An Idler’s Guide To Spring Cleaning

'The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning his little home. First with brooms, then with dusters; then on ladders and steps and chairs....till he had dust in his throat and eyes...and an aching back and weary arms. 

Spring was moving in the air above and in the earth below...penetrating even his dark and lowly little house with its spirit of divine discontent and longing.'

Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in The Willows, Ch.1

I left the house with bare ankles last week. I know. What with that and the getting-home-from-work-in-daylight, it feels we are a hop, skip and a jump from open-air cinemas and rosé nights in pub gardens. 

Minor downside of all that {lovely} extra light filling your home, is suddenly noticing things that need attention; things previously masked by low lighting and blankets strewn across every armchair, signalling time for that traditional welcome of this bright, new season, The Spring Clean.

There follow some of my highlights from how to get your home spring-ready whilst embracing some of the joy of the season at the same time. I have opted for a risk/reward scheme on the below, but definitely recommend starting out of doors soaking up some vitamin D - with a coat on, obviously.

The entrance to your home

It is, after all the welcome point for returning each day, and where you greet arriving guests. I always think of Precious Ramotswe in The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, sweeping the dust from her yard beneath a baking Botswana sun, as a matter of principle and pride.

So give your front path/steps a good sweep, hooking leaves out from corners, followed by chucking a couple of buckets of hot water with washing up liquid down them, then scrubbing with a firm brush - being careful to avoid soaking passers-by. 

Whilst there might also be time to empty/tidy the dustbins if you're a city dweller {shudders to self at the prospect}, being sure to don cleaning gloves before you so much as look at them.

As a reward for this hard work why not treat yourself to some simple window boxes? Geraniums are lovely and hardy, and you can swap out for Cyclamen in the autumn. I also like Rubella - except for the name, obviously. Or if you're an experienced plant handler I know nothing nicer than a buxom box of white Hydrangeas, or pink, against grey stonework with their lovely, showy heads jostling one another.

My main tip with window boxes is only water once in place {not before you have to carry them through your house - duh}, and to plant flowers that won't stain - pink geranium petals inked onto freshly painted sills merely add a difficult cleaning job to the list.

Maximising light is a key invitation to spring, so get a window cleaner in {inside and out}. I do this twice a year, as my mother does, and enjoy the tea-making and polite chit-chat, learning more about the goings-on in our little London village from one window cleaner, than I have from any neighbours in a year - they know everything.

Back garden

Sticking with the outdoors, start by giving your garden a hearty sweep up. Also a good time to clean any outdoor furniture and the dreaded BBQ. Just think how good it'll be to have everything ready for that sunny afternoon when you can just fling a sarong over the garden table, throw together a salad and suddenly you're laughing into the wee hours with Edith Piaf playing out.

Bedrooms

After a restful cup of tea, move indoors and start at the top of the house. Flip the mattresses, both sideways and lengthways - may require help if you retire to a kingsize, putting out your back at this stage is not helpful. Sleep Experts {who?} claim you should be doing this on average every three months to keep it in tip top nick.

Then, time for the lighter tog duvet to go on {I love an 'all season duvet' which can halved in weight come spring, and then popper-ed back together for the winter}, with fresh sheets, and maybe a light throw at the end of the bed, for those still-chilly nights.

Give your make up drawer a thorough clear out, throwing away old nail varnishes and mascaras. And those samples you keep thinking you'll use? Either vow to not buy any more new products until you’ve made your way through them, or pass on to friends who enjoy testing new products out. Waste not, want not.

Living areas

We move to downstairs. If you have loose covers on the sofas and cushions, which can be removed and washed, this is the next task. So worthwhile, as long as you're prepared to watch Netflix from a bare sofa for a couple of nights whilst they dry/come home from launderer. 

I also recommend sorting books for a noticeable and quick fix. I only tend to keep meaningful, favourite books and those that have been gifted, otherwise I pass on to friends for them to enjoy and head to the charity shop with the Dan Browns etc that you're never going to re-read. Same with DVDs - are you actually going to re-watch Chalet Girl? {Yes if you're me, but you get the gist}. 

Kitchen

Empty and wipe down the fridge, washing all the shelves and drawers and condensing duplicate condiments {four bottles of Frank's hot sauce? Really?} and chucking out those past their best - being sure to wash and recycle jars, or set aside for jam-making come September.

My grandparents were farmers, so I pay little to no heed to best before dates, but even I ditched the Colman's English Mustard that had been communing with us despite a best before of 2013. On a recent stint between freelance projects I also sorted out the spice rack, but I appreciate most people have lives to lead.

I am also a fridge weirdo and like to remove all plastic from fruit and veg and wash, before it goes in the drawer. This helps me to see what is there and keeps plastic away from fresh food {I suspect it isn't that good for us}.

Once everything is neatly replaced why not move on to your freezer, thawing and assessing unrecognisable items {bread to be given to the birds?} and reminding yourself of the tasty homemade meals you can now enjoy on time-short evenings.

Run all your glassware, including vases through the dishwasher and see them come out sparkling. Once this is done, fill vases with tulips or daffodils to brighten corners.

If you're a microwave user, the goddesses over at Good Housekeeping recommend placing a bowl of hot water with a generous pile of lemon slices in yours, before gentle heating for a few minutes. After this it's easier to wipe down and smells less of every reheated meal you've cooked in there.

Taking the fluff out of the tumble dryer {I love doing this} is a simple task, and if you have one that collects water be sure to empty that onto the garden, whilst wiping down the doors. Doing the same on washing machine drawer also brings immense satisfaction. 

Wardrobes

This is one of my favourites - dry cleaning winter coats and cleaning boots before packing them away until Autumn, as well as storing away thick jumpers {and full length thermals if you frequent the west coast of Scotland as I do}, in zip lock bags with a spritz of lavender to keep the moths away from precious cashmere. 

This leaves room to be able to see your spring and summer clothes and remind yourself of what you actually own, as well as get excited for the holidays you will take and the times you will enjoy wearing them over the coming seasons. 

For the extreme clean enthusiast my list of aspirational tasks that I've yet to achieve are as follows:

- taking down curtains and having them professionally cleaned

- taking duvets and pillows to be laundered 

- dusting down light fittings and bulbs for optimum brightness {I mean...} 

- cleaning your dishwasher and washing machine by running a cupful of vinegar through on an empty hot wash

 - taking down shower heads and soaking them in warm water and vinegar to loosen the calcium deposits

Go forth my lambs, into a clean, shiny spring.... xo