The sun is shining and all is well with our beautiful little family here in Devon.
Regular readers may have noticed my blog 'disappear' for about 12 hours, with yesterday's post lost in the process - well, sometimes you need to take a big broom and sweep away the cobbywebs.
Now I don't know about you, but I always feel much better after a bit of a spring clean?
I like every bit of it.
Planning, carrying it out and then enjoying the peace afterwards.
I like to spend my time planning which things to recycle or tidy away for later, or simply to throw out as they are rubbish.
As well as our weekly cleaning jobs, we like to go right through each room at least once a season, so it's not true "spring cleaning" per se.
This week it was the turn of our big bedroom, and Man Wonderful emptied it of all but the largest furniture before cleaning skirting boards and all woodwork. Then the carpet was given a thorough hoover and the curtains were washed, dried and re-hung.
I have a small decorating task to do, to paint the wall behind our bed.
It is currently pale grey but needs a re-fresh.
We've picked out a new colour for the feature wall, want a peep?
(this is a stock photo, not my bedroom!)
I have loved athriftymrs series on getting organised : click here and it's prompted me to run through our drawers and wardrobe, as has Sue at Our New Life in the Country click here with her 365 decluttering challenge.
As regular readers will know I don't buy non-essential items, and when I do need clothes there's nothing more fun than taking time to search the rails in local charity shops.
We do have a couple of more expensive items that were bought new such as waterproof coats, but they were bought in the sale (mine) or with a hefty discount (MW's). They'll be maintained and looked after, and will last us well.
The next room to be spring cleaned is our dining room.
Again I'll wash and re-hang the curtains, and I'll wash, polish and seal the floor.
We have a large number of wine glasses that we really don't use, so they need sorting out.
And I'm going to pop over to Froog's blog at Frugal in Cornwall click here to get her recipe for mould spray as my patio doors tend to get a bit 'spotty' in the winter months.
What about you?
Do you like a bit of spring cleaning?
Please share your tips here.
FMx
Love the colour you have chosen for your bedroom! I do like a bit of a spring clean and doing it room by room rather than trying to tackle lots in one go always seems to work better. If you are having a big de-clutter then now couldn't be a better time as the car boot sales will be starting in another month or so! Nikki
ReplyDeleteOoh that's right Nikki - thanks for the timely tip! FM x
DeleteIf spring cleaning makes you feel happy you can come and do mine if you like ! it's not my favourite occupation, I'd rather be crafting or cooking.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I get the urge to spring clean straight after Christmas
ReplyDeleteI have redecorated our big bedroom which also needed a new carpet, so curtains washed and rehung it all looks fresh and clean.
ReplyDeleteWe have another bedroom to decorate, a sitting room and hall stairs and landing. I really don't like decorating at all, but we have ignored it for so long and the finished result is worth it. My husband is a hoarder so it's a good chance for me to declutter. I don't mind spring cleaning, my kitchen is definately in need of a good deep clean.
I ACCIDENTLY bottomed my bedroom last week looking for a stray ball of wool!
ReplyDeleteI love the feeling of knowing that a room is completely clean from top to bottom, I just don't like that feeling before you begin when all the task is ahead of you.
ReplyDeleteSo nice that you get stuck in to the job in hand together.
Love the shade of grey you've picked.
Sue xx
Love the colour, FM! Very restful. Only thing is, once you've done the feature wall, it will make you very critical of your other walls and the ceiling. Just saying! ;)
ReplyDeleteI do my wardrobe every summer. If I haven't worn it during the last year or so, out it goes; if it doesn't fit any more, out it goes. Same is applied to shoes. My local charity shop has done very well out of this process.
As for cleaning tips, use whatever mould removing system you prefer - bleach, scrubbing, whatever. But, after the job is done and rinsed, mix five drops of Oil of Cloves into a litre squirty bottle (about a pint and a half) of clear water and mist onto the surface. It is supposed to reduce the frequency of the mould and mildew recurring.
For cleaning internal glass (mirrors/windows), make a solution of black tea in water and spray on. Buff off with a cloth and I swear you will think you've got new glasses. Works on computer screens and glass tellies as well, but I would spray the solution onto the cloth rather than the telly or computer screen.
Vinegar and bicarb is one of the best cleaners going around, though it does need a good rinse to get the powdery finish off, but it always buffs up really well. Works well in sinks, basins, stainless steel, loos and all drains and helps to unclog. If it's extra feral, add salt. I am pretty liberal with the bicarb and salt. About a cup of white vinegar usually gets it foaming madly. Make sure the area you use it in is well ventilated, otherwise wear one of those dust masks.
For dusting, make your cloth damp and it scoops it up rather than putting it back into the air.
Washing your drapes? If they are a bit creased or crinkly when rehung, don't iron! Mix isopropyl alcohol 50/50 with water and mist over. I swear the creases will drop out. If they are a bit apparent, just use the iron to steam them while hanging.
At the start of spring clean, I always make sure the filters on my vacuum cleaner are cleaned so that the vac outdoes itself.
Enjoy the cleaning. It makes you feel really good.
XXXXX