Author of Gaff Goddess and Décor Galore Laura De Barra joined Kathryn Thomas (filling in for Ray D'Arcy) on RTÉ Radio 1 with some spring cleaning tips and tricks. Listen back above.
"I think the main thing with a spring clean is to think of things that don't get cleaned all the time," says Laura, "then you can do a top-up at the end. So, you're looking for things that haven't been moved all winter season or even since last summer."
As well as giving your home a once-over with a hoover and duster, a proper spring clean should include wiping down the backs of cupboards, sweeping underneath furniture, and clearing out those drawers and shelves.
"You want to pull out all storage, clean the inside of the storage, and then put things back in, checking things for dates."
If you have a heap of coats sitting under the stairs or are ready to pack your winter wear into the attic for the summer, Laura recommends hoovering everything down to avoid any future damage.
"Moths are a massive problem this time of year," she says, explaining that moth larvae can cause havoc on your textiles without you realising that they're even there. "You want to make sure you get on top of it now so it doesn't come back again next season."
While you might be tempted to avoid any creepy crawlies by vacuum packing your wardrobe away, Laura says that the method ins't particularly kind on clothing, especially with natural fibres that need to breathe.
"You're better off putting them into air-tight containers that don't suck all the air out of it; they need the air that's within the fibres to be able to keep their shape and to not degrade the way they would when all the air is sucked out of them."
She does note, however, that vacuum packing can be a great way to store bedsheets and duvets.
When it comes to bathrooms, Laura says a good spring clean will see you tackling dirty drains and limescale as well as the day-to-day jobs.
"With drains, you don't need any intense cleaners," she insists, explaining that a cup of vinegar and a cup of bicarbonate of soda followed by some warm water should do the trick.
"Even if you don't have hair going down the drain, you're going to have body oils and greasy kind of conditioners and stuff like that, and they do clog the pipes."
For limescale, Laura recommends cutting a lemon or lime in half and rubbing it along any limescale that you might find on bathroom screens or taps. Alternatively, distilled white vinegar can be a handy go-to.
An advocate for using natural ingredients when cleaning the home, Laura says that bicarbonate of soda is a "really stunning deodoriser", and can even be used to give a mattress a new lease of life.
Once you strip your sheets, Laura says you should give your mattress a few thumps ("you'll be surprised at how many skin particles will come out to greet you"), and then give it a hoover.
If you have time, sprinkle bicarb onto your mattress, couch, dog basket, or even an old chair in need a refresh, and leave it to sit for a few hours before vacuuming it all away.
"If you vacuum something with bicarb at the very end [of the day], you will then leave that bicarb in your vacuum overnight and it will cleanse the vacuum of odours, so it's a win-win."
To find out how to get rid of moldy spots on the windowsill with natural ingredients, listen back above.
