The important points
- The best method for spring cleaning is a de-cluttering phase followed by a deep cleaning phase.
- A systematic approach is best, whether it’s room-by-room or some other process — just don’t work randomly.
- Spring cleaning doesn’t necessarily have to happen during the spring.
The kitchen
The kitchen is the most used room in the house. Considered by many as the control room, it is where we store our food and equipment, prepare our meals and often base our clean-up activities.
But when was the last time you used that fondue pot, waffle maker or slow cooker? According to Chef Jamie Oliver, there are less than 30 essential kitchen equipment pieces that you need. Of those, the tools worth investing in include good knives, wooden chopping boards, and a food processor.
All those other gadgets we pull out once a year, take up valuable real estate and should be sold or donated. Can’t live without your annual fondue night? Message friends to see about borrowing one or connect with your local cheese shop about renting one. Let someone else store the large kitchen equipment and instead, focus on kitchen essentials.
Deep cleaning the oven and fridge
Let’s face it: cleaning the oven and refrigerator are tasks no one enjoys. Why not get them out of the way first so you can move on to other, more pleasant tasks? Turn on some upbeat music and dive in.
Ovens are magnets for grime but never fear: some elbow grease, good cleaning implements, and a reliable cleanser will help you turn it from a black hole to a sparkling space. There’s no need for industrial strength chemicals; instead, try an eco-friendly mixture.
What to clean the oven and fridge with
Mix equal parts bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and salt with enough vinegar to create a spreadable paste; add a few squeezes of lemon and voilà! You are ready to scrub away the grease and grunge with the aid of wire wool, a toothbrush, a sponge and a metal scraper.
Baking soda is alkaline and doesn’t scratch, so it is also suitable for cleaning chrome. Your stovetop and the exterior of your fridge are excellent targets. Remove the burners from your stove to clean up any grit that has escaped from cooked food and give the entire surface a once over.
Cleaning your refrigerator means first removing and reviewing its contents. Fridges are known repositories for miscellaneous bottles, jars of condiments and containers of leftover who-knows-what. Check the expiry dates on each product and discard those that are too old. Don’t mix two jars of the same item, because they may not expire on the same date.
Once you’ve sorted through your items, it’s time to wipe down the shelves and replace everything you’ve decided to keep.
Next, tackle the freezer. Emptying it and reviewing its contents allows you to discard those cartons with two spoonfuls of ice cream remaining or any items that have lingered long past their usefulness. Also, empty your ice cube trays and wash them with soap and water before refilling. Ice cubes left too long in the freezer absorb freezer smells – not the most appetizing addition to a cold drink!
Clean cupboards
Once again, emptying the food cupboards is your first order of business. Review all the cans, jars and packages and discard those that have expired. Even packaged goods have expiration dates, so check those, too.
Donate unwanted items
Set aside unwanted items to donate to the local food bank. Wipe down jars and large containers, especially those containing oils, syrups and vinegars, since they are likely to have drips along the sides. Also wipe the shelves, of course!
Throw out any bad spices
Next, cast a critical eye over your herb and spice collection to see if their contents are still fresh and flavourful. The folks at McCormick, the herb and spice manufacturers, say dried herbs last for one to three years and spices remain fresh for two to four years. Are their colors faded? Crush a bit in your hand to see if they give off an aroma, or taste them. If not, it’s time to shop for replacements.
Take stock of groceries and organize
Staples such as rice, pasta and tea bags are also subject to loss of flavor; they taste best within two years of manufacture, so toss those that are too old. If you store them – or other dry goods – in mason jars or containers other than their packages, it’s useful to label them with an expiry date. A piece of masking tape and a pen are all you’ll need to stay on top of freshness.
While you are appraising and weeding out items, it’s also the perfect time to create a shopping list of the goods you’ll need to replace.
With your cupboards bare like those of Old Mother Hubbard of nursery rhyme fame, this is also a perfect time to think about organization. Consider your cooking habits and place items in the cupboard accordingly, with the rarely used items on higher shelves or at the back of cupboards.
Keep your frequently used ingredients close at hand. Use your kitchen storage space to the maximum, because it always seems to be at a premium. You can buy dividers for deep drawers or put airtight bins atop cupboards, for example.
Living rooms
Our living rooms are where we relax, entertain and often the place we reflect our interests with displays of books, music, and movies. These shelves can become easily overwhelmed. Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method from her bestselling book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” recommends tackling items by category.
With books, you take every book off the shelf and then go through each one asking if it “sparks joy” and if you will ever read or re-read it. If the answer is no, you thank it for its service and donate it. The same process applies to music and movies. Forcing yourself to go through every item, although tedious, will leave you with a space filled with items that you truly love.
Closets and clothing
The KonMari Method can also be used for clothing, and the bedroom closet is usually one of our most daunting spaces. The goal should be to pair down to a foundation of timeless pieces that can be paired with anything in your closet.
And while you are cleaning out, you should create a series of go-to outfits that will eliminate “What will I wear?” from ever being asked again. Need some motivation? Plan a clothing swap with friends and over a glass of wine, exchange your cast-offs for something new-to-you. At the end of the night, send all the leftover clothing to a local women’s shelter.
Toys and kid’s gear
On the topic of swaps, the Spring is a great time to plan for a swap meet. Kid swaps are popular fundraisers with community centers and local schools. For a small table rental fee, you can offload unused toys and kids gear while someone else advertises and organizes the event. Just promise yourself to donate whatever you don’t sell by planning to drop off unsold items to a thrift shop immediately following the event.
