The ultimate spring cleaning checklist: tips and tutorials

Kitchen cleaning

The daily use of the home kitchen means grease and food particles can accumulate on surfaces, appliances, and in vents, potentially creating a fire hazard. Regular cleaning helps prevent these buildups and ensures that your kitchen remains a safe environment. Additionally, a clean kitchen can help you spot other potential fire risks, such as faulty wiring or malfunctioning appliances, more easily.

Having a supply of bi-carb and vinegar can help with kitchen cleaning tasks like making your sinks sparkle, removing benchtop stains, and refreshing your microwave.

If your oven racks are discoloured and dirty, try soaking the racks wrapped in foil with a dishwasher tablet for a few hours before wiping off the grease.

Essential oils, such as orange and eucalyptus, can help remove grease around cooktops and rangehoods - and make them smell great.

Stinky kitchen bins? Deodorise using soapy boiling water and leave to steep for an hour. Pour out the water then repeat, this time scrubbing to remove any tough stains.

Once your kitchen is clean, consider an overall tidy of areas like your drawers and kitchen pantry.

If you’ve noticed appliances in your kitchen not working their best, you might be able to solve the problem yourself – for example, clogged dishwashers aren’t as daunting as they might seem.

Keep in mind that some household jobs – including those that involve electricity or gas – should only be performed by professionals.

Bathroom cleaning

Cleaning your bathroom is often loathed because of the physical labour and amount of chemicals required. If you don’t want to go down that route, there are eco-cleaning options such as vinegar, bi-carb and lemon.

As well as wiping and cleaning all surfaces, remove any mould and take measures to prevent it coming back, including opening windows to reduce condensation and increase ventilation.

Decluttering and reorganising your bathroom space can make a world of difference. Throw out all those empty containers and reorganise your bathroom cupboards and counters in a way that prioritises the items you use the most.

If your toilet needs attention and isn't a self-cleaning Japanese toilet, you can freshen it up using shaving cream. Just apply the cream around and on the toilet, let it sit for about an hour, then wipe clean to remove lingering smells and stains.

Inspect around bathroom fixtures, such as a vanity unit, bath and shower tray, for any signs of water damage, such as flaking paint or speckled marks on skirting boards. A licensed plumber can advise on any issues that need to be fixed.

Bedroom cleaning

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, or wear or tear, now is the time to decide  to repair or repurpose them. Clothing, shoes, and other textiles should never be put in your household recycling bin. Organisations such as Upparel reuse, repurpose, and recycle textiles to help reduce landfill.

More: How much are your clothes worth?

Kids' room cleaning

Keeping kids' rooms clean can be a challenge, but with some practical tips and a bit of creativity, it can become a manageable task. In addition to the vacuuming and dusting, spring also presents an opportunity to tackle child-specific cleaning duties, such as removing marks from the wall and disinfecting toys.

The first step is to get little ones pitching in. Make it fun by turning cleaning into a game. Use a timer to see how quickly they can pick up toys or play their favourite music while they clean. 

A storage system will make a big difference. Labelling storage bins, shelves, and organisers can help kids know where everything belongs.

Once their room is organised, declutter regularly. 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) as you sort through clothes, books and toys.

Living spaces cleaning

Every home has ‘that drawer’, 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. Start treating this drawer as a useful storage space for everyday items rather than a place to keep random items out of sight.

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

Make sure your fireplace is regularly maintained and free from any hazards. Do an overall home and safety check as well.

After a good vaccum and mop, use a rubber squeegee to remove stubborn pet hair from the carpet or couch, or consider a robot vacuum for everyday use.

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 cleaning

No one wants to tackle outdoor chores during a cold, wet winter, but it’s important to regularly prune and trim the trees around your home to promote healthy growth and prevent damage during storms.

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.

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

Gutters are an area that should be cleaned regularly to remove leaves and debris. As it includes ladder work, hire a professional to do this task safely and comprehensively, who can also advise on the integrity of your roof.

Car cleaning

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

Clean out all the clutter that's accumulated. Check the spots people often ignore, like under seats, in consoles and gloveboxes. Vacuum out dirt and dust before tackling more fiddly jobs, such as dusting your air vents and using a toothbrush to remove grit from cupholders and to remove marks from vinyl.

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 shine, make sure you’re also cleaning the windscreen wipers, scrubbing the door jambs and getting into all the nooks and crannies.

More: How to repair car scratches