Spring is on the way .....(hopefully)

Well... hopefully that's the last of the Christmas food and drink gone, the decorations came down what seems like a lifetime ago, and we are praying for some sunshine !

What a better way to get rid of the winter blues by starting to think about spring, Here at Clearhaven homes we are always on the lookout for hacks, tips and ideas we can pass on to our valued customers.. So with spring in mind we'd like to share these great Spring cleaning tips to really dust away the cobwebs,

Declutter your home

There's a simple rule you can use to declutter you home. If you haven't used something in the past six months, then you should consider throwing it away. The only exception to this rule is seasonal items and clothing. Separate out the 'keep', 'donate' or 'throw away' items and clearly label them to avoid any treasures getting thrown away by mistake.

By taking this ruthless stance, you'll soon discover how many excess items you have around your home and how much additional room you'll have if you throw a few things away.

Deep clean your carpets

You'll be surprised how much dirt, dust and hair builds up in your carpet. This can be especially bad in bedrooms and dining rooms, where you're less likely to move bulky furniture around when you're cleaning. A deep clean will help restore the carpet's colour and texture. Using a high-performance vacuum cleaner or hiring a professional will allow you to breathe new life into your carpets.

While your furniture is out of its usual place during the clean, you can start to think about rearranging certain items. You don't necessarily need to invest in new furniture, but a move around might bring a new function to a room or just give it a new look.

Remove pet hairs with rubber gloves

Pets are a delight to live with, but a menace when it comes to keeping your home clean. Cats and dogs especially will cast their hairs everywhere. That's where a pair of rubber gloves comes in handy. Because of the material they're made from, and the friction it creates, hairs will naturally stick to them. So, whether you need to de-hair your sofa, curtains or bedding, your trusty rubber gloves can sort you out. Failing that, a trusty lint roller work wonders on removing pet hairs from fabric.

Clean your oven with bicarbonate of soda

Oven cleaning is a time-intensive task, but a small amount of bicarbonate of soda can go a long way. Add bicarbonate of soda to water in a spray bottle and you've got your own handy oven-cleaning solution. You just need to spray the solution on the interior surfaces of your oven, avoiding the heating elements. Leave overnight and wipe clean the next day. If any soda remains, spray with vinegar to remove it.

Steam clean your microwave

Dirt and grime can easily build up in your microwave. It's one of those appliances that you use so often that you take for granted. So, a good clean will not only get it back to its former self, but also improve its general hygiene. Tackling built-up food and grease normally calls for bucket loads of elbow grease, but our helpful hint will put a stop to that.

Using a combination of vinegar and water, you can create a solution that will help you tackle those stubborn stains. Heat a measuring jug with a fifty-fifty solution for ten minutes in your microwave, until it steams up. Remove the jug and then use a cloth to wipe away the moisture and dirt.

Clean your bathroom while you sleep

No, we don't literally mean clean while you sleep: you deserve your rest after all! We've found a way for you to leave your bathroom to get clean overnight. Limescale is notoriously difficult to remove. That's where white vinegar can help. It's great at breaking down the molecules and removing a build-up of limescale.

In fact, it can remove stains from the toilet, shower and sink. All you need to do is spray it on and leave it to get to work. For showerheads, simply fill a bag with white vinegar and tie it around the head, leave it to break down the limescale overnight. To avoid smelling strongly of vinegar, make sure you wear protective gloves and ventilate your bathroom where possible.

Revamp your wardrobe

You may have a wonderful array of outfits, but chances are that you don't wear them all-year round. So, it's time to revamp your wardrobe. First separate your clothes into seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Then try your outfits on. Do they still fit? Do you still like them? If the answer is 'no' then get rid of them. You could either donate them to charity, sell them on eBay or organise a swap shop with friends and family. For the clothes you decide to keep, bag up the ones that are out of season and store these in your attic or wardrobe. Another handy tip to help you out in the morning is to organise your clothes by colour, so that you can put outfits together in half the time, with no need to hunt out your favourite top.

These are just a few of the tips we have come across, we hope it gives you a little incentive to get ready for the Spring..

Please share any tips or advice you may have, we love to hear from you.