It’s officially that time of year. The days are growing longer, the sun is starting to shine and homeowners up and down the country are turning their attention to one thing: spring cleaning.
Nothing welcomes a new season like a fresh, rejuvenated living space. Much like dead leaves are giving way to new blooms, it’s time for dusty, cluttered rooms to be transformed into an airy, bright, clean living areas, ready for the warmer weather.
Whether you’re preparing your house for new buyers or tenants, or simply looking to spruce up your property for your own enjoyment - the infamous spring clean can often feel like a mammoth task. So, to help you conquer it, we’re breaking down our top spring cleaning tips into easy-to-follow dos and don’ts.
DO prepare the necessities
One of the most significant challenges of ‘the Big Clean’ is staying focused on the task at hand. It’s easy to pick up lots of different tasks and chores, and get held back along the way. One such delay is often realising you’ve run out of bin liners, or your vacuum needs emptying, or your anti-bacterial spray is down to its last dregs.
Whatever the equipment you require, running a quick audit and making sure you have everything you need before you get started will help to ensure you don’t get held back by unnecessary obstacles and distractions along the way.
DON’T try to tackle it all at once
Cleaning your house from top to bottom is no easy feat – especially if it’s been a while since your last deep cleaning session. It’s not a task that you will tackle in one weekend, and setting unrealistic goals and timelines will only set you up for failure.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the size of the task at hand, but the best thing you can do is break the tasks into smaller chunks. What bothers you the most? Which area of the house is most in need of a declutter and refresh? Start there.
DO donate to declutter
It’s easy to collect and hoard items over the years – especially if you have children. But during your spring clean is the perfect time to take audit, declutter and donate anything that is no longer wanted. While it might seem more convenient to toss anything you don’t want in the bin, if it’s still in good condition it’s far better to let someone else enjoy it and not create unnecessary waste.
If you are unsure where to go, there are lots of charity shops that accept donations of unwanted clothes, décor and other household items in the South London area, including:
- The Salvation Army clothing bank. There are various drop-off locations scattered around South London. Find your nearest drop-off points here.
- St Christopher’s Hospice stores in Dulwich.
- The British Heart Foundation on Rye Lane in Peckham.
- Crisis Camberwell on Denmark Hill.
DON’T forget to keep an eye out for mould
Throughout the winter months, it’s not unusual for our homes to become victim to a bit of dampness. With condensation gathering on the windows and reduced ventilation due to colder weather, it’s to be expected.
However, with dampness comes mould, and that is not only unpleasant aesthetically, but can also cause a number of health problems for those living in your property. So how can you tackle it?
First things first, you need to keep an eye out for where mould seems to gather the most in your house. For many, the bathroom is the most obvious culprit. There are various mould remover cleaning products on the market, so it might be worth adding these to your supplies before you get started. Pay particularly close attention to areas around the faucets, plug holes, ceilings and tile grouting, as these tend to be areas where mould naturally starts to grow.
DO consider the outside of your property
They say not to judge a book by its cover, but unfortunately the same can’t be said for houses. The exterior is just as important as the interior, especially if you’re looking to sell or let your property. No matter how clean and spotless the inside is, if the outside of your home looks worn, tattered and in need of a refresh, it doesn’t reflect well on the property.
Whether you have a garden to spruce up, a driveway to refresh or a porch to declutter – taking the time to give the outside of your house a spring clean will do wonders for its overall aesthetic and appeal. Sweep away the dead leaves, use some weed killer where necessary, and freshen up any peeling paint or chipped varnish on your front door.
Preparing your house for sales and lettings
If you’re looking to hop on board the usual spring property market uplift, then a spring clean is always a good place to start. Once your house is sparkling from top to bottom, then it’s time to show it off to the market.
At Urban Village, our team of experts can help you get your property ready for sale or new tenants. From preparing your property and getting a valuation, all the way through to marketing the house and getting the best possible price for it – we can guide you every step of the way.
Get in touch to find out how we can help you navigate the South London property market, no matter the season. Call us on: 020 3519 9121