The ultimate spring cleaning checklist

The Organising Platform's Chelsea Smith walks us through how to clean your home the natural way.

Bedroom

Spring presents a great time to clear out and reset your wardrobe, allowing you to take stock of what you actually wear and reorganise the space.

If you haven’t worn something in two years or more, that’s probably a good sign you should sell or donate the item.  

Once you know what you’re keeping, look into updating your wardrobe to add more storage space. An additional hanging rail can double your horizontal space, while adding shelf dividers or even a shoe rack can make use of otherwise empty areas.

If you come across any clothes you haven’t worn due to stains, wear or tear, reacquaint yourself with the best practice for cleaning every type of material to extend their life.  

Kids' room

Any parent will attest that keeping their children’s rooms clean is something of a Sisyphean task. It doesn’t have to be though.

The first step is to get little ones pitching in, with children as young as three able to help out and learn how to keep their space tidy.

 If you’re doing a big clean out, it’s handy to keep three bags on hand (one to keep, one to donate and one to throw out) to sort through clothes, books and toys.

In addition to the vacuuming and dusting, spring also presents a great opportunity to tackle child-specific cleaning duties, like removing marks from the wall and disinfecting toys.  

It might also be worth reassessing the current division of household labour, and looking at where your kids can help out with general household chores.

Living spaces

Every home has ‘that drawer’. The drawer that is full to bursting with bric-a-brac, dead batteries, random paperwork, stationary and miscellaneous cords.  

Overhaul your messy drawer (or drawers) by hauling everything out, sorting out what needs to be tossed, then reorganising. Change how you think about the space so that you view it as a useful storage space for everyday items, not just somewhere to keep random items out of sight.

Dusting venetian blinds is another commonly forgotten task that is great to tackle in springtime. Make dusting that much easier by attaching a cloth to a pair of tongs and use to dust, while lampshades can be dusted using a lint roller.

If you have a fireplace, make sure it has been regularly maintained and is free from any hazards, which may also be a time to check off your regular home and safety checks overall. 

After a good vaccum and mop, remember that stubborn pet hair in carpet or the couch can be removed with a rubber squeegee, or even consider a robot vacuum for everyday use if it gets out of hand. 

if you find the room still appears cluttered even after a good clean, consider some DIY home hacks to invigorate the space on a budget. 

Outdoors

No one wants to tackle outdoor chores during a cold, wet winter, but it’s important to get on top of your garden before it gets too overgrown.

After giving your outdoor space a general tidy up, it’s a good idea to prune back any dead material, renew mulch and fertilise plants – particularly if you’re looking to encourage flower growth.

You might also want to consider installing a compost bin if you haven’t already, as compost can do wonders for your plants. You could even use leftover coffee grounds after cleaning your kitchen to make fertiliser and repel pests from you plants and outdoor furniture. 

Gutters are an area that should be cleaned regularly to remove clutter and debris. As it includes ladder work, consider hiring a professional to get your gutters spick and span over spring. 

Car

It’s not just your home that needs a spring clean – your car deserves one too.  

Clean out all the clutter that accumulated, being sure to check the spots people usually forget, like under seats, in consoles and gloveboxes. Vacuum out dirt and dust before tackling more fiddly jobs – think dusting your air vents and using a toothbrush to remove grit from cupholders and to remove marks from vinyl.  

Once spick and span, consider using boxes or storage units to keep the interior organised. Even adding a couple of carabiners can make it easier to hang cloths or umbrellas.  

After tackling the interior, learn how to make your vehicle’s exterior look like it’s been professionally cleaned. Soaping the vehicle up and rinsing it off is fine, but if you want it to really shine make sure you’re also cleaning the windscreen wipers, scrubbing the door jambs and getting into all the nooks and crannies – including underneath the car.