I’m a cleaning whizz – my five-step routine to give your house a spring clean in under an hour
SPRING is often considered the perfect time of year to give your house a good deep clean.
But let's face it, tackling the clutter and grime that's built up over the last 12 months can feel like quite the arduous chore.
Well, cleaning expert at Emily Barron has spoken exclusively to Fabulous to reveal her top five tips to help spring clean your house in just 60 minutes.
"The key to a quick spring clean is to focus on the areas that matter the most and to work efficiently," she explains.
"With these tips, you can give your home a refresh in under an hour..."
Declutter
Emily begins by noting that before you start to tackle the dirt and grime, it's important to take five-ten minutes to declutter.
"This will help to prevent you from feeling overwhelmed before you even begin," she explains.
"Pick up any items which are out of place and pop them back where they belong - and remember the old adage; ‘A place for everything and everything in its place.'"
The cleaning whizz goes on say this is also a good opportunity to throw out anything that's no longer required or needs replacing.
"This important step will help you focus on cleaning rather than tidying and organising as you go," she says.
Most read in Fabulous
High-traffic spots
Next, Emily recommends hunting out the high-traffic areas that are used the most.
"These are the areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathrooms which see a lot of action (particularly if there are a number of people living in your household), and which will, therefore, require the most attention and time," she says.
FABULOUS BINGO: Get a £20 bonus & 30 free spins when you spend £10 today
Dust through
The cleaning guru advises using a microfibre cloth to remove dust from surfaces throughout the house.
"As well as blitzing surfaces like tables, shelves and countertops, don’t forget to give a little love to nooks and crannies such as table joints and legs which can gather dust and become grimy," Emily explains.
"For fabrics, such as sofas, lampshades and cushions, use a lint roller to remove dust as this is more effective than a duster, which will often simply throw the dust back into the air to then settle again on furniture."
Use a wet rubber glove to wipe over surfaces. This will help attract pet hair and pick them up like a magnet, leaving your surfaces hair free!
Emily Barron
She goes on to say that keeping your house clutter free at all times can help prevent dust from accumulating and make this task even speedier.
As for her top trick when it comes to pet hairs, Emily advises: "Use a wet rubber glove to wipe over surfaces.
"This will help attract the hair and pick them up like a magnet, leaving your surfaces hair free!"
Mirrors and windows
From kids' hand-prints to splashes of mud, it's inevitable that doors and mirrors are likely to get dirty over time.
"Use a glass cleaner and cloth to clean any windows and mirrors and make your home sparkle," Emily explains.
"If you don’t have any glass cleaner to hand, grab some shaving foam and squirt a good dollop onto a piece of kitchen towel."
"Wipe the foam across the glass in an 'S' Shape and then remove with a clean piece of kitchen towel before buffing with a dry towel until the surface is clear."
Emily also warns not to forget your shower door - adding that if you live in a hard water area, this can be particularly stubborn to clean.
Gene Fitzgerald, home water treatment expert atnotes you could benefit from using a water softener to prevent build-up and avoid having to spend more time on this than you need to.
If your hardwood floors have started to look a little dull, wipe them down with a weak solution of black tea to give them back their shine and a great lustre
Emily Barron
Floors
Emily also recommends giving all your floors a once over with a vacuum or broom at least a couple of times a week.
If you have time, she advises giving hard floors a quick mop or wipe down to remove any stubborn stains or spills, too.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Sharing her top tip, the cleaning guru advises: "If your hardwood floors have started to look a little dull, wipe them down with a weak solution of black tea to give them back their shine and a great lustre."
She continues: "For a pleasant scent throughout your home, try adding a few drops of your favourite essential oil to your cleaning solution."