Spring cleaning is a common seasonal task this time of year. Objects and clutter build up when you\u2019re holed up for the winter. So as the weather finally begins to turn warm and you yearn to open those windows to let in the fresh air, you might also want to tidy up your apartment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you have a spare afternoon or an entire weekend, the following tips will help you spring clean your apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cleaning is easier if you don\u2019t have a bunch of rubbish lying around, so take care of that first. It\u2019s inevitable for random things to build up throughout the year\u2014odd food in the fridge, stale cereal in the cupboards, clothes you don\u2019t wear, half-read magazines, piles of the old post. Go room by room, shelf by shelf, and assess all your possessions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try to be ruthless. Your goal is to purge unwanted and unneeded things. In an effort not to be wasteful, have three bags or boxes to organise items into; trash, recyclable, and donation. Here are a few examples of what could go in each box:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Going through your clothes can be the most difficult part, we all hold on to things we think we\u2019ll eventually wear. Take the stance of: \u201cIf I haven\u2019t worn it in the past six to eight months, I probably never will<\/em>,\u201d and donate it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you share common areas like a kitchen, bathroom, or living room with flatmates, chat with them about spring cleaning together. Then you can make it a group activity and cut your work in half. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For roommates that can\u2019t or don\u2019t want to participate, you can still tell them when you plan to clean common areas. This way, they can be out of the apartment, or at least stay out of your way while you clean up. You can also discuss that you might want to throw away old food, or other items, and make sure they\u2019re okay with that! It\u2019s always best to avoid potential roommate issues<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll share a time-saving hint, before you start with other rooms, take a look at your bathroom. Often, limescale or water build-up collects in the shower, tub, or sink. If you use a bathroom cleanser and let it sit\u2014like while you go clean your kitchen\u2014it will be easier to wipe clean and save some scrubbing time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So spray down surfaces first, then head to another room to clean. Remember you might need to do this more than once, so check on it periodically. Also, bathrooms are small, and those cleaner fumes can get intense. So try cleaning one spot, like the toilet, then taking a break to clean another room, then come back again in a little while for the sink. Bathrooms are generally people\u2019s least favourite place to clean, this way you break it up into manageable chunks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Turn to the fridge first. Take everything out of each shelf so that you can wipe down all the surfaces and get rid of any crumbs or sticky areas. Do it shelf by shelf, so there aren\u2019t too many perishables out at once. Start on the top shelf; that way if crumbs fall, you can keep catching them. Once you finish cleaning a shelf or drawer, close the fridge to give it a chance to cool back down. Then go through all your items from that shelf before you put them back. Check expirations, chuck anything out-of-date. Consult with your roommates if need be, but throw out anything you don\u2019t use or like. Remember to rinse out and recycle the containers that you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For even more detailed instructions, check out this guide<\/a> for deep cleaning your fridge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Move on to your cupboards and follow the same process. Take everything out shelf-by-shelf, clean the surfaces, get rid of unnecessary things. Do the same with your drawers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take this opportunity to deep clean your stove and oven. Pro-tip, if you don\u2019t have a stove- or oven-specific cleaner, you can add bicarbonate of soda with water in a spray bottle. (Here are some more handy ways<\/a> you can use bicarb to clean and deodorise). Spray your solution on the stovetop or oven interior. For tough stains or build-up, let it sit for a while and come back to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMake a Plan for Common Areas <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scrub Down Your Bathroom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Overhaul Your Kitchen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n