What is it about the first ray of sunshine that skyrockets us into a spring cleaning frenzy? Why do we have this overwhelming urge to deep-clean and reset our homes at this time of year?
The annual cleaning routine dates back to the 1930s, when homes relied on open fires for cooking and heating. “There would be an influx of soot during this time period, and large cleans after winter were necessary to remove the grime and dirt,” explains Adriana Aziz, Operations Manager at MaidForYou.
To get rid of a winter’s worth of soot from walls, curtains, and ceilings, Elena Navarro, cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparky Maid Austin, says people “would open their windows, air everything out, and scrub away months of dirt buildup.”
Today, we've swapped out open fires for the best gas ranges and electric ranges, and brooms for one of the best vacuums or robot vacuums. While we no longer battle against soot, the timing of the deep clean has stuck.
“Spring does tend to be when people feel most motivated to do it. The days are getting longer, the weather improves, and people naturally start thinking about fresh starts around the house,” explains Nigel Bearman, cleaning expert and director of Daily Poppins.
What’s the difference between a spring clean and a regular clean?
“A spring clean is really about giving your home a proper reset. It goes further than the usual weekly tidy-up and looks at the areas that tend to get ignored the rest of the year,” explains Bearman.
“For a lot of people, it’s things like washing curtains, pulling furniture out to clean behind it, or finally sorting the cupboards that have slowly filled up with clutter. When it’s done properly, the whole house just feels lighter and fresher, rather than just clean.”
And it’s much more intense than a regular clean. Navarro says it’s more likely to take a couple of days to complete, rather than a couple of hours associated with a regular session.
In contrast to spring cleaning, regular cleaning is about maintenance. “This is the weekly or bi-weekly cleaning activities that allow your home to remain functional and appear tidy, such as vacuuming, wiping down countertops, cleaning bathrooms, mopping floors, and doing laundry,” says Navarro.
What should be on your spring-cleaning checklist?
Beyond the routine, a spring clean includes the neglected items that often get forgotten, or don’t need to be cleaned regularly. Navarro adds tasks like cleaning appliances, ceiling blades, window tracks, baseboards, grout lines, and air vents.
These deep-cleaning tasks differ from what we complete day-to-day, which Bearman describes as “vacuuming, wiping surfaces and keeping kitchens and bathrooms hygienic.”
Do you need extra tools for a spring clean?
The good news is you probably have what you need. “Most people already have the basics, such as a vacuum, a mop, some cloths and a few good cleaning products,” says Bearman.
For a spring clean, however, you’ll need tools to reach awkward spots. “What can really help during a deeper clean are the tools that make hard-to-reach places easier. A vacuum crevice tool, an extendable duster for high corners or a small step ladder can make those awkward areas much more manageable,” he suggests.
And he adds that in most cases, it’s not about buying more products, it’s about having the right tools to reach the parts of the home that don’t usually get your attention.
However, it’s worth checking your supplies to ensure you can get on with the tasks at hand without stopping to restock. Navarro suggests you stock up on the following:
- Kitchen degreaser, no remove tough grime
- White vinegar and baking soda for natural scrubbing
- Grout brush for cleaning tile grout
- Extendable duster for cleaning ceiling fans and hard-to-reach places
- Window squeegee for sparkling windows
- Heavy-duty sponges for scrubbing
- Rubber gloves to protect your hands
- Carpet shampooer or a rented steam cleaner
- A mop system designed to sanitize, rather than leave behind dirty water
5 top spring-cleaning tips
1. Take your time and have a plan
“The biggest tip I give people is not to try to do everything in one go. A full spring clean can feel overwhelming if you look at the whole house at once,” says Bearman.
Aziz advises that a larger home may take more than a day to complete. To plan ahead, focus on specific areas each day. “One day you’ll clean the exterior and interior windows, the next day you'll focus on the walls, the day after you can do the interior of the property, including the baseboards, under the couch, under the bed and a focus on removing cobwebs,” she says.
2. Break it down by room or zone
Alternatively, you might want to break your spring cleaning down room by room or zone. “It’s far more manageable, and you get a sense of progress as each space is finished,” says Bearman.
Another useful tip, shared by Navaroo is to start in the room that bothers you the most, so you can immediately see progress. Once this is complete, you’ll feel you can tackle any spring cleaning task.
For me, I'd start in the kitchen and tackle my large appliances before everything else.
3. Declutter first
Before you get stuck in with a deep clean, Bearman suggests decluttering each room. “Clearing surfaces and cupboards before you start cleaning means you’re not working around things that shouldn’t really be there in the first place,” he says.
Navarro agrees, stating that “Attempting to thoroughly clean a space filled with clutter is a waste of time because you spend more time moving objects around rather than actually cleaning them.”
4. Work from top to bottom
Rather than creating more dust than you need, Navarro suggests working from top to bottom in each room. “Begin with ceiling fans, light fixtures, and upper shelves, then work on furniture and counters, and finish with the floors. Grime and dust fall downward, by cleaning in this manner, you only have to clean each surface once.”
5. Allow cleaning products to work their magic
Rather than being in a rush to clean, Navarro recommends leaving your cleaning products time to sit and work. “Spray the oven, the shower, and the stove at the beginning of your cleaning session and then go attend to another area. When you return, most of the scrubbing will be completed for you.”
