Our #springcleaning Twitter party last week was a great success, with loads of bloggers showing up to tweet their favourite cleaning tips, laugh about this never-ending job and lend moral support to those who just can’t get motivated. Sponsored by @Rentokil, the party turned up tips for every type of housekeeping philosophy, which we’ve separated into sections below.
And as @PippaD pointed out, the benefits of spring cleaning aren’t just a tidier house – it can also give you a more ordered state of mind after the cobwebs of winter.
There were so many fabulous suggestions that we couldn’t include them all here. But here are a smattering to help you with the practical (and psychological) task of getting your home shipshape.
Cleaning strategies
@Aresidence: One room at a time. Gives you a sense of completion before moving on.
@neviepiecakes: Declutter a small area each day eg. a shelf or makeup bag. off to do mine now!
@Aresidence: Dress up as fifties housewives, drink g and t and listen to Nina simone. Worked when i was a student anyway...
RT @SarahJBass: Thats more like it RT @Beckicklesie: More motivation?! Heavy cleaning burns 204 calories PER HOUR!
@Lauren122484: Making it a goal to throw away 100 things today!
@momonawire01 Reward yourself when you've finished the house, it's blooming hard work!
@Bobbity666: get the kids involved - good cleaning habits start young and they love to help dust...
@christinemosler If kids' bedrooms have gone beyond them put a hoop on the floor and ask them to tidy up one hoop at a time
@michelletwinmum Definitely use the 1 in and 1 out rule. My kids have all learnt this & it makes them think before buying more rubbish!
Or not…
jd_artofwhimsy: Try not to have the kids around when you #springclean. Mine are always putting old toys back into their rooms just after I've binned them!
Tackle-everything cleaning tips
@smilinglikesuns: Vinegar can be used (1 part vinegar – 1 part water) as a disenfectant on countertops, bathrooms and floors
@jd_artofwhimsy A great spot remover for fabrics: 1 tbsp borax, 1 c hot water, a few drops eucalyptus oil. Mix & let cool.Works on most stains!
@LilacNic: @MummyBloggers Clean blinds by placing an old sock onto your hand & dipping in vinegar, simply wipe the slats clean
@organisedmum: Use newspaper to dry washed windows or mirrors to prevent smearing
@clareandtribe: if u burn a saucepan 1/4 fill with water add a sprinkling of washing powder and simmer for a while
@MostlyYummy: Use a sock as a duster on your hand on the bannisters and handrails on the stairs. So much easier and quicker.
@clareandtribe use half a lemon to wipe over chopping boards and knives after chopping garlic
@michelletwinmum RT @Mummiafelice: Baking soda made into a paste is great at removing marks and stains << & on white goods too!
@perfectweekends: tip, keep an old toothbrush to get into those difficult areas behind taps & around plug holes.
@Mummiafelice Use white vinegar to clean mirrors and glass. No streaks and dead cheap- not brown though or it will smell like a chippy! lol
@Ali_Davies: Dust with a damp cloth. Picks up dust without it flying everywhere. Saves using chemicals so saves money too
@Melaina25: Half a lemon dipped in kosher salt is great for polishing and cleaning copper pots!
@adnamaenajyhp: use a hairdryer to blast dust off venetian blinds - saves loads of time
@mummypreneur: Another #springclean tip-use leftover cold tea 4 cleaning dark wood.My mum always fed her house plants w it too :)
@Beckicklesie: Lemon is really good for bringing up shine! Use it on your brass or anything that's missing it's gleam
@wendymcd83: Use babywipes to clean leather sofas.
@Mummiafelice If you pull out leather sofa to clean and find the kids have scribbled on it - try hairspray(on an inconspicuous place first)
@Mummiafelice WD-40 can get crayon off of walls! Just rinse it well afterwards with a cloth!
@Mummiafelice Shaving cream, left to sit for a bit (and some elbow grease) can bring up a bath like new. #springclean
@goriami: @mummybloggers Use babyoil to make stainless steel (i.e, front of stove) really shiny!
@clareandtribe lightly spray some furniture polish on inside of light shade - as bulb heats will emit smell :)
@violetposy: To clean the microwave quickly, pop bowl of water with half a lemon in it - put on for a couple of minutes then wipe clean.
@jd_artofwhimsy: A great spot remover for fabrics: 1 tbsp borax, 1 c hot water, a few drops eucalyptus oil. Mix & let cool.Works on most stains!
@Beckicklesie: As well as making your windows shiny, vinegar in the toilet bowl will help remove stubborn marks
@Bobbity666: if you have asthma sufferers in your household open the windows when hoovering to help alleviate the dust
@clareandtribe: drop 4 alka seltzer tablets into loo and leave for 1 hour brush and flush = sparkling loo
@adnamaenajyhp: wrap a mop head with an old sock to reach cobwebs - dunk in soapy water first!
@TeamLeila: Give dado/picture rails and sideboardy things a vac before you wipe them to avoid more dust flying in the air
RT @goriami: @mummybloggers Use babyoil to make stainless steel (i.e, front of stove) really shiny! #springclean >>great tip! hate streaks
@LilacNic: A few drops of essential oil on your lightbulbs will give off a lovely scent when you switch the lights on
And don’t forget
@melissatalago: wash filters in stove extractor before they get oogey - mine go in dishwasher
@TheMichaelMoran: It's worth blowing all the accumulated dust out of computer fans with air-duster. It's good for crumb-laden keyboards too
@SAHMlovingit: When doing your #springclean make sure you include shampooing your carpets – everything looks so much better with brighter carpet
@michelletwinmum don't forget to take your curtain and nets down to wash too
@donowt: If you have a dog, vacuum the dog, not the floor - stops hairs at source (Dyson make a special attachment)
@Bobbity666: don't forget to clean your skirting boards when cleaning - looks so much better if you do
@Blatherskite_MN: Run your washing machine empty at 90 every now and again to make sure it's clean
@Bobbity666: clean the leaves of plants using a cotton wall ball soaked in milk - you'll be amazed at the dirt and dust it removes
@BrigiCarter: Vacuum your sofa properly and underneath the seat cushions too - you'll be amazed at amount of crumbs that accumulate there
@TeamLeila: @MummyBloggers change sheets fortnightly and pillowcases weekly, hoover under and behind bed too
Banish pests
@jhowze Ok friend has just texted me a mouse tip - peppermint oil. Apparently they hate the smell. Sprinkle round doors, cracks etc
@Rentokil: And vacuum! It removes allergens RT @SuperAmazingMum every time you change the bed linen, turn the mattress (NB: @Rentokil was the sponsor of the party)
@Rentokil: TIP: good housekeeping helps prevent flies & fleas as it deprives larvae of the organic matter they feed on
@Cat_Hill: I always clean under the fridge to make sure I'm not attracting cockroaches eeew
@mummypreneur: mouse-in-loft trapping tip. Place a v deep container with lettuce leaf at bottom [plastic swing bin] under beam. mouse trapped
@V82CHRIS: @MummyBloggers I open the windows daily to air the room & keep the dusty Bed bugs at bay ,ergh horrid though now of them lol
@Bobbity666: hoovering your mattress helps keep down the amount of dust mites
@BrigiCarter: Don't leave breadcrumbs on your kitchen worksurfaces or on the floor - always clear away...otherwise they may just attract ants
@deBugged: Open windows to let carpet beetles out.They pupate in March then fly towards the light in search of nectar (NB: @deBugged is the Twitter name for the blog of Rentokil, our party sponsor)
Then there’s always the laissez-faire approach
@Beckicklesie Air your house - wait for a breezy spring day, open the windows and doors and let nature do its business
@cosmicgirlie Don't stress about it. Seriously. I have 2 Smalls who trash my lounge with toys every day. Sometimes you have to accept mess.
@Mummiafelice @Chocadores Haha, maybe your dogs could wear little duster cloth shoes and polish the floors?
@Bobbity666: dogs are great for cleaning up food messes after kids meals
@michelletwinmum RT @KateTakes5: Fail-safe #springclean tip: Wear your shades indoors - dust will magically disappear. << lol, not like cleaning then?
@pinkyaks: Get a cleaner/choose to live in squalor
@kohsamuirosie: call mother up - she knows how to roll her sleeves and get the job done!
Stay tuned to hear more about our next Twitter party - great conversation, helpful info and prizes!
Picture: Alesa Dam via Flickr
