Padstow 
Get cleaning this spring to banish the winter blues, rejuvenate your spirit and refresh your home!
Spring cleaning is a time-honoured way to banish winter blues and give your home a revamp.
According to professional organiser Nicola Evans from Melbourne’s Sort It Now, you receive as much psychological benefit from spring cleaning as your home reaps aesthetically. “A lot of people get in genuine doldrums in winter, and having a home that is tired-looking, grubby and cluttered adds to that,” she says.
The trick, says Evans, is to devise a realistic schedule and goals. And rope family or friends in to help if you can.
Before you begin, ensure you have a rubbish-removal plan (access to a skip or trailer) to ensure the mess doesn’t simply move from inside to outside. Focus your attention on one room or area at a time, de-cluttering and tidying before giving it a thorough clean from top to bottom.
Bedrooms And Wardrobes
Spruce up your bedding and edit your wardrobe to turn your bedroom into a restful retreat.
- Wash and pack away winter bedding; replace with summer bedlinen.
- Wash or replace pillows.
- Move bed and vacuum underneath.
- Turn, rotate and air mattress.
- Empty drawers. Remove items no longer needed, wipe clean and organise remaining items using drawer containers or dividers.
- Sort the contents of your wardrobe into ‘keep’, ‘donate’ and ‘bin’ piles. Be ruthless! Keep only what fits well, looks good and makes you feel great.
- Clean empty wardrobe then organise your clothes, placing similar items together.
Children’s Bedrooms
Little people’s bedrooms can quickly become messy. The best antidote to kid chaos is to get organised with fun and flexible storage.
- Keep the floor clear with colourful baskets/tubs for toys, shoes, sporting equipment and so on.
- Label containers and arrange frequently used items within easy reach.
- Use clear hanging shoe storage to organise small items such as hair ties and toys.
- Add a laundry basket if needed.
- Sell, donate or recycle unused or outgrown toys and clothes.
Kitchen
- Wash kitchen walls and ceiling. “A concentrated orange-based product and hot water will generally suffice,” says Trevor Dean, general manager of Home Service Professionals in SA.
- Clear out the pantry, remove expired foods and organise like items together.
- Empty and clean fridge, defrost the freezer if needed, discard expired food.
- Tidy drawers and cupboards. Bin broken items, donate superfluous tableware and unused small appliances that are in good working order.
- Clean all surfaces including work surfaces, cupboard doors and plinths.
- Clean all appliances, including the oven, cooktop, extractor fan, microwave, dishwasher, inside and out.
- Check for and safely dispose of old/unused cleaning products.
Bathroom
- Empty bathroom cabinets, removing expired medications and old cosmetics. Dispose of safely. Organise contents by storing similar items together.
- Clean grout and replace broken seals around the shower, bath or basin.
- Check washers in taps and toilet and replace if needed.
- Add a vase of fragrant fresh flowers.
Living Room
- If conditions allow, consider adding an indoor plant to create a breath of fresh air in what can be a busy space.
- Use baskets, decorative lidded boxes or storage ottomans to contain small items (magazines, throws and so on).
- Review your collection of books, movies, music and games. Keep only what you use and really treasure.
- If you have a fireplace, use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to pick up as much dust as you can before detailing with a damp cloth.
Remember To…
- Dust blinds, light fittings, ceiling fans, floor/ceiling vents.
- Clean windows inside and out.
- Wash soft furnishings – cushions, curtains and slipcovers.
- Clean doorknobs, light switches, trims and picture frames.
- Consider oiling decks and timber floors; have carpets and rugs professionally cleaned.
