Get ready for spring cleaning

Spring is in the air and it’s time for that annual ritual – giving rooms a good clean and polish.
Brighten up your home with some Kenwood appliances. Photo: PA Photo/HandoutBrighten up your home with some Kenwood appliances. Photo: PA Photo/Handout
Brighten up your home with some Kenwood appliances. Photo: PA Photo/Handout

If the prospect fills you with gloom and you’re tempted to ignore this chore, be aware that welcome sunshine pouring through the windows can shine a harsh light on pockets of dust, dingy paintwork and grubby surfaces.

Luckily, modern cleaning products and tools can make light, speedy work of the process which saw our grandmothers beating rugs, scrubbing and scouring and rehanging drapes.

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“A top-to-bottom, thorough clean won’t just make a home look more appealing, it can also boost your spirits and make you feel more energised, as rooms will feel more airy and spacious,” says Simon Glanville, managing director of specialist storage company, STORE.

“Use the opportunity to take a good look at spaces and, if need be, de-clutter, which isn’t about throwing everything away.

“Rather, it’s about losing what’s useless and ugly in order to have space for things that are useful and beautiful.”

Before you begin your super spring sort-out, check out these expert tips on making it easy, and smart kit that will make even the most reluctant yearn to blitz away the winter blues.

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“To get over that mental block that prevents you actually starting, break the task into bite-sized pieces.

“Allocate 20 minutes each day to tackling just one area,” suggests Glanville.

“Always start with the bedrooms and work your way down, and never tackle more than one room at a time, otherwise you’ll get overwhelmed.”

Top tip: Turn on the music, get a timer and get each member of the family to fill one bag full of unwanted items, then recycle or sell them.

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Top kit: Ensure you have all the kit to hand as you move around your home. Designer Sebastian Conran’s produced a sleek Universal Expert range, including a steel Storage Caddy, £44, from West Elm. John Lewis has a smart Whitewash Wood Crate, £35, which could be ideal for a utility room.

Top treat: Reward yourself for your efforts with fun and useful items. Animal String and Scissor Holders, featuring a badger, owl, Westie dog or fox design, £25 each, Graham & Green.

Top tip: Carpets accumulate a lot of dust, dirt and even fungi over time, all of which are unsightly, unhygienic and can be potential health hazards. Up to 80 per cent of carpet dirt is loose and can be removed with regular vacuuming.

Finally, a good first impression in a hall will make the whole house seem organised.

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