Spring is the one time of year that I really don’t mind house cleaning. Perhaps that’s because spring cleaning makes way for warmer weather and the sunny season ahead. Here are some of our favourite spring cleaning tips to handle all sorts of jobs around your home:

Leather Furniture. Start with a thorough vacuuming. Leather is often treated and can be cleaned with mild soap (like a facial soap) and warm water – but never scrubbed. Check with your furniture retailer first. They can recommend appropriate cleaners/polishes.

Upholstered Furniture. Again, a thorough vacuuming may be all you need. Remove the cushions and get into every nook and cranny. If you have stains, start with soapy water. If you must use cleansers, test on a hidden corner first.

Wood Furniture. While you dust regularly, spring cleaning is an opportunity to freshen up the details. For example, clean furniture legs and use a soft toothbrush to get into ornamental patterns and around handles/hardware. Always go easy on spray polishes and never use wet cloths to clean wood. Ask your furniture retailer how to handle a tough cleaning job.

Draperies. They may need to go to the dry cleaners, or perhaps just in your laundry. Spring is also the time to take down curtains altogether and enjoy the freshness of light cotton panels or sheers.

Mattresses. Yes, it’s time to flip and/or rotate your mattress. It’s also the time to give it a complete vacuuming, getting into any crevices. Spot clean any stains with a damp (never wet) cloth and soap.

Bed Linens. Of course you clean your sheets often – but now’s the time to clean the duvet/bedspread, shams, bed skirt and pillows. Don’t assume they need to go to the dry cleaners. Read your labels. Many can be done in a washing machine.

Appliances. Soapy warm water is ideal to clean the inside of your fridge. For inside your dishwasher, place one cup of plain white distilled vinegar in a container on the bottom rack and a half-cup of baking soda into a dish on the top rack. Run the dishwasher and let it sit closed. Baking soda and vinegar also work for inside your oven. Do your research!

A few additional spring cleaning tips:

• Clean windows both inside and out. Outside is much more difficult, but that’s where winter really leaves its mark.
• Clean green. Investigate green options before you spend a lot of money on cleansers. They are safer and just as effective. Much of your cleaning can be handled naturally with baking soda, white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and essentials oils like tea tree and lavender.
• Don’t forget the door! When you’re cleaning your front stoop, clean the door and doorknob – they accumulate dirt during the winter.
• Work from the top down. Start upstairs when cleaning and make your way to your home’s lower levels. Dust settles downward. Similarly, dust furniture before you vacuum.

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