Spring has arrived, which means flowers are blooming, the weather is warming up and suddenly you're noticing every single speck of dust that has been happily living in your house for the last six months.
Yay.
Spring cleaning is basically your home's annual performance review. It's the chance to tackle the jobs you don't normally have time for, move things that haven't moved since 2019 and discover approximately 47 things you've been meaning to clean "one day".
The good news? You don't need to spend an entire weekend scrubbing every surface in sight. A little planning, the right products and a willingness to move some furniture can make a huge difference.
Here's how to give your home a proper spring clean without completely losing the plot.
start with a plan
Before you grab the spray bottle and start running around the house cleaning whatever happens to be directly in front of you, take a minute to make a plan.
Spring cleaning works best when you tackle one area at a time.
Start with the rooms that need the most attention and work your way through the house. You can even break the job into smaller sessions if the thought of cleaning the entire house at once makes you want to quietly move interstate.
A simple approach is:
- Declutter
- Dust
- Clean surfaces
- Clean floors
- Tackle the forgotten areas
- Move onto the next room
And remember, you don't have to do everything in one day.
declutter before you clean
There's not much point cleaning around things you don't actually need. Go room by room and look for anything that can be thrown away, donated, recycled or put back where it belongs.
Keep an eye out for:
- Clothes you haven't worn in years
- Expired food
- Empty bottles
- Random cords with absolutely no known purpose
- Toys nobody has touched since approximately 2017
- That drawer full of things you were definitely going to organise
Once the clutter is gone, cleaning becomes much easier. And yes, we're looking at you, "miscellaneous" drawer.
work from top to bottom
Gravity has been doing its thing for billions of years, so you might as well let it help with the cleaning.
Start with higher surfaces and work your way down.
Dust from shelves, cupboards and ceiling fans will eventually fall somewhere, and you don't want that "somewhere" to be a freshly mopped floor.
A good order is:
- Ceiling fans and high surfaces
- Shelves and cupboards
- Windows and mirrors
- Benches and other surfaces
- Furniture
- Floors
That way, you're not doing the same job twice.
give your windows some attention
Spring is the perfect time to clean your windows and let a little more sunshine in. Dust, fingerprints, water marks and general mystery grime can make windows look much dirtier than you realise.
We recommend diluting 25ml of pro multi-purpose concentrate (window & glass) in a 500ml spray bottle for a streak-free finish. Simply spray, wipe, stand back, and admire. Once you're done with cleaning the glass, be sure to move onto the window frames and tracks. You may find enough dirt in there to start a small civilisation.
If you're cleaning exterior windows, stick to areas you can safely reach. Spring cleaning is not the time to audition for Mission Impossible.
tackle the kitchen
The kitchen is one of the hardest-working rooms in the house, so it deserves a little extra attention during your spring clean.
Start by clearing the benches and working from top to bottom.
Give some extra attention to:
- Cupboard fronts
- Splashbacks
- Stovetops
- Rangehoods
- Appliances
- Benches
- Sinks
- Floors
For greasy surfaces, pro degreaser concentrate is ideal. Dilute 50ml in a 500ml bottle for for spray-and-wipe cleaning, or 25ml in a 10-litre bucket for greasy floors.
While you're there, clean inside your cupboards and pantry, check expiry dates and wipe down shelves. And if you find something in the back that expired three years ago, no judgement.
It happens to the best of us.
don't forget the bathroom
If your bathroom has spent winter slowly accumulating soap scum, grime and questionable little black spots, now is the time to deal with it.
Make sure to thoroughly clean:
- Shower screens
- Tiles
- Grout
- Vanity
- Sink
- Toilet
- Taps
- Mirrors
pro shower concentrate is great for reclaiming your shower and tackling soap scum, mineral deposits and grime, while pro bathroom & toilet concentrate can help freshen up the rest of your bathroom.
And if mould has decided to make itself comfortable, pro mould can help tackle it at the source while also helping inhibit future mould growth. Mould really doesn't need to overstay it's welcome any longer.
wash the things you usually forget
This is where spring cleaning gets interesting. There are plenty of things in our homes that we use constantly but don't necessarily think about cleaning.
Now is a good time to tackle:
- Curtains
- Cushions
- Throws
- Mattress protectors
- Shower curtains
- Bath mats
- Rugs
- Pet beds
- Bin interiors
Basically, if it's been quietly absorbing dust, sweat, crumbs or pet hair for the last six months, it probably deserves some attention.
move the furniture
Here's where things get serious. Move your couch. Not emotionally. Physically.
Cleaning underneath and behind furniture can reveal an impressive collection of dust, crumbs, toys, socks and objects that you thought had disappeared forever.
Give the area a thorough vacuum and wipe down any suitable surfaces before putting everything back.
You might even find that missing remote you've been blaming everyone else for losing.
clean your forgotten surfaces
Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to tackle the places you normally ignore.
Think:
- Skirting boards
- Door frames
- Light switches
- Door handles
- Power points
- Window tracks
- Behind appliances
- Tops of cupboards
- Ceiling fans
- Air vents
These areas don't necessarily need weekly attention, but they can collect a surprising amount of dust and grime over time.
And once you've cleaned them, you'll wonder why you waited so long. Then you'll probably forget about them again.
That's okay.
give your floors a proper clean
Once you've cleaned everything above them, your floors are ready for their moment.
Start by vacuuming thoroughly, paying particular attention to:
- Under furniture
- Corners
- Along skirting boards
- Under beds
- Around dining tables
- Behind doors
If you're looking for an everyday mopping solution, pro harmony concentrate can help leave floors clean while neutralising unpleasant odours.
For greasy floors, pro degreaser concentrate is a great option. Dilute 25ml in a 10-litre bucket of water, mop and rinse as required.
Just remember: floors should be one of the last things you clean. Otherwise, you'll spend your afternoon creating elaborate new ways to drop dust directly onto them.
don't forget your appliances
Spring cleaning is a good excuse to give your appliances some love too.
Clean inside and around the:
- Microwave
- Oven
- Fridge
- Dishwasher
- Washing machine
- Air fryer
- Kettle
- Toaster
Pay attention to handles, buttons and other high-touch areas.
And if you clean your fridge, take everything out first. There's no point trying to wipe around 17 jars of sauces while hoping nothing falls over.
give your rubbish bins a clean
Your bins spend their entire lives holding rubbish, so occasionally they deserve a little attention too.
Empty them completely, wipe the inside and outside, and make sure any spills or residue are removed.
For lingering organic odours, pro harmony concentrate can help neutralise unpleasant smells while leaving behind its refreshing driftwood and sage fragrance.
Your bin may never be glamorous, but at least it doesn't have to smell like last Tuesday's dinner.
spring clean your cleaning supplies
Yes, we're serious.
Your cleaning cupboard probably deserves a spring clean too.
Check your products and throw out anything that's empty, damaged or no longer suitable for use. Make sure labels are readable and that everything is stored safely.
It's also a good time to wash your microfibre cloths, clean your mop and check that your spray bottles and triggers are working properly.
Nothing ruins the momentum of a cleaning session quite like discovering your spray bottle has decided to retire.
what about pet owners?
If you've got pets, spring cleaning is also a good opportunity to tackle the areas where pet hair and odours tend to accumulate.
Wash pet bedding, vacuum soft furnishings and clean areas around food bowls.
For unpleasant pet and organic odours, pro harmony concentrate can help neutralise smells from pet areas and carpets.
Because your dog might be man's best friend, but nobody wants the couch smelling like Cujo.
don't try to do everything at once
This might be the most important part.
Spring cleaning doesn't have to mean spending twelve consecutive hours cleaning until your hands resemble two raisins. Break it up.
Try cleaning:
Saturday: Kitchen and living areas
Sunday: Bathrooms and bedrooms
Next weekend: Windows, outdoor areas and forgotten jobs
Or simply tackle one room at a time whenever you have the opportunity.
A clean home is still a clean home whether you achieved it in three hours or three weeks.
💡 pro tip from kate & jack
Don't wait for motivation. Motivation is unreliable.
Instead, put on some music, pick one room and commit to cleaning for 20 minutes.
You might be surprised how much you can get done once you stop wandering around the house wondering where to start.
And if you finish 20 minutes and decide that's enough? That's okay too. You've still done 20 minutes more than you had before.
the bottom line
Spring cleaning isn't about making your home look like nobody actually lives there. It's about giving everything a proper reset.
Clear out the clutter, tackle the jobs you've been avoiding, clean the forgotten corners and build a few simple habits that make keeping everything clean easier afterwards.
And remember, you don't need to clean your entire house in one heroic weekend. Start with one room. Then another.
Before you know it, you'll have a fresher, cleaner home and absolutely no idea where all those crumbs came from.
Again.
