Every home needs at least one big clean a year; and spring is often considered the best time.
Historically, this was due to all the dust and dirt generated from burning coal, oil and wood through the dark, cold winter nights, but even today our homes are in need of a big clean, following months of muddy shoes and boots being dragged through the home.
So, throw open the windows, move the furniture and call in MOLLY MAID to help with the extra chores required for a deep clean.
A home spring cleaning by MOLLY MAID includes the same thorough and reliable service provided by our regular clean, and can include on specific request additional extras such as:
- The removal of all contents and a thorough clean of all kitchen units and cupboards inside and out
- The washing of all painted and commonly-touched surfaces such as doors, window frames, and skirting boards
+−Our Spring-Cleaning Top Tips
If you are going to tackle the big clean yourself, these expert tips from MOLLY MAID will ensure your home is sparkling for the warmer months ahead:
1) Limit spring cleaning products to a quality window/glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, tile/grout cleaner and toilet cleaner
2) Always use the MOLLY MAID system of cleaning for the quickest, most efficient way to clean your home. Clean from the top level of your home to the bottom; in each room, clean from top to bottom, starting on the left and moving right.
3) Always dust the room first and then vacuum, to ensure any dust or dirt that falls onto the floor will be picked up by the vacuum.
4) The best dust cloth to use is a damp, clean, microfibre cloth. To dampen, hold the cloth by the corner and spray with clean water from a bottle. The cloth should be damp enough to pick up dust without leaving moisture streaks on the furniture surface.
5) If there’s pet hair on upholstery, a damp microfibre cloth or rubber glove will remove it easily.
6) Before mopping, sweep or vacuum floors first to collect crumbs and dirt. Then, start washing the floor from the farthest corner and work your way towards the door. Use a damp cloth on the end of the mop handle to reach the narrow space between appliances.
7) To remove baked-on food from inside the microwave, fill a cup with water and microwave it on full power for a few minutes. The steam will help soften the splatters, so you can wipe it clean more easily.
8) Dishcloths and sponges can be incubators for germs. Wash cloths regularly and microwave damp sponges on high for several minutes to kill bacteria. Even better, use microfibre cloths only as they dry quickly and help prevent the spread of germs.
9) Use a toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach areas in the bathroom and kitchen e.g. around the soap dish, taps and drain.
10) When cleaning windows wipe the interior side of the glass horizontally and the exterior side vertically. This way it will be easy to determine if the streaks are inside or out.
11) Get rid of cobwebs in hard-to-reach corners and crevices with a feather duster. This is also good to use on lampshades which can look grey and dusty in a brighter spring light.
12) To de-scale a kettle; fill it half-and-half with white vinegar and water and leave it to soak overnight. Use an old toothbrush to dislodge any stubborn bits of lime scale. Rinse out thoroughly a couple of times and then boil some water to eliminate any vinegary odours.
If any or all of these tips sound a bit daunting, click here to find your nearest MOLLY MAID expert to help tackle these tasks to give you time to enjoy the things you really love!
+−Time to Get Organised
Spring is also a great time to get rid of any clutter and unwanted items you have lying around the home. Below are our top tips to help you be more organised and consequently keep your home tidier and cleaner:
1) Sort things out. Get three boxes and label them: ‘Keep’, ‘Donate’, and ‘Dispose’.
As you sort through your cupboards, closets and wardrobes, keep these boxes nearby and place unnecessary items in the corresponding box.
2) Clear winter clutter. Spring is the time to find a new home for the winter scarves in the hallway, the de-icer in the closet and the snow shovels in the back room. Put these winter items into storage now the warmer weather is on its way.
3) Sort through your winter clothes and pack them away for storage to make way for your spring/summer wardrobe.
4) Go through the larder and food cupboards and dispose of anything that is past its expiry date.
5) Move on to the fridge and look for items that have expired. It’s time to make room for fresh, local produce.
6) If white bedding and towels are looking a bit grey and tired, put them in the washing machine and add a brightening agent (natural brighteners include lemon juice and white vinegar). Also, dry whites outside in the sun for extra whitening.
7) Attack the toy collection, if you’ve got one. Sometimes toys can take over a home! Consider investing in some storage containers – perhaps one in the children’s playroom, another in their bedroom – to keep the house tidy. (Having specific storage containers for toys will teach children to help keep the house tidy by putting their toys away.)
8) Wash vases in hot soapy water, or update your collection with some new ones, then fill your home with tulips, crocuses or daffodils for an instant lift.
9) Print photos of your family and friends stored on your computer, and update your frames with these recent pictures. Or, have some photos enlarged or printed in black and white, put them in frames, and voila, you have some new artwork for those bare walls you’ve been meaning to fill. Best of all, they’re homemade.
10) Good luck
