Advice

The clocks have gone forward and that little bit of extra sun is highlighting just how badly you need to get on with some spring cleaning. Fear not! Follow our quick guide on how to get on top of it

Dusting: Make sure that aside from the obvious areas, you dust around skirting boards, light fixtures and lamps, ceiling fans, in between blind slats, banisters, picture frames, air vents and ceiling corners.

Pets: Wash all blankets and beds that your cats and dogs use, check under furniture for toys/paper/food/missing personal items that your pet might have stored away!

Food: It’s a great time to go through your food cupboards, fridge and freezer and look for food that’s out of date and throw it away. If you have food that you know you’re not going to eat or is a few months away then why not donate it to a food bank?

Vacuum: Carpets, rugs, upholstery, curtains, pet beds and behind large items of furniture.

Boiler: If it’s been a year (or more) since your last boiler service, schedule one now.

Guttering: Clear all guttering, check for blockages and leaks.

Gardening: Don’t sit and wait for it to get too warm – now is the time for preening and pruning those beloved plants!

Wash: Doors, windows, walls, blinds, light shades, curtains, carpets, air vents, fridge, cupboards, banisters, ovens and microwaves.

Descale: Kettle, sink, taps and shower heads. If you live in a very hard water area then you may also need to descale your toilet, dishwasher and washing machine.

Polish: Furniture, glassware, silverware, picture frames, flooring and mirrors.

Touch up: Clean scuffs on walls and touch up paint, remove damp and mould, repair damaged upholstery,

Furniture: Condition leather, deep clean fabric upholstery, wash all cushions and blankets.

Clothing: Go through your clothes and see what winter clothes can be put in to storage, bring out your spring/summer clothes and check any clothes that might be stuffed in the back of the cupboard to ensure there aren’t any moths.

Replace: Broken light bulbs, batteries in smoke detectors, batteries in carbon monoxide detectors and extractor fan filters.

Flooring: If you have wooden flooring then it would be a good idea to treat them to keep them in good condition.

Clear out: Sell unwanted items online or donate to charity, recycle broken electrical items, check garage and loft space for unwanted items.

Refresh: Silicone coming away from the bath? Patches on the wall need touching up with pain? Just a small dab here and there can make a massive difference.

Recycle: Dig around in the cupboard under the stairs and you are sure to find a number of hidden (broken) gems that need to be recycled. Check your council’s website for your nearest centre.