The origins of spring cleaning are extremely logical and practical, although long forgotten in our modern world. But that doesn’t mean there is no good reason to do a thorough clean of the entire house a couple of times a year.
First, the history lesson! In the bad old days, spring marked the time people stopped using their furnaces and open fires. That meant they could clean their walls, furniture, and fittings, and hang big things like curtains, rugs, and blankets out to dry in the sun and fresh (but not icy) wind.
In the colder climes, it was the first opportunity to open all the doors and windows and let some air flow through the house for an extended period without freezing.
While the modern version of spring cleaning is more about rearranging some things around the home, putting some winter things back in drawers and cupboards, and possibly doing a bit of a cull of stuff you don’t need any more, the actual cleaning component shouldn’t be ignored or devalued.
Removing dust and cobwebs is not just aesthetically pleasing …
There are plenty of us who have long given up on keeping our homes clean and tidy all the time. Once you have a family the constant battle to simply pick things up and put them away becomes a losing battle at some point.
But what if we told you that doing a thorough cleaning could save you money?
That’s because just about every appliance we have will not only last longer but also run more efficiently if it’s clean … and running more efficiently saves money (or, perhaps more accurately, if something is running inefficiently it’s using more energy and wasting money).
The most obvious, but still often overlooked, examples include filters in air-conditioning units, space heaters, rangehoods, extractor fans, and dishwashers, but there are plenty of others.
The buildup of small particles, dust, and grime makes each of those things have to work harder to do its job … which it can’t even do efficiently anymore because of that accumulation of gunk.
Did you know that some manufacturers recommend that you clean certain appliances at least every three months? Hardly anyone actually does that, but all the more reason to ensure that when you do make the effort you do it really well.
Some general cleaning tips
- For most electrical appliances (apart from the fridge), make sure they’re switched off and preferably unplugged before you start cleaning.
- When you’re wiping down your appliances, start at the top, as crumbs and dirt will fall to the floor.
- Distilled white vinegar and baking soda make an excellent natural cleaner.
- Don’t be afraid to use your vacuum inside the fridge, oven, toaster, or wherever (but maybe clean the vacuum cleaner well first).
- Move appliances so you can wipe, mop, or vacuum the benchtops, walls, and floors behind and under them.
Your air-conditioning unit should be the top priority
Depending on your air-conditioner type, you may need to clean the filters and coils fairly regularly.
It’s estimated that dirty evaporator and condenser coils can increase the energy usage of your air-conditioning system by over 30 per cent.
As far as the filters are concerned, it’s recommended that you clean those every few weeks during periods of high usage. That’s because the more clogged the filter, the harder the air conditioner has to work to push air through it, leading directly to higher running costs. If you only clean your filters a couple of times a year, this needs to be one of those times, ahead of the warmer weather.
Take the dust filters outside for a good brush or shake. They can usually also be vacuumed for a thorough clean (use the vacuum cleaner’s dusting brush head if you have one). If they’re very dirty you can wash them in warm water with some mild detergent and rinse them clean. Make sure they are completely dry before putting them back in the unit.
You may also be able to remove the unit’s louvres to give them – and the space behind them inside the unit – a thorough clean with a dry cloth or with the vacuum cleaner.
Consider having a professional air-conditioner service technician do a thorough clean annually (or, at the very least, every second year).
How to clean a range of other appliances
Let’s take you through some of the other common appliances and how to clean them.
Refrigerator
The fridge is a big bit of work, but well worth it, as any issues can build up and cause inefficient energy use and even overheating.
- Take all the food out and throw away those expired condiments!
- Pull out the drawers and shelves, soak them if needed, and wipe down the inside of the fridge with warm, soapy water.
- Gently pull back the door seal to check for stains or a build-up of dirt, and clean that with a solution made of bleach and water and a soft cloth (ensure you remove any leftover bleach solution with a damp cloth).
- Take the cover off where the coils are (usually the bottom of the back) and use your vacuum with a brush attachment to clean off and suck up all the hair, dirt, and debris.
Dishwasher
Fill a dishwasher-safe cup with white vinegar and place it in the top rack. Set your dishwasher to its longest and hottest cycle and let the vinegar work at loosening up food particles while also sanitising.
To clean the filter, pull out the lower rack and remove the filter cover inside the dishwasher (check your manual), so you can access and clean off the screen.
Washing machine
Top Loaders: Fill the washer with hot water and add a litre of bleach. Let it agitate, then let it sit for at least an hour before setting it to complete its cycle. Do the same thing using distilled white vinegar. Pour the vinegar and water mixture into the detergent and fabric softener dispensers, as well. After an hour, let it complete the cycle.
Front Loaders: Select the clean cycle or tub clean setting on the machine. Add two cups of vinegar to the detergent tray and allow it to run the cycle. Fill it a second time with hot water, adding two cups of bleach to the tray this time. Allow it to run the cycle again. Run a third cycle with nothing but water. Remove the trays and dispensers and let them soak in warm, soapy water. Pull back the rubber seal around the door and using a bleach/water mixture, scrub it down.
Dryer
Pull off any knobs and the lint trap and soak them in warm, soapy water. Clean out the drum. Remove the vent tube from the back of the unit, pull out any lint before vacuuming to remove excess lint build-up. Also vacuum behind the dryer and around the vent.
Microwave oven
Squeeze some lemon juice into a bowl of warm water, add the lemon rinds and microwave for 5 minutes. As the water starts to boil, the steam will loosen dried bits of food. Carefully remove the hot bowl and use a clean towel to wipe down the inside of the microwave.
Rangehood
Remove the filters and soak them in the sink with a combination of hot water, detergent, and a quarter-cup of baking soda for 15-20 minutes (you may need to scrub them with a dish brush or scourer). Then place the filters into your dishwasher on the hottest temperature. Make sure they’re completely dry before placing them back into your rangehood.
Vacuum cleaner
Remove the filter and tap it against a hard surface to shake off loose dust, then gently remove the remaining dust with a brush. Hold the filter under running water until it runs clear (be sure to check for electrical components or attachments before rinsing in water). Dry it in direct sunlight and ensure it’s completely dry before placing it back in the vacuum.
Iron
Make sure your iron is cool and unplugged. Mix half a cup of distilled white vinegar with one cup of distilled water and pour that mixture into the water reservoir. Use a toothpick to gently remove any white build-up you see in the steam holes. Then plug in the iron, set it to steam, and allow it to heat up for five minutes. Hold the steam button for 30 seconds six times. Unplug and let it cool completely before removing the vinegar mixture from the reservoir.
If you want to complete a thorough appliance spring clean, don’t forget anything that plugs in around food or water, like electric toothbrushes, coffee makers, kettles, toasters, food processors, and even electric can openers.
While we can’t put a dollar figure on how much you’ll save when all of your appliances are thoroughly clean and operating at optimal efficiency, it’ll be something well above zero!