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Spring has sprung, which means it’s time to let some fresh air into your home after months of being closed up for winter. Now it’s time to get organised by way of an annual spring clean.
Don’t worry if you’re having trouble motivating yourself: we’ve asked some top tidying experts for their tips and tricks to get you spring cleaning in no time.
Sarah Cottman: Professional Organiser @ Heavenly Order
Spring is a great time of year to get organised and have a big clean out. The dawning of the season is a chance for change – it’s about new growth and beginnings. Use this as a prompt to see your home in a fresh light.
The first thing to do is to get organised in the home by decluttering. Housework can be reduced by up to 40% simply by decluttering. Thinking about it logically: if you can do your regular clean without having to move anything like newspapers, magazines, piles of clothes etc, the process is far quicker. You are in control of how your home supports you.
Next, devise a plan of what you want to achieve during your spring clean and be very realistic about how long you are willing to dedicate to it. Make sure you set out the duties of everyone in the home, with age-appropriate tasks. Housework is the responsibility of all in the home, not just one person. If you need help to get organised, use an IOPO registered Professional Organiser.
My top tip for refreshing the look of a room during a spring clean is to move furniture around where possible. Simply rearranging the position of a couch or bookcase can change the entire look and feel of a room. No need to buy anything new – you probably already own enough!
Vivian Panagos: Blogger/Interior Designer @ Ish & Chi
Before starting a spring clean, spend some time decluttering and organising wardrobes and drawers. If you’re like me, you will have accumulated things over the months that you may no longer need or use.
This time of the year is a great time to recycle the old and look at organising the rest. Then you can tackle the cleaning, starting from the top – cleaning your ceiling mouldings, light fixtures and windows, and dusting your art. Wipe down walls, cabinets and joinery, and move furniture and rugs to vacuum underneath. A bonus – you might find a few lost coins in the process too.
Gina Ciancio: Editor @ Style Curator
When it comes to spring cleaning, there are three things I do to refresh my interiors - clean (of course!), declutter and rearrange to find new ways of using existing pieces to make them feel new again.
My top spring-cleaning tip? Create an essentials caddy of cleaning products that you can easily take from room to room. Create a plan on how to tackle the cleaning and work through it systematically, and don't forget to delegate tasks to whoever you can.
Simplify your home by donating, selling or getting rid of things that no longer serve a purpose. Try to only 'touch an item once' before deciding if you'll keep or get rid of it, and work your way through one zone at a time. Decluttering becomes hard when we keep going around in circles.
Finally, rather than always buying new decor every season, I like to make my interiors feel fresh by moving things about, creating new arrangements or adjusting the colour palette slightly by introducing only a few new pieces. Interiors are becoming increasingly fashion driven but constantly buying new is expensive and wasteful.
Amy Darcy: Founder & Editor @ Eat Pray Workout
Often the hardest thing about doing a spring clean is how overwhelmingly big the job can seem. Here’s what I’ve found combats this:
- List in detail the jobs you want to do (the more you tick, the more satisfied you’ll feel, so list the little things too!)
- Prioritise that list from most to least important so you know where to start
- Prepare any cleaning products you need prior to starting
- Allow yourself to find satisfaction in this work – don’t look for it elsewhere, because this causes procrastination
- Just do it! Starting is the hardest part
- Reward yourself with a nice walk, a yummy treat, a massage or whatever will motivate you to get that cleaning done!
Michelle Thompson-Laing: Founder & Editor @ Keep Calm Get Organised
When you're spring cleaning, focus on decluttering each area you are working on before cleaning it. The less stuff you have, the less stuff you have to clean!
If you're cleaning inside the kitchen cupboards, declutter the appliances and streamline the coffee cup collection. My motto is "do you need it, do you love it, do you use it".
If the answer is no... out it goes. Just because something was expensive or you may use it "one day", doesn't mean you should keep it. Be ruthless; don't keep things just in case.
Spring is the perfect time to clear the clutter and freshen things up. It’s also a good time to think about getting your place summer-ready by making sure you’re on the best energy plan to help you avoid a bill spike when it’s time to turn on the air con.
