Spring cleaning: expert tips and tricks to help you blitz the big clean

Longer, brighter days make it easier to spot dirt in our homes, signalling that it's time for the annual spring clean. To help you get the job done without cutting corners, we've collated the best spring cleaning tips from Which? experts.

Our cleaning checklist covers how to banish nasty smells from the kitchen, deal with drains, treat fabric stains and avoid common mistakes. And thanks to our expert reviews, you can uncover Which? Best Buy products to bolster your cleaning toolkit.

Jump to:

• Room-by-room spring cleaning checklist
• Essential spring cleaning products
• 5 common spring cleaning mistakes

Room-by-room spring cleaning checklist

Spring cleaning the bathroom

At a glance: Unclog shower drains, tackle limescale and mould, manage damp and condensation, and wash your shower curtains.

• Shower drain: This is an area where pipes can get clogged. If your shower tray is slow to drain, try a shower drain unblocker. Remember to wear gloves and old clothes.
• Tackle limescale and mould: It can easily build up in grouting and other wet areas. You can buy specialist products from supermarkets and DIY stores to shift tough dirt and limescale, or you can get anti-mould grout-reviving pens. Our guide on how to get rid of mould has more details.
• Deal with early signs of condensation or damp: This is as much about prevention as cure. The more condensation builds up, the more likely it is to cause mould or other damage, so clear it regularly with an old towel or squeegee. See our advice on how to get rid of damp.
• Shower curtain: These can be hard to clean in situ, so consider taking yours down for a proper wash (check the care labels for how to do so).

How to clean your bathroom – If you're feeling bogged down by bathroom cleaning, read our simple tips to make the job quicker and easier.

Spring cleaning the kitchen

At a glance: Pay close attention to your sink, appliances and food-waste bins.

• Kitchen sink: A clogged pipe can make water slow to drain, make it harder to clean the rest of your sink and can eventually start to smell. We suggest using a top-rated kitchen drain unblocker.
• Cooking appliances: The hob and oven are obvious cleaning targets, but your cooker hood and surrounding area can also build up grease and grime that a casual wipe won't shift. See our tips on how to clean your cooker hood and how to clean an air fryer.
• Rubbish and food-waste bins: Give them a thorough wash and scrub once in a while. After cleaning your bin, try placing bicarbonate soda or cat litter at the bottom to minimise bad smells in the future.
• Fridge: Address unnoticed spills, clean out drawers and get rid of all the food leftovers – this will prevent bad smells and stop bacteria from spreading.
• Freezer: Unless you have a frost-free model, it might have acquired a layer of ice. Defrosting it doesn't have to be a major chore, though – consult our guide on how to defrost your fridge freezer.
• Dishwasher: It's easy to forget that appliances designed to clean sometimes need cleaning themselves, especially after periods of intense use. With a dishwasher, small amounts of food can get trapped in areas such as the filter. Find out more in our guide on how to clean a dishwasher.

How to deep clean your kitchen appliances – keep your appliances fresh and working smoothly with our deep cleaning tips.

Spring cleaning the living room

At a glance: Rent or buy carpet cleaners for deep cleaning, vacuum sofa crumbs, tackle fabric stains early and deal with chimney maintenance.

• Carpet: A good carpet cleaner can help to restore your carpet to its former glory. You can rent carpet cleaners from some high street retailers or dry cleaners or, if you've got lots of carpets in your home, you might want to buy your own. Read our guide to the best carpet cleaners to help decide what works best.
• Sofa: Nibbles on the sofa will inevitably lead to crumbs under the cushions. If your sofa's in need of a refresh, see our tips on how to clean a sofa by hand.
• Skirting boards: These can collect a surprising amount of dust. Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to loosen debris, then wipe down with a damp cloth.
• Curtains and cushion covers: Many can go in the washing machine, while others may be suitable for a gentle refresh with a steam cleaner. Always check the care labels. 
• Chimney: If you have a chimney, getting it swept regularly is vital for ensuring it doesn't get overloaded with sooty deposits. Any obstructions could become a fire hazard and will prevent smoke from escaping from your home. You should also have your stove serviced annually to make sure it's working efficiently and safely.

Use Which? Trusted Traders to find a professional carpet cleaner, chimney sweep or stove technician near you: 

Spring cleaning the bedroom

At a glance: Clean your mattress to prevent dust mites and stains, and declutter your wardrobe.

• Mattress: This is easy to forget about as it's covered by bedding most of the time, but cleaning your mattress is key to avoiding dust mites and removing stains (see also: how to clean a mattress). If you've had your mattress for more than eight years, it could be time to consider replacing it.
• Declutter your wardrobe: Sort through your clothes and send any that are old or don't fit you to charity. Some charities or clothes recycling banks will even be able to make use of worn out, holey items. Alternatively, you can recycle your oldest clothes as cleaning rags; old T-shirts make particularly good kitchen rags.
• Declutter other areas: Studies have shown that a messy bedroom can impact your sleep quality, as too much clutter can make a space feel chaotic, making it hard to relax. Read our tips for decluttering in three simple steps.

Essential spring-cleaning products

Try a dust-busting steam cleaner

If you have asthma or allergies that are exacerbated by dust mites, investing in a capable steam cleaner could be a wise move.

The high temperatures produced by steam cleaners aim to eliminate all traces of dust and harmful bacteria without the need for harsh chemicals, and the best we've tested will clean almost every inch of your home.

As well as cleaning hard floors and carpets, bathrooms and curtains, you can use a steam cleaner to sanitise a mattress. You can also experiment with modes designed to clean your oven and hob (as long as you avoid the oven's heating element), and speed up defrosting the freezer while sterilising its surfaces.

We've tested various steam cleaners, including:

• Karcher SC3 EasyFix – has a two-stage steam flow control and comes bundled with a brush nozzle, descaler cartridge, floor nozzle, extension tubes and hand tool.
• Polti Vaporetto SV460 Double PTEU0296 – this model has a dial to adjust steam power and can also be used in handheld mode.
• Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner – a multipurpose cleaner with a 1.7-litre non-removable tank.

To see which models we recommend, see our guide to the best steam cleaners.

Use a handheld vacuum cleaner

A powerful handheld vacuum cleaner can help you tackle accumulated dust and any stray pet hair, especially in areas that are tricky to reach with a full-size model. They can be particularly handy for awkward jobs such as vacuuming stairs or getting into tight corners and along skirting boards.

As a vac is essential to any spring clean, check that yours is in good condition and clean it out regularly. If it's struggling with suction, see our advice on how to fix a vacuum cleaner.

We've tested various handheld vacuum cleaners, including:

• Gtech Multi Platinum – A lightweight vac bundled with a dust brush nozzle, power brush, crevice tool, extension tube and hair removal tool.
  
• Vax Gator Cordless Handheld Vacuum – This model features simplified controls: a single power switch and easy-release buttons for the bin and filter.
• Black and Decker Dustbuster Flexi – Features a 1.5-metre flexible hose, which makes it well-suited for cleaning awkward or hard-to-reach areas.

For more options, consult our guides to the best handheld vacuum cleaners and best robot vacuum cleaners.

Get streak-free windows with a window vac

A window vac will make light work of cleaning glass, helping to remove dirt and moisture without leaving streaks. It’s also useful for tackling condensation on windows, mirrors and shower screens.

We recommend spraying cleaning solution onto the glass and leaving it for a minute or two to loosen dirt before vacuuming. Then use the window vac in slow, overlapping vertical strokes, keeping it upright and emptying the tank regularly to avoid streaks.

We've tested various window vacuum cleaners, including:

• Karcher WV 6 Cordless Window Vacuum Cleaner – A premium model with a digital display that shows remaining run time, plus a wide squeegee for faster cleaning.
• Karcher WV 1 Cordless Handheld Window Cleaner – This is a compact and affordable window vac with a lightweight design and simple controls. Some versions are available with a spray bottle and microfibre cloth kit for added convenience.
• Tower Cordless Window Cleaner T131000BLG RWV20 – A budget-friendly model with a 150ml water tank, featuring a 28cm squeegee for everyday window cleaning tasks.

To discover which models made the grade as a Best Buy, visit our guide to the best window vacs.

Banish marks with a cleaning spray

A dedicated stain remover is your best bet for shifting a mark on your sofa, curtains or a cushion, or a dried-on stain that a carpet cleaner can’t get rid of.

Always check the label before use and test on an inconspicuous area first, as some sprays aren’t suitable for all surfaces or fabrics. Using the right cleaner for the job will give you the best results and help prevent damage.

On a mission to see which popular stain removers do their job effectively, we've tested bathroom sprays, kitchen sprays and all-purpose sprays, including:

• Ecover Mint & Cucumber Bathroom Cleaner Spray – A 500ml bathroom spray notable for its strong sustainability credentials and recyclable-focused packaging.
• Cif Cleanboost Kitchen degreaser – This 700ml kitchen cleaner is designed for tackling grease and everyday cooking mess.
• Dettol Antibacterial Multi Purpose Cleaner – A 750ml all-purpose spray for use in multiple rooms around your home. It comes in a range of scents.

See which cleaning products we recommend with our guide to the best cleaning sprays.

Clear clogged pipes with a drain unblocker

Having a powerful drain unblocker at your disposal will help you de-clog pipes and avoid a kitchen sink full of dirty water.

We've tested kitchen drain unblockers by pitting them against a tough food obstruction consisting of broccoli, lard and breadcrumbs. For shower drain unblockers, we undertook the pleasant task of mixing hair with shampoo to make drain-clogging hairballs.

To avoid frequent use of these harsh chemicals, invest in drain protectors to stop food and hair going down your plughole. Enzyme cleaning sticks designed to naturally digest fat, grease and soapy residue are also useful for keeping drains clear and odour-free. Our tested drain unblockers include:

• Buster Bathroom Plughole Unblocker – A 300ml formula designed for bathroom use, with clear instructions and suitability for septic tanks. It comes in a single-use plastic bottle.
• Mr Muscle Power Gel Drain Unblocker – This gel formula is suitable for both kitchen and bathroom drains. It’s designed to tackle a range of common blockages and is safe for use with septic tanks.
• Cillit Bang Drain Odour Eliminator & Unblocker Gel – A 500ml gel unblocker designed to clear clogs while also helping to tackle unpleasant drain smells.

Discover the best drain unblockers according to our tests.

Keep your floors fresh with a carpet cleaner

To ensure your carpets are as clean as possible, we recommend going over the area with a vacuum cleaner before using a carpet cleaner. You should do this even if you use a multi-function carpet cleaner that has a vacuuming mode as well as washing.

Read the instructions carefully to find out how many times you need to go over each section of carpet. The carpet should take around 24 hours to dry thoroughly after it has been cleaned.

We've tested various carpet cleaners, including:

• Vax Platinum Power Max ECB1SPV1 – Suitable for a mix of floor surfaces and comes with plenty of accessories.
• Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro 20666 – A 2-in-1 pet and upholstery tool with a 4.5-litre dirty water capacity.
• Rug Doctor Deep Carpet Cleaner – This model rinses and sucks water back up in one pass.

Jump straight to the top-rated models in our guide to the best carpet cleaners.

 5 common spring cleaning mistakes

1. Starting without a plan – Make a to-do list of essential tasks, with the most important and time-consuming at the top, and smaller, easier jobs at the bottom. Once you're clear about what needs to be done, work systematically through your house room by room. Clean from one side of the room to the other, and from the ceiling to the floor.
2. Forgetting to look up – Your ceiling, any fixtures and fittings above (such as lights or ceiling fans) and even shelves and door frames also need to be cleaned. If you forget this until after you've cleaned everything closer to ground level, you'll spread dust and dirt all over your lovely new clean areas. Clean each room from top to bottom – not bottom to top.
3. Ignoring your mattress – Even if it doesn't have noticeable stains or smells, a mattress still collects bodily fluids and dead skin. Read our guide on how to clean a mattress.
4. Forgetting about indoor air quality – Be conscious of the chemicals you're using during cleaning and the air pollution they might create. Ensure good ventilation by opening windows, and consider investing in an air purifier. Read our tips for reducing air pollution in your home and check out the best air purifiers.
5. Cleaning everything with white vinegar – While it's good for cleaning some things, it can damage others. This is because while white vinegar's acidity is good for descaling kettles and descaling your shower head, the very thing that helps it dissolve limescale can also eat away at other surfaces in your home, such as stone or granite kitchen countertops. 

Discover 8 things you really shouldn't clean with vinegar