It’s spring, and you know what that means - tulips, picnics, April showers bringing May flowers and of course, a thorough spring clean of the home. Embarking upon this annual refresh can be daunting, so we’re here to make sure you make the most of your chance to shake out the cobwebs and clean away winter’s gloom.

For many people, knowing where to start with a big cleaning operation can be the hard part, but getting started is all you need - our top tips for spring cleaning and decluttering can take care of the rest.

1. Make a List

Before diving in, getting organised and putting together a game plan can make the whole cleaning and decluttering process a lot easier. Take some time to cast an eye around your home, prioritising problem areas and the dirtiest or most cluttered areas of the home.

2. Start With a Clear-Out

If decluttering is part of your spring clean plan, starting with this aspect is a no-brainer and a big life hack. Getting rid of items you no longer want or need will make the cleaning process cleaner, as there are fewer items to clean and clean around! Work your way through the home, one room and cupboard at a time, clearing things away either for the bin, storage or donation as you go.

3. Stock Up on Supplies

In the same way as buying a new reusable water bottle can encourage you to drink more, or a new pair of trainers can spark your motivation to jog more often, new cleaning products can motivate you to clean. Take a quick inventory of your cleaning supplies and use this as an opportunity to chuck away empties and stock up on new dusters, microfibre cloths and so on. Then you’ll feel armed and ready to tackle the dust and grime around the home.

4. Work Top to Bottom

As you work your way from room to room, make sure to start up high and work your way down. The reasoning for this is that as you clean items closer to the ceiling (i.e. shelves and cupboards), you knock dust and dirt down which will gather on the floor. In an ideal world, you would clean the floor last rather than the other way around which undoes all your hard work!

5. Don’t Forget the Unseen Dirt

Think about the hidden corners and invisible crevices that could be hiding dust, dirt and crumbs. Ridges along coving, chair rails and skirting boards often hold a generous coating of dust that you may not even notice. Gaps in the kitchen worktops between the unit and the cooker can be a graveyard for crumbs. Use hoover attachments to tackle these areas as best you can.

6. Pay Attention to Food Storage

Spring cleaning presents a great opportunity to assess the situation for food storage as well. Before giving the kitchen a deep clean, take the time to go through cupboards and throw out anything no longer needed and give everything a bit of a tidy and general reorganisation. The refrigerator is also an area that can be easily overlooked because it’s usually in use. Take everything out of your fridge and give all surfaces a thorough clean before putting everything back in an orderly fashion.

7. Clean the Oven

After a long winter of preparing hearty stews and roasts, your oven might be a bit worse for wear. Splattering food items, melted cheese and spitting grease can create a real mess in your oven. Giving your oven a deep clean is satisfying and you’ll be surprised to see just how much you can clear up during the process.

8. Toss Out Expired Products

Spring cleaning is the ideal time to toss out items that are no longer fit for use. Any item with an expiry date is fair game for this task, so work your way through the home and assess your different products. This can include food items, medications, and beauty products.

9. Eliminate Limescale for Wow-Factor Shine

Nothing says clean like gleaming hardware. Whether you’re cleaning the kitchen or bathroom, areas with high water use can develop a gritty coat of limescale. Tackling your taps and showerheads with some elbow grease to do away with limescale build-up will give the room that all-important shimmer.

10. Invest in an Upholstery and Carpet Rake

Even for those who are habitual with running the hoover around, it can only achieve so much. First, dust and hair can get embedded in upholstery and carpets so deep that the hoover can’t even get it. A carpet rake is a handheld tool you use to pull up hair and embedded dust from upholstered surfaces and carpets. If you really want to go deeper with this spring’s deep clean, this is a tool you want to try!

If, throughout your spring clean, you find that you simply need more storage space, we can help! Our flexible storage options mean we have something perfect for everyone. We can even help ensure that you make the best of storing with us by properly organising your storage unit.

And don’t forget that our storage units are a great way to get clutter-free! Find your nearest self-store here.