The snow has thawed and the clocks have gone forward which can only mean one thing – it’s time to start spring cleaning.

Midweek Herald: When is the best time to start spring cleaning your house? Picture: Getty Images/iStockphotoWhen is the best time to start spring cleaning your house? Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto (Image: Tatomm)

But what does a spring clean up connsist of? And how do you spring clean your house quickly?

Here is our house cleaning checklist to give you some pointers.

De-clutter your home

Some people don’t know where to start spring cleaning, but a good place is getting rid of anything you haven’t used in the past six months.

Separate your items into ‘keep’, ‘donate’ and ‘throw away’ piles and make sure they’re clearly labelled to avoid any mistakes.

Once you’ve de-cluttered, you’ll find it a lot easier to start cleaning.

Window cleaning tips

“No fancy gadgets are required here, just elbow grease,” said Dan Marillier, of DLcleanwindows.

Midweek Herald: Remember to vaccum the less-trafficked routes when spring cleaning. Picture: Getty Images/iStockphotoRemember to vaccum the less-trafficked routes when spring cleaning. Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto (Image: didesign021)

“Be careful when doing higher windows; don’t be tempted to lean out from the inside. “We avoid using ladders but if you really have to, at least have someone else hold it for you to make sure it’s safe.”

Bathroom cleaning tips

A spring clean is the perfect time to make sure your bathroom is sparkling, and there are a few bathroom cleaning tips which might come in handy.

Shower heads can harbour bacteria so it is important to make sure they are cleaned effectively. You can do this by submerging the showerhead in a plastic bag filled with white wine vinegar overnight, and then rinsing in the morning.

To clean your bathroom tiles, spray them with an all-purpose cleaner, crank the shower’s hot water up until it steams then shut the bathroom door for five minutes before wiping clean.

To clean the toilet, pour a cup of baking soda into the bowl and let it sit for a few minutes before you brush and flush.

Carpet cleaning tips

Your carpets and rugs might be vacuumed regularly, but it’s important to do some proper carpet cleaning once in a while.

Midweek Herald: Our handy tips make spring cleaning easy. Picture: Getty Images/iStockphotoOur handy tips make spring cleaning easy. Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto (Image: Choreograph)

We’re talking about the less-trafficked routes, such as under the sofa, corners of the hallway, etc – it’s important to clean these carpets once a year.

A deep carpet clean can restore the carpet’s texture and colour, so to give your rooms a real refresh, consider getting in a professional cleaning service.

Kitchen cleaning tips

When it comes to cleaning solutions, sometimes the items you have in your cupboards might work best.

To clean your microwave quickly, place a handful of wet towels inside and run it on high for a couple of minutes, then use the cooled-down towels to wipe the interior.

Use half a cup of baking soda in a bucket of water to clean tiled floors, and to clean wooden floors use one-part vinegar to nine-parts water.

If you have curtains in your kitchen, it’s a good idea to chuck put them in the washing machine during a spring clean to remove the grime.

Get professional help

If the idea of house cleaning still seems a bit too much, why not consider a professional cleaning service?

This article has been brought to you in collaboration with Buy With Confidence, where you can find cleaning services near you which are vetted and approved by Trading Standards to ensure that they operate in a legal, honest and fair way.

Go to www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk Find a trustworthy cleaning service or other ‘Buy With Confidence’ Trading Standards approved business near you.