Your ultimate spring cleaning guide

9honey Living’s The Wash Up: Your 30-day spring cleaning guide is a month-long series aimed at making your annual house clean easier with hacks and expert advice.
It’s the time of year when we dust away the cobwebs of winter and spruce up the home for the warmer weather.
The days are longer and all that sunshine and fresh air makes it the perfect time for spring cleaning.
Spring cleaning is an annual and global tradition that inspires us to take a good hard look at our homes and tackle neglected and forgotten chores.
READ MORE: Eight golden rules for keeping your home tidy all the time
Spring cleaning isn’t just a catchy phrase or something to mark the change of seasons, it’s actually an ancient tradition.
The concept goes back thousands of years and has roots in the Jewish holiday Passover, as well as both the Chinese and Persian new year celebrations.
In all of these instances, there is a practice of cleaning ahead of the events kicking off.
Each brings with it a sense of a fresh start and new beginnings, which makes sense given that in the Northern hemisphere these either begin during spring or towards the end of winter.
READ MORE: Five quick and easy ways to refresh a sink drain
For us in the southern hemisphere, even though we’ve passed the mid-way point of the year, spring cleaning is more of a refresh after spending so much time inside during winter.
It’s a tradition that allows us to clean and swap over winter bedding, clothes and décor for more warm weather appropriate gear, and because the sun is out for longer each day our heavy bedding might actually get dry by nightfall.
The beginning of spring also makes it easier to open all the windows and curtains to bring fresh air and sunlight in, the latter being particularly useful for dusting because you will be able to see every little speck with the brighter natural light.
Whether you’re doing one room, a few spaces or the entire house, a little preparation first will make the entire process easier and less overwhelming.
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered with a checklist of all the possible tasks to consider doing, the supplies you’ll need and even what to do with all the stuff you’ve decided to get rid of.
Before you dive into spring cleaning, take some time to figure out what items and spaces you want to include.
The list of things you do might depend on what sort of time you have and whether you want to do a clean in a week or weekend, or spread it out over consecutive weekends.
Some people even take a week off work to get their deep cleaning done this time of year, but of course, whatever amount of time you have to dedicate to it is totally fine and up to your needs and lifestyle.
READ MORE: 11 things you can clean with hydrogen peroxide
Consider dividing your spring cleaning tasks into zones or stages to make the process easier.
”In some cases, a zone-cleaning strategy can work well. With this method, you split the cleaning job over separate days, perhaps two days. For example, you might start with zone one, which could be the upstairs section of your home and then complete zone two, typically the downstairs, on the following day,” Simone Tsigolis, Jetlag Remedy owner and professional cleaner, tells 9honey Living.
“Alternatively, some individuals find it more manageable to divide the tasks into stages, allowing them to tackle different areas over time. Ultimately, the decision should align with your schedule, preferences and the scope of your spring-cleaning project.”
Using the below checklist as a guide, come up with your own list of rooms and tasks you want to include.
An easy approach is to copy and paste the list into a document and add, subtract and tweak the things on the list to suit yourself.
Or for those who like the satisfaction of crossing things off a list, writing just the tasks and rooms you’re covering on a notepad is the way to go.
You can also add to the list when you plan to do these things, making sure to add more time than you think just in case something takes longer than expected.
Then block out the chosen day and time you plan to clean in your calendar or diary so that you don’t plan anything else for that day and end up not getting the task done.
When you start cleaning each room, keep in mind the golden rules of cleaning such as starting from the top down and clear and dust surfaces first.
READ MORE: Cleaning products you didn’t know you needed
– Dusting (ceilings, walls, skirting boards, shelves, light fittings, doors, ceiling fans)
– Mopping (ceilings, walls, floor)
– Vacuum floors (vacuum can also be used for dust and debris in cupboards and drawers)
– Wash windows, fly screens
– Clean blinds and curtains
– Doors (Wipe with a damp cloth, spot clean stains and marks)
– Clean air conditioner filters
– Clean out pantry
- Dust above cupboards
– Wash cupboard doors
– Wipe down shelves and splashbacks
– Clean oven and rangehood filters
– Clean rubbish bin
– Clean fridge
– Deep clean dishwasher
– Wipe out microwave
– Declutter and organise under sink cupboard
– Scrub sink and drain
– Clean mirror
– Clean out shaving cabinet
– Wipe vanity
– Clean sink drain
– Clean out under sink cupboard
– Dust exhaust fan
– Deep clean shower (and bath)
– Clean grout
– Deep clean toilet
– Wash shower curtain (if applicable)
– Vacuum sofas, including underneath and between cushions
– Deep clean rugs
– Wash throws
– Wash cushion covers if possible, spot treat cushion covers that can’t be washed
– Clean and dust TV screen
– Disinfect remote
- Dust lampshades
– Declutter and clean wardrobe and clothes drawers
– Wash quilt, quilt cover, blankets and other seasonal bedding
– Air out mattress and flip around
– Dust bed frame, shelves, furniture, ornaments, books, lampshades
– Deep clean washing machine including filters
– Scrub laundry sink
– Wipe benchtops, cabinet doors, shelves
– Clean out and organise under sink and wall cupboards
– Sweep courtyard and entryway
– Wash outdoor furniture
– Powerwash or scrub paved/concreate surfaces
– Remove weeds as needed
Most of what you’ll need for spring cleaning is likely already in your home.
You might just need a few extra things to top that up, unless you need to hire a carpet cleaning machine or power washer (but these aren’t essential).
Before you start cleaning with any product make sure it is suitable for the surface you plan to use it on. For example, vinegar is great for a lot of things but is known to damage materials like stone and wood.
READ MORE: The daily cleaning task you should never skip
– Multipurpose cleaning spray
– Dishwashing liquid
– Vinegar
– Baking soda (bi-carb soda)
– Empty spray bottle (if making your own cleaner)
– Cleaning cloths (or you can use rags made from old clothes)
– Rags (for cleaning things that are so dirty you’ll prefer to throw out the rag)
- Vacuum
– Broom
– Scourer, non-scratch
– Scrubbing brushes (including a grout brush)
– Old toothbrushes
– Bottlebrush (small enough to clean inside sink drain hole)
– Buckets (at least one but two is better)
– Toilet brush
– Lint remover
– Mop/s
– Long-handled duster
– Old newspaper
– Plastic bags or cardboard boxes (for decluttered items)
If you plan on doing some thorough decluttering during your spring clean, be prepared to have a lot of excess clutter to deal with.
Some items will just have to be thrown out if they can no longer be used or are mouldy. But before you put anything in your wheelie bin check with your local council first to find out if the item can be disposed of that way and whether they have any recycling or repurposing facilities for things like furniture.
There are also plenty of organisations now that either recycle or repurpose unwanted items. For example, Paintback takes unwanted paint, Upparel collects unwanted clothes and textiles and Soft Landing recycles old mattresses.
For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.
Of course, many second-hand items in good condition can be donated to charity stores such as Vinnies.
Check each charity store’s website before collating items to be donated to see what they can accept.
“It takes a lot of money and volunteer hours for the thousands of tonnes of items we get that aren’t sellable. There are also state and federal laws and legislation that make it illegal for us to sell particular items,” Vinnies donations guide reads.
A good rule of thumb is if an item isn’t in good enough condition to give to a friend or family member then it’s likely not fit to donate.
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.