Spring Clean Tasks & Tips

March 16, 2020 by Spontex

Tackling a big household clean can seem like a daunting task, but with a few tricks and using the right products you’ll find that you’ll breeze through it in no time! We’ve compiled a list of some of those household chores that may not always be front of mind and often get overlooked and some of our top tips to help take them on… either all at once if you’ve already rolled up your sleeves and have a cloth in hand ready to go or in bite sized chunks if you favour a more relaxed approach. ;)

1. Get dust out of the way.

Although your regular household clean probably picks up the bulk of the dust that settles in your home it’s worth seeking out some of its secret hiding places! Radiators with lots of nooks and crannies can get very dusty and be quite tricky to clean. If you peek behind your radiator and find it’s slightly furry try wrapping and securing an all-purpose cloth round a ruler or thin stick and poking it down the back, you’ll be amazed by the dirt you lift away! If you have any pictures that aren’t covered by a glass frame, use a hairdryer (cool setting) to gently remove any dust, and if you need to adjust the position, wear a pair of disposable gloves so that the naturally occurring oil in your hands doesn’t leave a mark. It’s always amazing to see how mucky the floor of the wardrobe can get. Pull out everything that’s down there and clear out the dust with a dry microfibre mop, getting right into the corners as you go.

Not deep cleaned for a while? It’d be a good idea to take a step ladder and look at the higher levels your eyes don’t normally land on, the tops of doors, cupboards and wardrobes for example, and lights of course. You’ll probably find quite thick layers of dust on every surface, a quick and effective way to deal with this surface dust is to wring out a couple of all-purpose cloths in a bowl of warm soapy water and wipe away! While you’re at it, use a damp microfibre cloth to wipe down and around any door handles plus any light switches and pulls too. If you’ve still got the energy after all of this, then it’s time for eyes down to give the skirting boards and lower level woodwork a good going over.

2. Let the sunshine in.

It’s time to let the Spring sunshine in! Nothing brightens up your home more than freshly cleaned windows, and using the right cloths it’s surprisingly easy, in fact you could get sparkling panes using just hot water! Microfibre cloths contain thousands of tiny fibres greatly increasing the number of contact points with the surface, giving you a smear free finish without the need for chemicals! Try washing your windows using our window kit, simply dip the yellow cloth into hot water, wring and wash as you would any surface to remove dirt, then using the dry green cloth buff to a brilliant shine! Don’t forget to wash down the window frames and handles too using the same cloths you used on the panes before finishing off with a dusting down of any blinds and vacuuming of curtains.

3. Blitz the mould.

Bathroom cleaning, someone’s got to do it, but why does that someone always have to be you? One of the most common questions we are asked about bathroom cleaning is how to remove black mould spots from grouting. When it comes to mould bleach is often the most effective solution, as not only does it reduce staining but it also kills the mould spores preventing regrowth. Open the window, take an old toothbrush or a dishbrush and dip it into a solution that is half bleach and half hot water and then give those unsightly marks a good scrub, taking care to stick just to the grout and not splash any delicate surfaces that could be damaged by bleach. It takes time and elbow grease but it will work! As bleach can be damaging for both skin and clothes be sure to protect yourself, best to pop on your scruffs and a pair of gloves to shield your hands and arms while you return your bathroom to its former glory!

4. Clean your washing machine.

Washing at 30 degrees is good for the environment, however doing a ‘maintenance wash’ from time to time will help with bad smells! Throw a cup of clear vinegar into the empty drum and run the machine on the hottest wash. Then make sure you do a 60 degree wash once a week, particularly for towels and cotton sheets. And to deal with any black mould on the seal, wipe with a cellulose sponge using a dilute solution of bleach (50:50 bleach with water). Rinse immediately with plain water so that the bleach does not weaken the rubber.

Then it’s time to unclog the detergent drawer! Pull it out as far as it will go, and you will see a flap at the back marked either Press or Lift, depending on your machine, do this, and the drawer will pull right out. Rinse well under the tap, removing any hardened detergent with a sponge scourer or dishmop. Wipe inside the cavity (there will be detergent spillage there) before replacing the drawer.

5. Finally... don’t forget your oven!

If you’ve been putting off cleaning the oven for a while now is the time to be brave! If you’d prefer not to use a chemical cleaning kit why not try a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, it’s an old-fashioned method that can really yield results! Coat the bottom of your oven with white vinegar so that it is damp then sprinkle over a layer of baking soda, you’ll see it get to work immediately but if you can, leave it for a couple of hours to do its magic. Use a dishcloth to wipe up the paste and you’ll be delighted find to a fresher oven underneath! If your oven has a glass door try using a powerful stainless steel scourer to give it a new lease of life. These scourers will cut through years of baked on grime without scratching the glass. You’ll be knelt next to the oven watching your cakes rise like a contestant on Bake Off in no time!

We hope you’ve found our Spring Clean tasks and tips useful and would love it if you shared photos of your end results with us so we can add them to our images gallery or Instagram stories! Any new tips and suggestions on Spring Cleaning or how you use our products are always welcome. <3