Spring cleaning

Spring Cleaning the Living Room

A couple of days ago the sun came out … and all the dust bunnies leapt out from under the sofa and from behind the cupboard and draped themselves across every surface in the living room. It seems the sun and the dust are in cahoots … taunting me. So what to do? What else but give into the spring cleaning urge.

I can tell the urge has arrived when I feel the need to move things; of course moving things means letting even more of those dust bunnies loose.

First things first, move out all your knick-knacks; emptied surfaces make cleaning and dusting so much easier.

Get Creative with Your Tools

I gave up on those twee feather dusters about three weeks after paying any attention to cleaning (when I got my first ‘proper’ place back in the day!). There are so many microfibre cloths on the market, but I’m a bit of a fan of sticking my hubby’s socks on my hands so I can tickle right up into the corners.

A Little Dust Elimination Suggestion

Mix anti-static fabric conditioner with water and use it to wipe down skirting boards and any surface that doesn’t need a specific cleaner – I have wooden floors so I scamper around wiping deep in the corners, under the units and over all the lampshades and light-fittings. It really does reduce the dust – it eliminates the static that calls to it and leaves surfaces much cleaner. (Note: don’t use it high-traffic areas or you find you’re chatting with the floor a bit more than you’d hoped!)

For laminated MDF don’t bother with multi-surface cleaners, use glass cleaner on some kitchen roll, it brings them up a treat.

The Big Stuff

Get the drapes cleaned and the nets, throws, cushion covers and any other frillies into the wash so they’re ready to go before you want to settle down for a glass of wine in the evening.

For those with carpets, surely the best time to treat yourself is spring. Get your professional carpet cleaners in to pamper your carpet – poor little thing; it’s trampled and walked over all year, indulging it once a year will help it live longer and let it know how much you appreciate it.

Pull everything out of the room, vacuum the ceiling and corners, fabric-softener-sock your skirting boards then call in the pros to vamp up the carpet. Glorious. And since I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for fabric conditioner at the moment (pardon the pun) when the carpet cleaners have gone spray a part conditioner/part water solution gently over the top to prevent static (unless of course they do it for you!).

The Soft Stuff

So you have the room’s body cleaned, now for the bits that really collect the dust: you could take the cushions, covers and even the sofa outside and let your frustrations loose – give them hell, attack with a broom or even one of those quaintly-shaped beaters; or vacuum them all over and inside out; or you could get those lovely carpet people to sort them out as well while you have a cuppa.

Mix It Up

If there is any way of being able to play with the layout of your room, go for it. Switch life up a bit, it’ll give you a new outlook (and save your carpet a bit).

Save the Best for Last

With all the sofas, walls, floors, ceiling, light-fittings clean now you can move all your bits back in. In my opinion this is the best bit. Get ruthless. Come on, do you really need ALL the little bits and bobs, they collect so much dust. Get rid of anything you don’t really need, and give what you can’t bear to get rid of yet a good old clean. Give the room a final wipe down and re-home your knick-knacks.

I may be alone on this one, but I don’t go back into the room after I’ve finished. I close the door, I start another room or I go for a shower. There’s not much that beats going into a freshly cleaned room when you’re clean and ready to relax. Get your favourite tipple and swan back in and enjoy.

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