At the risk of sounding a bit prim and proper, boy does it feel good to get the house in order. Although the Spring clean feels like a bit of a mammoth task (and it’d be a bit of a push to say we looked forward to it), it does feel good to get to it.

There’s a lot to be said for tackling the big chores and long-neglected areas of the house in one fell swoop. The annual Spring cleaning session is a great chance to get your entire home, from top to bottom, squeaky clean.

In our previous blog (part 1 of this Spring cleaning blog series), we covered our top decluttering tips, advice on how to air your home, and key products to add to your shopping list.

In this second part of our Spring clean tips blogs, we’ll be covering:

• Our tips for smaller jobs
• Our tips for trickier jobs
• Our tips for bigger jobs

We’ve broken everything down into types of tasks, based on their difficulty or how long they’ll take.

Below, you’ll find a key checklist of what to clean and how to clean it. You can make this your go-to guide as you tackle your Spring cleaning.

This comprehensive spring cleaning check list includes the sorts of jobs that you’d, realistically, never do otherwise. We’re here to make sure you stay focused, don’t deter from your cleaning mission, and are left feeling absolutely delighted by the end result.

So, let’s get started.

1. Our tips for smaller jobs

In this section, we’ve created a list of smaller cleaning jobs, along with our tips for helping you tackle them.

Doormats
These are more dirty than you may think. Take them outside and give them a good beating, then hose them down and leave them to dry outside. This will ensure that you get rid of any trapped dirt. Finally, when dry, give them a good vacuum on both sides of the mat.

Kitchen counters
Before you start, remove any electricals or items from your counters, otherwise you’ll only be cleaning around them. Hot water is key here - if your water is lukewarm, then you’ll leave streaks behind. Also, you may wish to invest in a specialist surface cleaner, or (if you have granite worktops) a counter polish. Be sure to get into any little grooves and avenues, too.

Reusable Shoppers
This might sound really extra, but trust us when we say that these can get dirty. Over time, bits of debris can build up in these bags, which isn’t a pleasant thought, when you consider the fact that you’re putting your food in there…

So take them outside and give them a good shake. Then, give the insides a good wipe down with a cloth and some hot, soapy water. Allow them to dry before popping them away again.

Chopping boards
These are key culprits for the build up of day-to-day grime. So, pop your chopping boards in the dishwasher for a good clean. Then, we’d recommend sprinkling the top of the board with baking powder, and wiping it down with a slice of lemon - trust us, it does the trick!

Bookshelves
Dust can really build up along your shelves. So run your duster along the tops of the books, and then the edges of your shelves, too. If you’re feeling really dedicated, you might even want to organise them (grouping your books by colour looks super effective).

Blankets, Duvets and Pillows
Have a read of the label to check how to wash these items, and then set your washing machine accordingly. It seems like a faff but, while you’ve set aside a day for cleaning, this is a great chance to get this job ticked off the list.

Phone and Electrical Devices
You’d be surprised by how many germs and bacteria can build up on these devices. So give them a good wipe down with an antibacterial wipe. You can do this for your phone, keyboard, TV remote, laptop, home phone, and any other devices that you use regularly.

Kitchen Cupboards
Empty out your cupboards, and then give them a good hoover to get rid of any crumbs. Finally, give the whole thing (sides and tops too) a good wipe down with warm soapy water.

Sofas
Dust, dirt and grime can soon build up under your sofa cushions. So be sure to give these (and the areas underneath them) a good vacuum. We’d also recommend using a fabric refreshing spray on them once you’ve done.

2. Our tips for trickier jobs

Now, we’ll be moving on to the slightly more tricky jobs. But don’t worry, you've got this.

The Kitchen Sink
This is one of those jobs that we always put off. However, boy does it feel good when it’s done.

Firstly, we’d recommend using a specialist kitchen drain cleaner, and leaving that to do it’s work (read the instructions provided). Then, give the whole thing a good scrub. We’d recommend using a mixture of standard dish soap and hot water. You can also get into the harder-to-reach areas with a toothbrush.

Or, if you have a stainless steel sink, you could use a combination of baking powder and water to get rid of any tougher stains. But, don’t use this if your sink is not made of stainless steel, as this could cause damage to your unit.

Finally, use a disinfectant, anti-bacterial spray, and spritz all over the sink (including the taps!).

Microwave
When cleaning the microwave, you can actually use it’s capabilities to your advantage. Our top tips would be to fill a bowl with water, then pop in a quartered lemon. Then, add the bowl to the microwave and put it in for around 2-3 minutes. When it pings, leave the solution to cool down (this should take around 5 minutes). Finally, remove the bowl and give the inside of your microwave a good clean with a soapy sponge and some hot water.

Kitchen Pans
Now’s the time to get rid of those stubborn stains. Our top tips for cleaning your pans would be to fill the pan with water, and add around 200ml of vinegar to the water. Then, place the pan on a low heat until the water boils. Take it off the heat, and stir in a couple of tablespoons of baking powder. Finally, rinse out your pan and give it a good scrub with a sponge - the grime should lift right off.

Curtains
Who ever has the time to clean their curtains? That’s exactly why this deep spring clean session is the perfect time to do it. Check the label on your curtains, and stick them in the washing machine on the recommended cycle. Then, once they’ve been washed and tumble dried, hang them up on the back of a door straight away - this will help to prevent any pesky creases from occurring.

3. Our tips for bigger jobs

Grout
Thankfully, there are some great specialist cleaners on the market for you to use for this job. Follow the instructions provided with your cleaner of choice, then grab a good stiff brush. Scrub the cleaner off in circular motions, then give the whole thing a good rinse down with some hot water.

Windows
The best way to stop streaky windows? It’s as simple as a specialist glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth. Clean in circular motions, and be sure to get every nook and cranny - you’ll have them sparkling in no time!

Kettle
Keeping your appliances clean is the best way to prolong their life, in addition to keeping them sanitised for you and your family. That’s why we recommend that you clean your iKettle every couple of months.

Thankfully, to help you with this process, we’ve detailed an all-natural kettle cleaning method in our blog. Have a read of our how to clean your iKettle guide, and you’ll get this one ticked off your to-do list with no trouble.


Fridge
Our FridgeCam is a great help with this notoriously tricky task. We’d recommend tackling this fridge deep clean as follows:

1. Start by throwing away any food that has gone out of date (consult the Fridge Cam to check your food’s expiry dates).
2. Work on a shelf-by-shelf basis. Take everything off the shelf, then give it a good wipe down with some hot soapy water (or glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth, if your shelves are made of glass).
3. Finally, give the whole thing a good spray with some antibacterial spray. Leave to dry for a minute or two, then return your items.
4. Then, move on to the next shelf.

And don’t forget to tackle all the shelves, nooks and crannies. Another top tip would be to add half a lemon to the centre of the fridge when you’re done - this will help to keep it smelling fresh, too.

You can find plenty more of our top fridge cleaning-tips on our dedicated blog post. Read our full guide on how to clean your fridge here.



When faced with this list of cleaning jobs to be done, the key thing to remember is don’t let it overwhelm you. You may be one of those Spring cleaners who create a massive (completely unrealistic) list of tasks, or, you might really kick yourself if it all takes far longer than you’d expected.

Don’t be hard on yourself, and take it at your own pace - just remember, even if you only did one thing on this list, that’s far better than having done nothing!

And your Spring cleaning session doesn’t have to be a chore; try to have fun with it! Get your favourite playlist on, and be sure to reward yourself with plenty of treats (and cups of tea, of course).

We hope these blogs and our Spring cleaning check list have helped you to tackle this process with confidence. And remember, if you feel like some helping hands wouldn’t go amiss, be sure to check out the Smarter online store, where you can treat yourself to one of our FridgeCam devices. That’ll significantly cut down the stress of deep cleaning the kitchen.

Written by Josephine Walbank