Spring cleaning sorted: cleaning and preparedness tips

Using a microfibre cloth or long-handled duster, gently remove dust and cobwebs from the ceilings, before tackling each wall of your home from top to bottom. As you work your way around the home, be sure to remember the tops of doors and window frames, shelving and cabinets, and of course, the tops of any skirting/base boards. 

Once you've wiped every surface, sweep and vacuum to collect all the fallen dust. Then, check the walls for any scuff marks, stains, or if you’ve got little ones, crayon drawings. If you notice any marks, you’ve got a few options on how to remove them:

Between cooking smells, pets and general daily use, it’s safe to say that some fabric chairs and sofas could do with some freshening up! The answer? Baking soda (at least that’s what my mum drilled into me when I moved out). 

A great natural cleaner, baking soda can be sprinkled onto any fabric seats or sofas to help absorb any funky smells. Make sure not to go overboard, though; you only need a light, even layer. Let it sit for up to an hour to do its work. Once the timer goes off, vacuum the treated surface with the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner. Voila! Fresh as a daisy.

Top tip: Want to make a natural deodorising spray? In a spray bottle, combine ¾ cup of water with 2 tablespoons of cheap vodka and a few drops of orange essential oil. Give it a mix and just like that, you’ve got a simple deodorising spray to help freshen up a room.

It's time to make like Marie Kondo and ditch everything that no longer sparks joy or serves a purpose in your home. Sounds easy, but you’ll be surprised how much sentimental value we place on things!

To minimise overwhelm, it’s best to be methodical and have a process. Go room by room, bit by bit, and dedicate time to each space. For example, if you’re tackling the kitchen, start with the fridge, then the pantry, then the drawers, then the cupboards. Don’t try and do it all in one go. Gradually, you’ll work through every space in the home – sorting items into piles you intend to keep, sell, donate or throw out.

Once you’ve sorted out your piles and gotten rid of what you no longer need (after thanking each item, of course), now is the perfect time to create a home inventory. What’s that, you ask? Essentially, it’s a list of all the stuff you own, and it can be itemised by category and cost to help you keep track of your home contents. It’s a really helpful document to have if you ever need to make a contents insurance claim. For more information, check out this article on How to make a home inventory.

Top tip: Maintain your freshly organised spaces by creating a simple habit: don't put things down, put things in their home. Everything should have its place, whether it’s a coat, a ball, a dish or a piece of jewellery. When you’re done with something for the day, always pop it back in its rightful place. 

Now there’s less dust and clutter about, we can move on to some simple safety checks. Fires can happen in an instant and can spread within seconds, so it's essential to have properly installed and working smoke alarms in your home. 

According to Fire Rescue NSW, you should be:

1. Checking your smoke alarm once a month

2. Dusting it off every 6 months

3. Replacing the battery once a year

4. Replacing all smoke alarms with new ones every 10 years (or earlier if specified by the manufacturer). 

Depending on where you’re at in the cycle, be sure to perform the necessary maintenance for your alarms.

Top tip: It’s also a great idea to check your kitchen has a Fire Safety Blanket. Fire blankets work by smothering and depriving flames of oxygen to help prevent a small fire from becoming a big one.

Gutters exist to direct rainwater away from your home. When you neglect to clean them, you can end up with all sorts of issues, like leaks, structural damage from too much moisture, insect infestations and mould. Dead leaves that pile up in there over time can also pose a fire risk. Not ideal!

Cleaning gutters can be a DIY job, provided you’ve got a ladder, a buddy to hold it, gloves and a bucket. All you need to do is patiently scoop up all the debris that has accumulated in the gutters and throw it into your green bin. However, doing it yourself may not be practical or safe, depending on your circumstances. Thankfully, there are plenty of professionals ready to help! A quick Google search for ‘professional gutter cleaning’ will bring up no shortage of businesses to help you get the job done. Shop around, get a few quotes, and choose the business you feel is best.

Tidying up the garden has three big advantages:

1. When the garden is well manicured, it feels more inviting and enjoyable. 

2. It can help you in the event of an extreme weather event.

3. Gardening can be beneficial for healthy cognitive aging in older adults. Who knew!? 

Now that we know our labour will bear some fruit (perhaps literally, for some of you!), here are some jobs you can tackle:

You’ve worked hard; we applaud you. Now it’s time to enjoy the bliss of your freshly cleaned home and outdoor spaces — go on, you’ve earned it!