springcleaning: what do you do?

[woodstock3]

just about manage to vaguely keep on top of normal housekeeping every week - floors hoovered, loos cleaned, worktops wiped and sheets changed etc - but never quite feel as if the house is really properly thoroughly cleaned. i want to do a proper housewifely spring clean but dont really know where to start, beyond vaguely thinking about dusting tops of pictures (which makes me feel faintly ridiculous) and cleaning skirting boards (which makes me want to lie down). its a big old house and we have a dog and a toddler, which doesnt make things any easier. what things do you do that make the difference between vaguely respectable cleanliness and domestic goddess-like cleanliness? that can preferably be broken down into small projects while ds is asleep and leave me feeling virtuous?

[ChasingSquirrels]

no idea, I don't feel like I keep up with the line of basic cleanliness!

[booyhoo]

these are the things i would like to say i do but never get round to;

remove cobwebs
degrubbify the walls
clean switches/sockets
window frames
skirting boards
clean sofas (cream leather)
declutter and clean kitchen cupboards

these are things i try and do weekly;

windows
bathrooms
dusting/polishing
hoovering
mopping
wash rugs
change bed linen

im probably leaving lots out but its saturday night and i try to forget about housework

[LovingTheRain]

Other things for spring clean:

Go through wardrobes and bag up and take to charity things that no longer fit/want

Pull out all furniture and wash/hoover floors behind.

Dust everything and anything!

Clean light switches, walls, skirting boards, tops of door frames etc

Get rid of anything in garage and garden you no longer want

Go through kids playroom and sort out toys to give to charity/sell

[LovingTheRain]

Other things for spring clean:

Go through wardrobes and bag up and take to charity things that no longer fit/want

Pull out all furniture and wash/hoover floors behind.

Dust everything and anything!

Clean light switches, walls, skirting boards, tops of door frames etc

Get rid of anything in garage and garden you no longer want

Go through kids playroom and sort out toys to give to charity/sell

[alicecrail]

I am a self confessed slattern, but for some reason this year have been quite keen on sorting everything out.

I have found the best way was to write a list of what you want to achieve and then tackle one room or area at a time. For example; you may need to do your whole house, but start with say, the shoe rack and coats in the hall, then perhaps the tv unit/bookcase/toybox/move sofas etc.

Don't be afraid to chuck stuff out, you may feel guity for all of about an hour, but then you will feel better because your house is less cluttered, easier to clean, stays cleaner because less stuff iyswim?

Babywipes work really well on light switches/plug sockets.

If your carpets are grubby, would definitely recomend hiring a shampoo/carpet washer thing.

Good luck

(please excuse terrible spelling and grammar i have a slight hangover and a toddler climbing on me!

[TheProvincialLady]

My system is to start at the top and then work down. So I would vacuum the ceiling/cornices to get rid of dust and cobwebs, then do the curtain poles and curtains/blinds, then clean mirrors and pictures on the walls, tops of doors, moulding on doors, finger plates etc etc until I finally get to the plug sockets, skirting boards and the carpets.

[gotmyselfajob]

I would do the same as The provinciallady. Then when i get down to floor level i would clean all furniture and pull out and dust/hoover/clean behind and under. Cleaning all the ornaments and bits and bobs as you go. Then hoover and wash floor (if necessary) One thing i can never work out is...if you wash down painted walls, what do you do with wall papered ones?? Is a quick whizz over with the vacumn a good idea?
I would also declutter all cupboards/wardrobes/kitchen units/drawers etc., etc.,
These are things i would do.....but i won't be doing them....