Top tips to help you spring clean your home
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes.
Sian Hiatt, Sales Manager, provides a few top tips to help spring clean your home that can help not only freshen things up, but also leave the property well prepared for any potential sale...
Spring is finally upon us, so we’ve waved goodbye to the long, dark miserable nights where the days seem incredibly short, and have now welcomed longer, brighter days with warmer temperatures and plenty of sunshine… we hope!
For many homeowners, the arrival of spring signals a great time to assess our property by checking the cleaning cupboard to see what cleaning kit we need to help really freshen the place up. After all, where else would the term “spring clean” come from?
Cleaning from top to bottom can seem a daunting task, even when the air seems fresher and you’re finally walking with a spring in your step - see what we did there?
Nevertheless, we’re here to provide you with a little guidance that will hopefully help you out. If you put a plan in place and tackle the property room by room, your home will be super fresh and super clean just in time for Easter, plus you have the opportunity to see where you can make improvements, so your property is more eco-friendly.
Read: How to make your home more eco-friendly
Especially if you have eager children or other family members and friends who are happy to lend a helping hand!
Why should you do a spring clean?
There are a few good reasons to carry out a thorough spring clean every year.
Some of these reasons include:
Getting the feel-good factor
A fresh, clean home will instantly make you feel a whole lot better. Walking into a room that’s clean, organised, tidy and inviting is so much nicer than a room that’s cluttered and full of dust. Not to mention, you’re sure to feel proud of your accomplishment with a sense of achievement at the end which adds to the pleasure. The reason for this? Neurotransmitter! Completing a cleaning task will release a dose of dopamine, which is the feel-good neurotransmitter, and this contributes to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction as part of the rewards system that our minds and body recognises.
It freshens up the home
Getting home from work and walking into a home that’s offering a fresh and clean space in every room is tough to beat! What’s more, if you can force a habit out of cleaning, this in-depth cleaning spree that you carry out will give you a great foundation to easily keep on top of things. After all, a weekly or fortnightly cleaning blitz (perhaps choose a different room or two each time?) will make next year’s spring clean even easier when it rolls around.
More visually appealing when it comes to selling the property
If you’re in a position where you’re thinking about selling in the near future a clean and tidy home will look not only visually appealing to you, but also to any potential buyers. You want your property to look as good as possible for viewings, so a spring clean from top to bottom will put you in good stead for the property marketing ahead. And as previously mentioned, it’s far easier and quicker to clean an already relatively clean property which will help with sprucing things up in between viewings.
Read: How to present your property for sale
Some of the best spring-cleaning tips and tricks
Below we have highlighted some key tips and tricks for you to follow when you spring clean certain rooms or items in your property:
The Bathroom
The bathroom is likely to be the room that needs the most attention in terms of scrubbing with chemicals and cleaning kit. Therefore, why not start with the worst? With the correct cleaning equipment, pay special attention to the toilet, sink, and shower/bath area, as this is where most of the dirt, germs and grime will have collected. You’ll need grout cleaner for in between tiles if they used to be white but are no more, and it’s also a good idea to let any chemical spray sit for quite a while before going back in and totally rinsing it all off but do check the instructions for each cleaning item you use. Also, it’s worth investing in a good set of marigolds as the last thing you want is skin irritation from any bleach or chemicals used.
The kitchen
Another room that will need some sanitising as well as a good sorting out is the kitchen. Clear all cupboards and worktops before thoroughly wiping everything over and placing everything back. While replacing food items, check the dates! Too often we leave things to go stale and out of expiry at the back of cupboards for months if not years. Crumbs can often collect on the floor and get wedged into small gaps along the base of cabinets or underneath wide goods, and if your kitchen has an adjoining pantry or other walk-in cupboards don’t forget those as well. They are prone to collecting cobwebs and all sorts of dust in the corners and on the shelves.
The windows
Instead of using soapy water and a sponge, get a dedicated window cleaner and some microfibre cloths. It makes a big difference as it leaves much less smearing and is much kinder to the surface of the windows. Fully draw the curtains and raise the blinds as well to let in as much of that natural spring light as possible!
The wardrobe
A spring clean isn’t all about making things tidy and sparkly, it’s also about sorting through things we’ve stored and eliminating things from our lives that we really don’t need. Most people are guilty of having a wardrobe full to the rafters with old clothes we don’t even wear. Unwanted clothes, shoes and other random bits and bobs that have been stored away can go to charity or be handed over to someone else who will make more use out of it. In return you’ll feel decluttered and left with plenty of free space the next time you treat yourself to a new outfit.
The furniture
We spend time cleaning around furniture, but often forget to clean under the furniture or even the furniture itself! Pull out chairs, sofas and tables so you can properly vacuum everything that’s gathered underneath them. Fabric spray is useful for keeping cushions and throws smelling fresh, and cleaners that are specific to materials - such as leather or wood cleaners - are also handy to have so that you know you’re cleaning with appropriate products that won’t harm any furniture. While you’re at it, why not consider re-arranging the room? You might appreciate a little change… a little Feng Shui.
Once you’re done with your spring clean, why not get in touch with our expert property sales team here at CPS Homes in the heart of Cardiff? We can help you achieve the best possible price for your home, and with branches across Cardiff, our knowledge of the city and it’s buyers is second to none. Contact us today to learn more or to book in your free property valuation by contacting 02920 668585, e-mailing enquiries@cpshomes.co.uk or by popping in branch to see us.
