Before you get the wrong idea – I feel like such a hypocrite writing a post that focuses on cleaning and tidying. Housework and I have had a very up and down relationship over the years, but I would say that at the moment we are definitely on an ‘up’. I think it is largely due to the fact that our home is no longer the building site it once was, and I can actually see a difference when I do clean and tidy. I get so much satisfaction sitting on the sofa at the end of the day with a hoovered carpet and no toys in sight.
I am an opportunist cleaner. I don’t set aside a day, an afternoon or even a couple of hours a week to clean. I just do it as and when I can. If I see a window or mirror that needs cleaning, I try to do it straight away, I’ll clean the bathroom when the boys are in the bath, or hoover when Jared is getting the boys ready for bed. It’s all very random, but it’s the only way I can keep on top of things. It’s definitely a bad day if there are toys out at the end of the day, and the washing up isn’t done before we go to bed! I hate coming down in the morning to mess.
I have been enjoying the slow transition from winter to spring, and here are a few things I’ve been doing to get our home ready for spring…and a new baby – of course!
Flowers and plants indoors
Discovering how happy having flowers and plants in the house make me is a fairly recent discovery. They liven everything around me, add beauty, as well as improve air quality. I would have scores more if we had the space.
Clean and open the windows
I often wonder why I ever clean the bay window in our house because the boys use it almost daily as a space ship, a boat or as a stage. It constantly has finger prints on it, but there is no denying that looking out of a clean window is the best. I also love ‘letting air’ into the house – even if it’s freezing cold outside. Jared can usually be found closing them behind me!
Declutter
I love decluttering and have been doing a lot over the last few weeks…but there are still a few ‘problem areas’ in our house that I am determined to tackle. I always have a bag on the go for the charity shop, a shelf for things that I need to give back to people and a basket for things that need to go in the loft. I really like everything to have a place and I try so hard to keep clutter at bay.
Get some DIY jobs done
DIY in our house seems to cease during winter. I blame it on dark nights and shorter days…but that is probably an excuse. Recently I wrote a list of all the little jobs that need doing in each room and we’re hoping to get started on them over the next few weeks. The other day I ordered some blinds and replaced some light bulbs. Small steps – but it felt so good!
Wash the carpets
I think carpets take a bit of a battering during the hibernation of winter and they can start to look a little grubby. This is another opportunist task – just seeing a mark and dealing with it. Our bedroom one in particular needs a bit of TLC. It’s on our list for spring.
Using uplifting scents
Winter is for deeper, cosy and woody scents, but I love surrounding myself with uplifting essential oils like bergamot, lemon, grapefruit and lavender at this time of year. Burning them, spraying them and bathing with them.
Happy spring!
E xx
Loved this. I’ve drafted a few similar for Spring and linked with a little collab I’m doing. I am sitting nodding to all this! Especially the opportunist cleaner, that’s me! And I think I’ve been more on the go with nesting adding to it.. Flowers are a must, opening curtains, making beds, decluttering and the toys! We have so many areas that need doing but watching each part get better is so satisfying. We only moved their 11months ago and with the little three and a pregnancy we’ve been juggling the time to do this but in hindsight we’ve done loads! (On the blog soon!) I am yet to do my own scents, but I did DIY a children’s wooden chair the other day with my Annie Sloan chalk paint, the little things! X x
Cleaning is so not worth staying in for – I would always choose going out than staying in to clean, so I really have to try and squidge it in around day to day things. 11 months with three children and pregnant – that is impressive and that chair sounds wonderful! xx
Lots of good ideas for embracing Spring. Flowers and opening the windows are my favourite. The cleanest and disorganisation of my home drives me crazy but small steps. I could not find my phone the other night and ended up vacuuming the sofa and half the living room before putting children to bed. (Found phone a nappy bag) Happy Spring!
LOVED this little story of the hoovering and finding your phone! Tidying along the way! I know opening windows is amazing – my hubs hates it though! I’d rather be cold with fresh air! xx
I’m loving having the windows open again. Fresh air does wonders for the mood. I love having flowers around the house too. I tend to only buy tulips and daffs because they’re so reasonably priced, but they do wonders for brightening the house up!! xYou must be nearly due now, right? xx
Absolutely! I am loving tulips at the moment. Lidl has some brilliant colours. Yes – currently 8 days over. So annoying! xx
It’s really felt like spring the last few days, hasn’t it? I’ve loved having the windows open to get everything aired – it feels like you’re blowing away all of the cobwebs of winter! I’m loving cramming the house full of flowers too – it’s been a coping mechanism to get through winter, but I’ve loved it so much I want it to continue. Hopefully I can start bringing some in from the garden rather than buying, to save a bit of money! #HomeEtc
I love how you said “Blowing away the cobwebs”…such a good thought and so true. Flowers really do wonders for the soul! xx
Ooh, yes I’d definitely agree with all of those! Although I must say I’m being rather lazy about the de-cluttering at the moment. Flowers are always a must – particularly at this time of year when there are so many pretty ones. They always make my home feel alive, and less static. I love how you’ve stalled them in the first pictures, and all your lovely postcards!
Absolutely! They really do make the house feel alive. Decluttering is addictive once you get going – so beware! xxx
Funnily enough I had the windows open today, it’s definitely a sign of spring for me when it feels warm enough to start airing things again. And flowers, oh flowers! Completely agree with you X #HomeEtc
I adore the windows open! I love the crisp fresh air. Feel like the house is breathing again! xx
I’ve been doing something similar, this weekend!! Lots of pastels and flowers and changing the winter accessories to things which are lighter and brighter. It’s such a nice feeling when the sun starts to shine a little more.
It feels so good doesn’t it? Xx
These are exactly some of the things I’m planning on doing to update our own little home. I am seriously soooooo excited about Spring and the thought of warmer days. I love having the windows open too and flowers everywhere just makes you smile I think. The one thing I must do now though is to follow your lead and de-clutter – my absolute worst thing ever! Lovely post. Steph xxx #HomeEtc
Once you start decluttering you can’t stop! and yes, windows open are wonderful xx
Lovely post!! It feels spring like already just reading this. I agree that simple things can make a big difference. Love it when the outside starts creeping in! Yay 🙂 Jess xx
#HomeEtc
Outside coming in is wonderful! x
I’m EXACTLY the same re the cleaning!! We do have a cleaner every couple of weeks too but it’s not enough to keep the house looking nice. I tend to do things as and when. Particularly cobwebs which seem to appear out of the blue! Can’t wait for the warmer weather to arrive — I’m well and truly over the winter!! xx #HomeEtc
Oooo Caro! I would love a cleaner…it’s on my radar at the moment! It’s something I dream of! xx
That mirror with the flowers in front of it is gorgeous – and to be perfectly honest there’s nothing wrong with being an opprortunist cleaner – sounds perfect to me. My cleaning style is more of the delegating sort, anything too tricky (or dirty) is delegated to MOH, mostly because he’ll re-do something if it’s not up to his standards, so my argument is well he might as well do it in the first place 🙂 #homeetc
That sounds amazing! Well he may as well do it if he thinks your not up to scratch. My hubs tells me I’m bad at washing up, so I just leave him to it! The mirror was a car boot sale bargain £2! I felt like I was stealing xx