AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 121
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pring is the season for bursts of energy and enthusiasm and, for some people,
that means one thing: spring cleaning. “Regular cleaning keeps things
hygienic and looking tidy, but you rarely get into the darkest corners,” says
Elke Keeley, co-founder of cleaning company UrbanYou. “Spring cleaning addresses
areas that aren’t always visible – inside cabinets, drawers, the pantry, air vents and
light fittings.” Ideally you should aim to do a deep clean of your home at the change
of each season, says Michael Girowal, founder of Green Clean Australia and Clean
Mission. “And that includes the oven, inside the fridge and the windows.”
The satisfaction you’ll feel at the end of a good spring clean is hard to beat and
it’s getting easier to achieve, thanks to a raft of products on the market that will
help you power through. “Having the right tools cuts your cleaning time in half,”
says Girowal. “We recommend dusting, upholstery and edging attachments for your
vacuum, a grout-scrubbing brush for the shower and tiles, a squeegee for windows,
plus colour-coded microfibre cloths for surfaces.” Other tools in Girowal’s deep-
cleaning caddy include a stiff brush for soap scum, a magic eraser for stubborn
marks and a scraping blade for the oven door.CLEAN START
Here’s how to deep clean
ur kitchen like a pro:
Freshen your fridge
“Remove everything shelf
by shelf, wipe items and
shelves, and dispose of
out-of-date food,” says
UrbanYou’s Elke Keeley.
Wash your tiles, floors and
benchtop “Use soapy water
or a multipurpose spray.
Wipe wall tiles from the
top down,” she advises.
Tackle doors and drawers
Remove everything from
cupboards and drawers
(including the cutlery tray)
and wipe all surfaces,
recommends Keeley.
“Clean into the back
corners of cupboards,
where grime accumulates.
Wipe drips and marks from
doors and drawer fronts.”
Deodorise your
dishwasher “Eliminate
odours by placing a cup
of bicarb in the base of
the dishwasher and
running it while empty.”ABOVE Clockwise from left
Syneco folding ladder,
$29.50, Bunnings. FC5
hard-floor cleaner, $349,
Kärcher. White Magic
extendable duster, $24.95/
set of 2, Howards Storage
World. Pinnacle 9L
galvanised-steel bucket,
$21, Bunnings. Oates ‘Wizard’
duster, $10.50, Officeworks.
Ecomax coconut-fibre dish
brush, $10.95, Biome Eco
Stores. Long-lasting
bathroom sponges, $75/set
of 2, Enjo. White Magic
Sturdy grout cleaning brush,
$17.95, Howards Storage
World. Australian House
& Garden ‘Tyndall’ basket,
$99.95/pair, Myer.
Murchison-Hume Boys’
Bathroom Cleaner, $13,
Freedom. Ladelle Lemon
& Spearmint all-purpose
surface spray, $11.95, Myer.‘ YOU SHOULD AIM TO DO A DEEP CLEAN OF YOUR HOME AT
THE CHANGE OF EACH SEASON – THAT INCLUDES THE OVEN,
INSIDE THE FRIDGE AND THE WINDOWS.’ Michael Girowal“A three-step ladder is really useful – you’ll be surprised at what a little extra
height reveals,” adds Keeley. “You’ll also need a long-handled duster to remove
cobwebs from ceiling corners and to reach the top of the fridge and behind the
washer and dryer.”
You’ll find automated products galore to help you target specific cleaning jobs.
The latest cordless vacuums, such as Dyson’s V11 and Bosch’s Unlimited Series 8,
boast longer run times than their predecessors, powerful suction and a variety >