The rumours are true. The evenings are getting lighter and the weather is (gradually) improving. Flowers are beginning to sprout and hot cross buns line the shelves; which means one thing, spring is coming and with it, so is the annual big clean.
Spring cleaning is a productive, effective, if often slightly dreaded, annual tradition where we get our homes looking spick and span ready to welcome in the new season. And, while spring may not be officially upon us just yet, now’s the perfect time to get a head start on your jobs, so that when the cleaning and organising does begin, you’re ready to tackle it with some might!
Here are our top tips for the vital tasks to get done ahead of spring cleaning to save time, elbow grease and ensure you get a better clean.
Stock up on cleaning products
There’s nothing worse than when you finally pluck up the motivation to tackle spring cleaning only to be met with a barren cleaning cupboard. Having all the gear is very much the idea here and not having it will set your productivity back massively.
Make sure you’re stocked up on all the essentials. Surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, limescale and mould removers, dusters, microfibre cloths, floor cleaner, rubber gloves, glass spray and so on. Having the right tools in your arsenal will make the cleaning so much easier, so check out our GHI recommended products for the best of the best.
While you’re at it, give the cleaning cupboard a quick declutter, too. If you look closely, you’ll be shocked how many of the items may have expired since last year. Check for a manufacture date on the bottle, these can last from a few months to a couple of years depending on the product and how it's been stored. Look out for a change in consistency or performance to indicate expiration. Do not drain unwanted chemical cleaners down the sink; instead see if your local council offers a hazardous waste collection service.
The GHI’s Best Cleaning Products 2026
Score: 95/100
No one likes having to deal with a dripping mop, but Leifheit’s spin technology means you can say goodbye to puddles. You simply push the mop into the sturdy basket, press the handle and it will make light work of anything from spillages to nasty stains. The microfibre swivel head can get into every nook and cranny and the bucket also has wheels for speedy cleaning from room-to-room.
Score: 89/100
Claiming to be tough and long-lasting, our team found these double-sided sponges effective at removing grease and expert at cleaning items such as glasses and cutlery that typically trap food or grease in their grooves. The sponges are also easy to clean in the washing machine or dishwasher (in the top drawer), keeping them bacteria-free.
Score: 87/100
This all-in-one washing machine sprucer is designed to eliminate odours, remove detergent and grime from the drum, and leave the machine’s surface sparkling. Our panel found it delivered on its promise.
Score: 91/100
Our best oven cleaner scored full marks for its performance in the lab. Burnt-on food melted away from the racks with ease after soaking, needing just a quick rinse to get rid of all the residue. It was a similar story on the base of the oven, which was left shiny and spotless with minimal scrubbing required – something other oven cleaners often struggle with.
Create a plan
The first thing any good pro organiser or cleaner would tell you is that you need to have a plan. Going into the spring clean without a clear structure is a sure-fire way to ensure chaotic scattered cleaning that both takes way longer than necessary and inevitably means you’ll miss some key spots.
Take the time to look at your schedule, thinking about when you will actually have the time to spring clean. It doesn’t need to be done all in one day, do what works best for you. Layout your priorities, the tasks that will make the most difference (or the ones you haven’t done since last year). Know what it is you want to achieve from this spring clean and use those as motivating goals that inform your to-do list.
Give it a good declutter
An essential first step when it comes to any big clean is a good declutter. There’s no point cleaning things or around things that don’t need to be there. It just creates more mess and more dust for you to clean later.
We’re big fans of decluttering methods at Good Housekeeping so, if you need extra guidance on where to start or a healthy dose of motivation, try some of the following: the 20/20 method is great for getting rid of all the stuff you’re holding on to ‘just in case’, the 12:12:12 method is super-handy for those short on time or, if you’re looking for a truly tough-on-clutter method, you can’t go wrong with Swedish death cleaning. Better yet, try our very own declutter by degrees method for a permanent fix, in just 20 minutes.
But overall, the best way to tackle decluttering is to go room by room and assess items on how well they’re serving a purpose to the space itself and or to your daily life. If it isn’t, then it’s time to chuck, donate or relocate.
Prep the tech
Similarly to ensuring your cleaning products are prepped and ready to go, now’s a great time to make sure your electrical assistants are up to the job, too. Empty and clean your vacuum cleaners, making sure to check the brush heads are clear of debris. Check any electric cleaning brushes, dusters or mops have fresh and clean heads. And that any electrical steam cleaners or floor cleaners are up to scratch. While you’re at it, give your washing machine and dishwashers a clean, this a commonly missed task and can make a huge difference.
Enlist help
There’s no reason why spring cleaning should be a one-person job. Make sure you talk to those who share your home, after all, we’re all gonna benefit from this clean and it will go so much quicker with a few extra helping hands.
If asking for help sounds like an uphill battle, focus on collaboration rather than confrontation. Make tasks more enjoyable through music, games or small rewards (especially for children) and give adults some choice over what or how they clean. Planning ahead and scheduling chores into a shared routine can also prevent resistance, as people are less likely to react negatively when they’ve agreed in advance.
Open negotiation is key: be transparent about what you’re already doing, trade tasks if needed and aim to balance the workload fairly. It also helps to calmly explain why the chores matter to you and why they’re necessary, whether for wellbeing, hygiene or practical reasons, so everyone understands both the emotional and practical value of sharing the load, especially when it comes to spring cleaning. Who knows, opening up a conversation like this might lead to more regular chore-sharing in the future.
Check for maintenance issues
Just like there’s no point cleaning around clutter, there’s no point cleaning around problems that need fixing. A little DIY now is a small touch that will make a huge difference to the end product. Replace lightbulbs, tighten loose hinges or handles, check grout for cracks or loose sealant, test smoke alarms and make a small repair list as you go.
Book in the bigger jobs
While we’re all for tackling most tasks ourselves, there are a few jobs that are better handled by the pros. Whether this is due to you not having the time or the tools, there’s no shame in asking for assistance – just make sure you’ve booked them in.
Ahead of spring cleaning, think about booking in professional window cleaners, carpet cleaning, garden waste removal, painting etc. These pros tend to get booked and busy around this time of year, so avoid disappointment and get them scheduled now.
