5 ways to master the art of spring cleaning (and make it fun)

A spring clean doesn’t have to drain your energy or take days, here Vogue Living outlines how to get the most out of your clean and inject some fun into the refresh.

Lilith Hardie Lupica

less than 2 min read

August 21, 2020 - 1:34PM

Vogue Australia

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Photographed by Timothy Kaye. Interior design by Lauren Tarrant. From interior designer Lauren Tarrant's serene and stone-filled Melbourne home

Spring, it’s the green-tinged refreshing season we eagerly await every year when the depths of winter have thrown us into a despair only fresh flowers and longer, warmer days can pull us from. In seasonal terms the three months that make up spring—September, October, November in Australia—mark a new chapter, brimming with possibility. In interior terms, that means it’s time to dust off, air out and Kondo-ise your home. Yes, that’s right, it’s time for a spring clean.

At Vogue Living we believe it’s time to reframe the dreaded spring clean as no longer a chore that feels overwhelming, but rather a chance to revitalise and resuscitate your home. Given how multipurpose our houses have become—your dining room table might now also double as the working-from-home desk—it makes sense to give each room in your house a good clean come the change in season.

To help you on your spring cleaning way, we’ve recruited a couple of clean house queens to compile a cleaning checklist of sorts to guide you in your pursuits. Belinda Everingham, founder of natural product brand Bondi Wash and Anna Vidović, founder of Philé Home round up their spring clean tips, from what you need to get started to the most efficient approach to take. We guarantee you'll have that house deep cleaned and sparkling from top to bottom.

<p><i>Photographed by Michael Sinclair. </i><i>From </i><a href="https://www.vogue.com.au/vogue-living/interiors/house-tour-a-london-family-home-that-uses-greenery-in-every-room/image-gallery/1f681d7acea924513f2c901250122ec5#:~:text=House%20tour%3A%20a%20London%20family%20home%20that%20uses%20greenery%20in%20every%20room,-24%20May%202017&text=A%20London%20couple's%20shared%20love,a%20vibrant%2C%20harmonious%20family%20home." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><i>a London family home that uses greenery in every room</i></a></p><h2>1. Prepare your tools</h2><p>Do not even think about starting your spring clean without the right tools at hand. That means a fully stocked cupboard of essentials—you simply don’t want to be mid-vacuum and mop when you realise you’ve run out of floor wash. Everingham notes the following equipment will serve you well:</p><p>“A ladder to reach the high up places like tops of cupboards; a quality cloth (preferably natural material as it’s biodegradable—it can be rags from old clothes); a bucket and a smaller container or caddy to house your <a href="https://www.vogue.com.au/vogue-living/design/7-chic-cleaning-products-that-smell-as-good-as-they-look/image-gallery/7e7c04fcefb8564741d1356411761a2a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cleaning supplies</a> as you carry them round the home,” the clean product advocate explains, adding, “I like old fashioned fluffy dusters for delicate areas like tops of light fittings, a good quality vacuum cleaner, a room spray/mist to freshen cupboard spaces after cleaning and help repel insects in between cleans and storage bags or containers to pack away anything you might not need until next winter.”</p>

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Photographed by Michael Sinclair. From a London family home that uses greenery in every room

1. Prepare your tools

Do not even think about starting your spring clean without the right tools at hand. That means a fully stocked cupboard of essentials—you simply don’t want to be mid-vacuum and mop when you realise you’ve run out of floor wash. Everingham notes the following equipment will serve you well:

“A ladder to reach the high up places like tops of cupboards; a quality cloth (preferably natural material as it’s biodegradable—it can be rags from old clothes); a bucket and a smaller container or caddy to house your cleaning supplies as you carry them round the home,” the clean product advocate explains, adding, “I like old fashioned fluffy dusters for delicate areas like tops of light fittings, a good quality vacuum cleaner, a room spray/mist to freshen cupboard spaces after cleaning and help repel insects in between cleans and storage bags or containers to pack away anything you might not need until next winter.”

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Photographed by Nicole Franzen. Interior design by Corvino Design. From inside the quietly luxe New Jersey home of designer Marissa Corvino

Everingham warns you simply don’t have to leave a trail of “antiseptic and bleach” behind to give your home a satisfying clean; a multipurpose, family-friendly and natural arsenal works just as well. Though the Bondi-based mother of three acknowledges you must take care when purchasing home ‘natural’ cleaning products, being sure not fall for the greenwashing that’s rife within the home cleaning industry:

“Sadly you can’t rely on labels that say ‘organic’, ‘natural’ or ‘eco’—regulations are very loose and not well-enforced,” Everingham explains. “Read the ingredients or buy from a trusted brand to ensure nasties are not hidden in the formulations. To help with this, we’ve come up with a list of what to avoid in household cleaners.”

<p><i>Photographed by Stephan Julliard. Interior design by Stéphan Bidoux and Julien Villeneuve. <em>From <a href="https://www.vogue.com.au/vogue-living/interiors/house-tour-a-right-bank-parisian-apartment-making-a-case-for-vivid-green-accents/image-gallery/f0fb220b2c4c8ca4893807d2485a3671" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Right Bank Parisian apartment making a case for vivid green accents</a></em></i></p><h2>2. Start cleaning</h2><p>This is that therapeutic and fun part we’ve been talking about; where you stop procrastinating and get down to the nitty gritty of the process. “Clear the schedule and start early while your motivation (and energy) is still high, open up all the windows and put your favourite track on—loud,” Vidović advises, adding, “start at one end of the house and work your way through each room successively, emptying out all the drawers, cupboards and shelves one at a time, before cleaning and packing it all away.”</p><p>It’s worth acknowledging that spring cleaning any home, no matter how big or small, can feel horribly overwhelming but learning to break up the tasks and rooms into easy, manageable jobs will serve you well. “I find this is the easiest way to compartmentalise each little job without turning the whole house upside down all at once,” says Vidović. “It also means you’re not committed to doing it all in a day and can spread it out over a few days.”</p><p>And do not forget that under no circumstances should this task fall only on your shoulders if there’s a whole family occupying space in your home. Everingham recommends getting children to help sort small things like pens and pencils, or getting taller offspring to help reach the tops of cupboards.</p>

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Photographed by Stephan Julliard. Interior design by Stéphan Bidoux and Julien Villeneuve. From a Right Bank Parisian apartment making a case for vivid green accents

2. Start cleaning

This is that therapeutic and fun part we’ve been talking about; where you stop procrastinating and get down to the nitty gritty of the process. “Clear the schedule and start early while your motivation (and energy) is still high, open up all the windows and put your favourite track on—loud,” Vidović advises, adding, “start at one end of the house and work your way through each room successively, emptying out all the drawers, cupboards and shelves one at a time, before cleaning and packing it all away.”

It’s worth acknowledging that spring cleaning any home, no matter how big or small, can feel horribly overwhelming but learning to break up the tasks and rooms into easy, manageable jobs will serve you well. “I find this is the easiest way to compartmentalise each little job without turning the whole house upside down all at once,” says Vidović. “It also means you’re not committed to doing it all in a day and can spread it out over a few days.”

And do not forget that under no circumstances should this task fall only on your shoulders if there’s a whole family occupying space in your home. Everingham recommends getting children to help sort small things like pens and pencils, or getting taller offspring to help reach the tops of cupboards.

<p><i>Photographed by Jérôme Galland. Interior design by Jean-Charles Tomas. From </i><a href="https://www.vogue.com.au/vogue-living/interiors/modern-home-by-jean-charles-tomas-france/image-gallery/ad934ff6d06bb0af74609458c6651a22" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><i>tour a midcentury-inspired home as sublime as the surrounding landscape</i></a></p><h2>3. Don’t forget the small stuff</h2><p>So you’re cleaning, that’s great! But just don’t forget the details of a good clean: specifically, areas you’re not always looking at. Think: skirting boards (especially those that run behind furniture), the tops of cupboards and ceiling fans.</p><p>Everingham also advises that it’s worth spending time on pieces or areas you interact with constantly: “Devoting attention to those areas you see daily like light fittings, pantries, and inside the kitchen cupboards will bring great daily satisfaction.” It’s a good idea to use the opportunity to wash windows and walls, especially in high-traffic spaces like the kitchen and living room, and clean out the medicine cabinet, too.</p><p>A crucial part of spring cleaning successfully comes down to storage and organisation too; finding the right storage solutions will save you time and energy in the long run, especially when it comes to linens and winter clothes.</p>

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Photographed by Jérôme Galland. Interior design by Jean-Charles Tomas. From tour a midcentury-inspired home as sublime as the surrounding landscape

3. Don’t forget the small stuff

So you’re cleaning, that’s great! But just don’t forget the details of a good clean: specifically, areas you’re not always looking at. Think: skirting boards (especially those that run behind furniture), the tops of cupboards and ceiling fans.

Everingham also advises that it’s worth spending time on pieces or areas you interact with constantly: “Devoting attention to those areas you see daily like light fittings, pantries, and inside the kitchen cupboards will bring great daily satisfaction.” It’s a good idea to use the opportunity to wash windows and walls, especially in high-traffic spaces like the kitchen and living room, and clean out the medicine cabinet, too.

A crucial part of spring cleaning successfully comes down to storage and organisation too; finding the right storage solutions will save you time and energy in the long run, especially when it comes to linens and winter clothes.

<p><i>Photographed by William Abranwicz. Interior design by Sandra Weingort. Styled by Colin King. From </i><a href="https://www.vogue.com.au/vogue-living/interiors/hamptons-home-sandra-weingort/image-gallery/4c1e078b1cf2c47a8d8bca23893b7de2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><i>tour one summer-ready Hamptons home that’s all about the nuanced art of subtlety</i></a></p><p>“If you don’t have a dedicated closet, find somewhere dark and dry to store your linen. Keep your table linen protected from the dust by storing them in fabric bags and your bedding in pillowcases,” Vidović recommends. “I personally store my linen napkins rolled (keep those cardboard rolls from your paper towels handy) to save me from steaming them each time I have guests.”</p><p>Vidović adds it’s wise to avoid plastic, cedar and cardboard boxes to prevent yellowing when storing linens and always throw in a scented linen sachet too. If you are switching up linens and soft furnishings, Vidović advises to get everything out in the morning and give your pieces a “breath of fresh air” by hanging them in the sun to kill any dampness. This will also give you time to clear out cupboards and clean them before you restock.</p>

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Photographed by William Abranwicz. Interior design by Sandra Weingort. Styled by Colin King. From tour one summer-ready Hamptons home that’s all about the nuanced art of subtlety

“If you don’t have a dedicated closet, find somewhere dark and dry to store your linen. Keep your table linen protected from the dust by storing them in fabric bags and your bedding in pillowcases,” Vidović recommends. “I personally store my linen napkins rolled (keep those cardboard rolls from your paper towels handy) to save me from steaming them each time I have guests.”

Vidović adds it’s wise to avoid plastic, cedar and cardboard boxes to prevent yellowing when storing linens and always throw in a scented linen sachet too. If you are switching up linens and soft furnishings, Vidović advises to get everything out in the morning and give your pieces a “breath of fresh air” by hanging them in the sun to kill any dampness. This will also give you time to clear out cupboards and clean them before you restock.

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Photographed by Ingrid Rasmussen and David Grievson. From inside the colourful London family home of Lara Stone and David Grievson

4. Use this time to purge

A spring clean is not simply a chance to remove dust from the surfaces of your home but a moment to really dig into what needs fixing, editing and upcycling. “It doesn’t have to be Marie Kondo level,” Everingham says of your purge, adding, “use the opportunity to go through cupboards and either toss anything past its use by date or donate to those in need.” If your pantry has gotten away from you, consider what food items, if still within their use by date, might be worth donating to a food bank. Likewise, some retailers accept old clothing and linens that cannot be donated for their textile recycling programmes, including Sheridan who accept any brand of pre-love sheets and towels. Local veterinarian practices also love to receive second-hand towels and bedding too. Details on where to donate everything from appliances to lightbulbs and furniture can be found on Planet Ark’s website.

<p><i>Photographed by Sharyn Cairns. Interior design by Powell & Glenn. From </i><a href="https://www.vogue.com.au/vogue-living/interiors/powell-glenn-gradient-house/image-gallery/6412eb797a646e6aee0f73c1fcbec3b6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><i>t</i><i>here’s far more to this charming Toorak home than meets the eye</i></a></p><h2>5. Make it last</h2><p>There’s little point to expending all your energy and time on this project if you’re not future-proofing your clean. Be regular about wiping down surfaces and freshening up a space. If possible, encourage yourself to clean more regularly by hosting a dinner party or your book club. This way you’ll stay on top of the clean and won’t be scrubbing months of grime off your floors come spring.</p><p>“Since having a baby, I find myself cleaning a little daily just because we are home so much more and using every inch of space,” says Vidović, warning it’s best not to put things off for too long. “Once a week I’ll dust and wipe down all the surfaces, mop and treat the house (and myself) to some fresh seasonal flowers.”</p><p>That being said, Vidović recommends outsourcing bigger tasks if you have the means: “I like to time my spring cleans with professional carpet cleaning, maintaining my high-rotation wardrobe pieces (shoes resoled, and blazers dry-cleaned), and anything else lingering on my to-do list.”</p><p><strong>These products promise to make your spring cleaning pursuit that little bit easier:</strong></p>

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Photographed by Sharyn Cairns. Interior design by Powell & Glenn. From there’s far more to this charming Toorak home than meets the eye

5. Make it last

There’s little point to expending all your energy and time on this project if you’re not future-proofing your clean. Be regular about wiping down surfaces and freshening up a space. If possible, encourage yourself to clean more regularly by hosting a dinner party or your book club. This way you’ll stay on top of the clean and won’t be scrubbing months of grime off your floors come spring.

“Since having a baby, I find myself cleaning a little daily just because we are home so much more and using every inch of space,” says Vidović, warning it’s best not to put things off for too long. “Once a week I’ll dust and wipe down all the surfaces, mop and treat the house (and myself) to some fresh seasonal flowers.”

That being said, Vidović recommends outsourcing bigger tasks if you have the means: “I like to time my spring cleans with professional carpet cleaning, maintaining my high-rotation wardrobe pieces (shoes resoled, and blazers dry-cleaned), and anything else lingering on my to-do list.”

These products promise to make your spring cleaning pursuit that little bit easier: