Spring Has Sprung – Put a Spring in Your Step this October!
18 October 2018
It seems that Spring has finally sprung in Perth. The Winter months are at last retreating, as the warmth of Spring graces our shores and we awaken to a new-found surge of energy.
October brings a wealth of activity to Australian communities – which are bound to put a spring in your step! From Diabetes Australia Walk to Work Day, to Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon Day raising funds for breast cancer, to the Aussie Backyard Bird Count and more – there is something for everyone .
Spring is also the perfect time for a ‘Spring’-clean. Following the hibernation tendencies of Winter and in preparation for the Summer months and Christmas, thousands of Aussies are preparing for a good de-clutter and thorough clean of their homes and offices.
You may groan at the thought of it, but if you put your mind to it and follow our simple tips, you can achieve a huge amount – without it being a horrendous chore.
Spring into Action with these Cleaning Tips:
1. Create a List
Devise a task list of everything you want to achieve – in priority order. This will not only give you a sense of purpose, but will also motivate you and help keep you on track. Working from a list will help to keep you focused on achieving one thing at a time, as opposed to tackling multiple tasks at once and achieving nothing.
Your list can include break-down of each room you want to tackle – start with the most important room in the house and work down from there.
Plus, ticking off the tasks as you complete them is highly satisfying!
2. Be Prepared
Before you start work, make sure you are prepared with all the materials and equipment you need. It can be disheartening to discover you’re out of polish or floor cleaner as you go about your Spring-clean – and you can quickly lose momentum.
So, the day before you start your Spring-clean, go through your task list and work out what products you need. If you are missing anything, go and buy what you need ahead of time.
3. Think Green as You Spring-Clean
Most conventional cleaning products contain harmful chemicals and toxins. Limit your exposure to these nasties by checking product labels. Most supermarkets stock a range of 100% natural, chemical-free cleaners and polishes. And the best news is that these often aren’t much more expensive – if at all – than conventional products. Or better still, make your own natural all-purpose cleaner!
4. De-Clutter
Did you know that de-cluttering can reduce stress and induce a sense of calm and order? As the saying goes, “a clear space equals a clear mind.”
Before you start cleaning, deal with the clutter in each room. It’s nigh-on impossible to clean a room which is filled with clutter. And having to move things out of the way as you clean will slow you down.
Work through each room systematically and decide what you want to keep and what can go. Put shoes, books and other items you want to keep away in cupboards, to create a tidy look and a smooth path for your cleaning.
Also, consider what items can be repurposed. For example, old shoes can be used as funky plant pots, or an old ladder can be transformed into a bookshelf.
And throw away items which are no longer of use to you, or cannot be repurposed. Try to live by the “love it, use it or lose it” mantra; if you don’t love or use a particular item, then get rid of it! You might at times need to be ruthless, but the serenity you will have achieved by the end of it will be well worth it!
5. Hire a Skip Bin
When ‘de-cluttering,’ many people make the mistake of shifting clutter from one room to another – thereby not achieving a great deal. It can also get frustrating not knowing where to put things and having limited storage space.
So, if you’re launching a full-scale attack, do it properly and hire a skip bin. By hiring a skip from a reputable company such as Instant Waste Management, the entire process will not only be easy and affordable, but you will also have peace of mind that your decision is an environmentally-conscious one.
IWM is an environmentally-responsible waste management company, committed to diverting waste away from landfill. At our state-of-the-art material recovery facility, all waste undergoes a meticulous sorting process in order to recover any materials which can be recycled and given a new lease of life.
Find out what your waste is recycled into here.
6. Safely Dispose of Your Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste – such as paints, poisons, oils, batteries, fire extinguishers and flammable materials – needs to be disposed of safely. It can otherwise pose a threat to our health, as well as the environment.
The Waste Authority’s Household Hazardous Waste programme provides certain local councils and shires with funding to assist with the collection, storage and disposal of hazardous household waste. There are 8 metropolitan and 5 regional collection facilities where you can dispose of your hazardous waste at no charge.
7. Work from the Top Down
When cleaning, be sure to start at the top and work down. Otherwise, dust and dirt will fall onto surfaces you’ve already cleaned.
So, start with de-cobwebbing the cornicing and dusting the ceiling lights and architraves around the doors and windows, before moving on to dusting and polishing the furniture. And leave cleaning the floors and skirting-boards until last.
8. Play Some Good Tunes
Various studies indicate that music can help to energize and motivate us. Put on your favourite tunes and get working!
9. Use the Dishwasher
Use the dishwasher to clean what items you can, such as spoon rests, toothbrush holders, soap dishes, vases and certain ornaments. Not only will this give them a thorough clean, but it’ll save you time.
10. Remove Hard Water Stains with Vinegar
Hard water, or limescale, stains can be easily removed with vinegar. Simply soak a cleaning cloth in white vinegar and then drape the cloth over the affected area. Leave for an hour or more, applying more vinegar if required to keep the cloth wet. Then remove the vinegar-soaked cloth and clean the area with a clean cloth.
11. Clean Your Oven the Easy Way
Oven-cleaning is often a time-consuming, laborious task which exposes you to harsh chemicals – but it doesn’t have to be that way.
You can make an effective, natural oven cleaner with baking soda and vinegar, following this recipe. You simply coat the oven in your new cleaning paste and rub it in, then leave it overnight. The next day, remove the cleaning paste from the oven with a damp cloth, using a spatula to scrape off the paste where required. Then spray the oven with vinegar for a final wipe-down.
12. Super-Quick Cleaning Tip for Your Microwave
A super-quick, easy way to clean your microwave is to microwave lemon water for 3 minutes to soften and dislodge food and grease. Simply squeeze the juice of one lemon into a bowl and add the rind and half a cup of water, then microwave the bowl on high for 3 minutes. Leave for 5 minutes and then wipe the microwave clean.
If you’d like to hire a skip bin for your Spring-clean, book online today, or contact our friendly team for more information.
