We’re convinced that spring cleaning was invented by people in the northern hemisphere, who don’t have to fit it in between exams, school prize givings and other end-of-year commitments that we squeeze into October through November here in Aotearoa. So we say get a head start on spring cleaning in August and September. These dreary winter months are the perfect opportunity to clean, declutter and refresh your home.
Declutter first
Before diving into the deep cleaning, take the time to donate unwanted items, recycle what you can and discard anything broken or beyond repair. Next, reorganise the items left in your cupboards and wardrobes to maximise space and efficiency.
Focus on neglected areas
Use spring cleaning as the perfect time to tackle those often-overlooked areas, such as behind the fridge, behind the coffee machine and under the beds. If your eyesight is as bad as ours, you won’t have noticed the build-up of dust and grime in the corners and edges, but the Shark Cordless Detect Pro with Auto Empty System, $949.99, will spot heavily soiled areas and automatically boost its suction power to deal with them.
Wash windows
Yup, you can’t put it off any longer – you’re going to have to clean the windows inside and out. Professional cleaners recommend adding a tablespoon of cornflour to your window cleaner for a streak-free finish. You’ll be surprised at how much brighter your home feels.
Clean carpets and upholstery
Remove dirt and dust with a deep clean. A good going over with the Shark Stratos XL Pet Pro Powered Lift-Away with Odour Neutraliser Technology, $699.99, is the next best thing to paying a professional carpet cleaner. And don’t forget to vacuum the dust off your drapes and blinds while you’re on the job.
Deep clean appliances
Roll up your sleeves and tackle the ingrained dirt in often-overlooked areas such as oven racks, ceiling fans and the back of the fridge. Channel Carmy from The Bear cleaning the grooves in the oven front with a toothpick and you’re on the right track.
Six cleaning hacks
Work top to bottom
Start with high surfaces – light shades, the top of cupboards, ceiling fans – and work downwards, so dust isn’t falling on already clean surfaces.
Capture dust
Dust ceiling fans using a pillowcase, so the dust gets trapped inside rather than raining over the furniture. Similarly, a clean sock on your hand is a fuss-free way to clean blinds.
Mind your vinegar
Food grade white vinegar has five percent acetic acid, but cleaning vinegar has 20 percent more acid, making it miles more effective.
Dryer sheet dusting
Wipe skirting boards with dryer sheets. This leaves an imperceptible coating that prevents dust build-up.
Clean shave
An unexpected cleaning multitasker, shaving cream can be used for (among other things): cleaning white sneakers, restoring shine to chrome and stainless steel, spot-cleaning stains in carpet and upholstery (test it first), and cleaning and deodorising the floor around the toilet (a genius tip for mums of boys).
Emergency service
The Shark MessMaster Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum handles “life’s unvacuumable messes from DIY disasters to kid chaos”. It can handle everything from sucking up screws to dirt and even spilt milk.
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