Spring Has Sprung - Time For A Fresh Start

Spring has finally arrived, and with the warmer days comes that lovely feeling of wanting to freshen up our homes and clear out some of the clutter that has built up over winter.

I’ve been having a look through Wendyl’s book A Natural Year, and there are some great tips that are perfect for this time of year - from getting into the garden, giving the kitchen and windows a good clean, to sorting through your wardrobe and putting away those winter woollens.

I love the idea of using spring as an opportunity to have a fresh start while creating a little more space in your home without needing lots of fancy products or spending a fortune.

Give Your Garden a Spring Refresh

Spring is the perfect time to get outside and give your garden some attention after the winter months. Clear away dead leaves and old growth, pull out the weeds, tidy up garden beds and give shrubs and perennials a good prune where needed. It’s also a great time to add compost or mulch, plant new flowers and herbs, and get your vegetable garden ready for the warmer months ahead. A little work now will have your garden looking fresh and ready to grow.

Streamline your kitchen

"For every house I see, the kitchen always has the most clutter," she says. "Get rid of the outliers: glasses that don't match, those random logo mugs, or pots and pans that are in poor condition. Let go of those items you thought you needed but have not used." Try similarly editing your refrigerator and pantry.

Ban dust bunnies

"Start from the top of the room, and work your way down," says professional home stager Tori Toth. "Wipe down the ceiling, fan or light fixtures, the walls, baseboards, and all the furniture in the room. Make sure to move appliances, and look high and low to remove all dust." Yardan also believes in the power of thorough dusting: "Moldings are dust magnets, but they are often overlooked," she says. "Try running a dryer sheet over them to quickly and easily trap the dust that gathers there."

Ditch the paper towels

Get down and dirty with your kitchen, but do it smartly. "A deep-clean of your kitchen can set you back four or five rolls of paper towels," Yardan says. "Save the trees and your wallet by purchasing reusable cloths, which can be used to clean everything from mirrors and appliances to tricky spots on the floor – and they're machine-washable to boot!"

Clean stainless steel

Give your appliances an inside-out makeover. "To clean your stainless steel, start by putting a small amount of Dawn on your cloth, rub it into the cloth, and rub with the grain," Toth says. "Take a second microfiber cloth, put a few drops of baby oil on it, and again, rub with the grain of the metal. I love this eco-friendly solution to a super-common problem."

Clean out your wardrobe

Use my coat hanger method to help you work out what clothes you don’t wear so at the end of this season you can have a good wardrobe clean out. Simply turn all your coat hangers the opposite way you usually hang them, When you have worn an item place it back in your wardrobe with the coat hanger the correct way around. After a few months all the coat hangers the wrong way around are an indication that you haven’t worn this item. If this is so, take the brave step to remove this item from your wardrobe and donate to a friend or charity like Dress for Success, Salvation Army or your local goodwill store.

Wash your windows

"Use a glass cleaner and a squeegee, no real scrubbing required," Toth says. "You will add double the light in your home if you wipe away the grime of the cold winter months."

Sweat the details

"Use cotton wool tips dunked in white vinegar to clean window tracks and sliding doors," Yardan says. "Grimy window tracks will stand out glaringly when the windowpanes and sills are clean, so don't neglect them."

Make your grout shine

Go beyond your average bathroom cleaning. "If you have tile around the home, chances are your grout has seen better days," Toth says. "This is a tedious task, but schedule some time to clean those grout lines with a grout stain or bleach pen to restore the colour and refresh the room. Make sure to re-caulk areas that are discoloured around tubs or sinks too."

Put away winter linens and woollens

It’s time to pull those flannelette sheets and extra blankets off the bed. Replace your winter linens with some fresh, clean light sheets. Place a throw at the end of the bed just in case you do feel a little cold.

Use meals from the freezer

I find that my freezer is filled more during the winter months than any other time of year, as it’s the season for slow cookers, casseroles, bakes and pies. Look through your freezer and add any meals sitting in there to your future meal plans, so they don’t get forgotten and then you have to toss them due to freezer burn.

Donate toys

This is the perfect time of year to go through all the kid’s toys and purge anything they are no longer playing with, and it will also be an excellent opportunity to start writing your Christmas gift wish list. Any toys that you will be donating need to be clean, safe, in good condition and complete.

Create a space you can relax in

Create a little space in your home that is your happy place. A place that you can sit, be comfortable, relax, unwind and be a positive space for you to clear your head. It could be a corner in the lounge room, bedroom, or outside. Add little pieces to this space that will make it a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere, such as plants, flowers, or a candle.