spray and cloth to wipe down the cistern, and clean the top and underside of the toilet seats.
• Finally, using hot water and a little bleach, mop the floor as you leave the bathroom and move on to the next room.

Bedroom:

• Remove all bedding and leave your mattress to air for at least 30 minutes (the best way to do this is open all the windows so the fresh air can reach the mattress and reduce any allergens and germs). Put all bedding and any clothes left in your washing basket into the washing machine and start a wash cycle.
• It’s time to be decisive and have a good clear out of all your clothes and shoes as you go through and clean each drawer and wardrobe compartment. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t worn it in a year, chuck it out.
• Vacuum the floor and dust all surfaces and furniture. Again, we recommend using a microfibre cloth for any mirrors or mirrored surfaces.
• We also recommend vacuuming your mattress to banish dust and other particles.

Kitchen:

• Tackle the fridge and freezer first. Empty out the contents into a cooler and wait for the fridge and freezer to reach room temperature before cleaning (this would also be the perfect time to defrost your freezer).
• While you wait, you can sort through all your food items and throw away anything past its use-by date. You can remove all the food items from your store cupboards and sort through these too.
• Once your shelves have warmed up in your fridge and freezer, give them a thorough clean with a good quality cleaning spray and wipe down the exteriors too. You can then move on to your cupboards, shelves, counters and window surfaces and wipe all these down too. After cleaning, switch your fridge freezer back on and replace all your food items once it has returned to the optimum cooling temperature.
• Now it’s time to tackle your cooking appliances, starting with degreasing the oven. Take off any removable parts (stove grates and oven shelves) and scrub these with steel wool pads. Clean the rest of the oven with a good quality cleaning spray and hardwearing cloth.
• In order to remove any grease or stubborn food bits from the microwave, we recommend putting a lemon in a microwave-safe bowl and microwaving this for a minute or so. Once the microwave has cooled down, you can then wipe down the interior with a cloth and cleaning spray.
• Make sure any items in the sink have been washed and put away, the kitchen bin has been emptied and then floors have been swept, vacuumed and mopped.

Living Room:

• Dust and wipe down your shelves and surfaces and vacuum the flooring or carpet.
• If you have one, steam cleaning your carpet and fabric sofas and chairs are recommended. We have a great rug cleaning guide, which can help you clean your rugs and carpets in a way that works for you. You might also love our blog post on Mrs Hinch’s cleaning tips to freshen up your rug.
• Remove the cushions from your sofa and chairs and vacuum underneath them. You’d be surprised at what you could find in your sofa, from crumbs to that lip balm or pen you thought you’d lost forever!
• Dust all your electronics with a microfibre cloth and sweep out/wipe down your fireplace if you have one

5. Add Some New Accessories!

You’re almost there! A great way to transform your house and really emphasise your spring clean is to add a couple of new home accessories. Invest in some fragranced candles or diffusers to give your home a fresh scent. Or, how about new cushions or perhaps a new decorative rug for a fresh new look in your living room or hallways?  

So there you have it – our quick spring cleaning tips on how to spring clean in one day. For more top tips and advice on interiors and rugs, keep up to date with our blog or if you require any assistance with your next purchase, don’t hesitate to get in touch and we will be happy to help.