Mrs Hinch shares her top tips for the big spring clean – from vacuuming your mattress to washing oven trays in the bath
CHRISTMAS is a distant memory, the nights are getting lighter and so there’s no better time to get your home ready for spring.
I think we’re all looking forward to happier times ahead.
I’m a big believer in “little and often” for keeping on top of the housework, but every now and again I do a really deep clean and it gives me life!
Move your beds and sofas and really get into those nooks and crannies. Just knowing that it’s done feels amazing. This time of year is also brilliant for de-cluttering and getting rid of stuff you don’t use – so satisfying.
My followers know I’m big on smells – I could walk into your house and know instantly what you wash your sheets in. This time of year I’m into florals, so I’m loving all the lavenders, blossoms and jasmines. I have my wax melts on and I can’t wait to get the washing on the line.
The best advice I can give is don’t let things overwhelm you by trying to do everything at once. Break it down into parts – use your Hinch lists to help with this – and then work your way through it over the next few weeks.
I love seeing you guys Hinching away, so share what you’ve been up to. In the meantime, grab your Minky and let’s get cracking.
Sofa
This honestly doesn’t take long and will keep your sofa as good as new.
Remove all your cushions and throws and vacuum up any crumbs (and unmentionables lurking in there). Use a body brush and a lint roller to pick up fluff and hair.
Mix some warm water with an upholstery cleaner of choice. Soak a white cloth in your mix, wring out and then use it to scrub the seats, the arms and the back of the sofa.
Make sure you try out a test area first. Leave to air-dry, put everything back together, and you’re done.
Bed
There’s nothing better than getting into a bed of fresh sheets, so why not overhaul yours so it’s free of nasties and smells like a dream?
Wash your pillows! I do this twice a year. As long as they’re not foam, you can just chuck them into the washing machine on a gentle cycle. Make sure you check the label for any special washing instructions.
You should then be able to put them in the tumble dryer and they come out beautifully.
Give your mattress some love by stripping down the bed and start by vacuuming it.
Once vacuumed, use a sieve to shake a conservative amount of bicarbonate of soda evenly over the mattress – this little miracle-worker will get rid of any lingering odours.
You can even add some of your favourite essential oils to the bicarb for scent. Leave for a few hours and then vacuum it up. Finish with a spritz of Febreze – perfect!
Food cupboards
What’s hiding at the back of your kitchen cupboards? There’s always a tin of spaghetti hoops five years out of date. I’d love to hear the most random item of food you find…
Empty cupboards completely and check the sell-by dates of any food. Spray the insides of the cupboards with diluted disinfectant (Zoflora or Fabulosa) and wipe down. I’m in love with my Lakeland extendable shelf organiser, which means you can stack your tinned food and see everything easily.
Fridge
During lockdown, the fridge is a place we’ve been visiting several times a day! As one of the most hard-working items in the home, it could benefit from a spruce. I like to do this when we get a food shop in.
Take everything out so you’ve got a blank canvas. I use fridge liners, which are cheap from eBay and save your fridge from spills. Remove liners, shelves and drawers and soak with Fairy Washing Up Liquid (Antibacterial Eucalyptus is my favourite).
Wipe the inside with your Minky and cleaner – I like Flash Bicarb or Astonish Clear Disinfectant, but washing-up liquid works, too.
Use a cotton bud to clean between the door’s rubber seals. I like to leave a little dish of bicarb to soak up odours.
Organising
Whether it’s clothes, toys or just bits and bobs, sort out what you want and what you can pass on to friends or take to the charity shop or recycling bins. For sentimental reasons, I’ve kept some of the baby outfits Ronnie has worn, but it’s better they go to another little one.
Use vacuum packs to store away winter clothes and coats either in the loft or under the bed so that they’re not taking up wardrobe space.
Be strict with yourself! If you’ve not worn something for a year, pass it on.
I absolutely love drawer organisers for keeping clothes neat, tidy and easily accessible. I find them particularly useful for Ron’s bits and to sort out things like underwear and even make-up.
Oven
It’s not the most glamorous job, but it gives some of the best before and afters!
Remove all the racks, spray with Fairy Power Spray or Elbow Grease and leave them to soak.
I have been known to use the bath for this, or use one of those amazing rack trays, if you have one.
Get your tub of Pink Stuff and your Scrub Daddy and start Hinching away all those stubborn marks on the inside of the oven and glass – sometimes a hob scraper works well here if it’s really burnt on.
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Rinse with warm water and leave to air-dry.
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For the outside of the door, I like to use Elbow Grease followed by Astonish Window & Glass cleaner with Kermit (the unbeatable Minky M Cloth Glass and Window) to give it some extra shine.
A little trick I love to use is to line the bottom of my oven with my eBay oven liners. They catch any debris and are so easy to clean in the sink.
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