With spring approaching it has always been tradition to give our home a ‘spring clean’ – not everyone’s favourite job, but there are some tips to help you along the way. You may also be thinking of putting your house on the market – a house which is in clean, tidy, decorative order won’t be on the market long and it doesn’t take a lot to create this.

1. Planning
Make a list of all the cleaning products you will need and go off and purchase them all – so no excuses! Write down a plan to help you prioritise and stay on task, tick off as you do. Start with your least favourite rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom, which will most probably take the longest to do. Gather all your products in a bucket, as this makes it easier to carry from room to room.

2. Cleaning
Generally, carpets are vacuumed at least once a week, but once a year I would recommend hiring in a company that will steam clean them – or you can hire a machine yourself if you want to keep the cost down. Curtains can be dry cleaned but again these can be steam cleaned in situ.

3. Kerb appeal
This is the first thing people see before they even enter your house. Ensure the front is weed free and there is no rubbish lying around, and tidy up and re-plant any pots that are looking a little tired. If you don’t have a shed, purchase a storage box to hold any garden furniture and equipment or bikes.

A clean front door is most welcoming, and it doesn’t take long to give it a lick of paint. Letterboxes and door knockers can easily be cleaned or – if past their best – you can replace them yourself, which isn’t difficult, and they can be purchased at a reasonable price from any DIY store.

If you are selling your home, it is very important to remember ‘Kerb Appeal’.

4. Entrance hall
After stepping through the front door, the hall will give a feel to what the rest of your home is like – a tidy entrance hall gives a great first impression. Remove any unnecessary coats and shoes – who needs wellingtons in the summer? Baskets stored under a narrow console table with pretty covers can hide a multitude of things, and a mirror placed above will also add light into the hall.

5. Creating a different mood
For easy makeovers, you can make a fast, easy change with bedding – you can’t go wrong with crisp white bed linen, as it doesn’t interfere with the rest of the decor.

Bathrooms filled with a scented candle and clean fluffy towels all add to that ‘hotel’ feel. Switching furniture around can change the look of a room – but remember to measure your space first, as you don’t want to waste time moving it only to find it doesn’t fit. You really don’t have to spend a lot to create a different mood or look to your home, and if you’re stuck for ideas, have a look at interior magazines for inspiration.