Spring! Clean!

If you’re a vaguely normal and sane person, cleaning probably doesn’t figure on your list of favourite things to do. Let’s face it, if you didn’t have to clean or tidy up, you’d probably have enough time to write at least three novels and - funds permitting - go on a couple of world tours. So if you have to clean (and you really do), why not do it in style? This doesn’t mean embracing a Mrs Beeton-inspired level of Domestic Goddess perfection, simply choosing a few items that make cleaning a little more stylish. Freshly brewed pot of Earl Grey ready? Let’s get cleaning!

Back to (Stylish) Basics

First things first; roll up your sleeves and pop on some rubber gloves - these girly polka dot ones might make cleaning seem like a fun and frivolous pursuit rather than a tedious toil. You can’t clean properly without the right basic equipment, so be ruthless and send old cloths and almost-finished bottles of detergent towards the bin. And we suggest replacing those cloths with something a little more chichi - try these cobalt-hued printed dishcloths from Jangneus.

Murchison-Hume make luxury cleaning products packaged in lovely vintage-inspired glass bottles - and they’re available in a range of fragrances that wouldn’t look out of place at the perfume counter. Try the Original Fig Counter Intelligence Safe Surface Spray for size. All of the products are chemical-free too. Mrs White’s Bathroom Cleaning range is similarly chic, with natural ingredients such as ylang ylang, jasmine and narcissus. Just remember that you’re washing cupboards and counters - not yourself! And so that your cupboard don’t become a disorganised muddle just after you’ve sorted them, choose a chic caddy to store cleaning products.

Elegant Equipment

Stylish spring cleaning requires the right equipment and for slick, well-designed products (as usual), the Scandinavians triumph. Iris Hantverk’s tall brush and dustpan set looks far too elegant to stash in a dark cupboard. The same goes for the simple, clever - albeit a little more petite - dust pan and brush from Normann Copenhagen. We also like the brand’s award-winning washing up bowl and brush.

Once you’ve done washing and cleaning, you’re sure to need some towels and there are lots of lovely ones to choose from. A humble tea towel really will brighten up the kitchen (plus they’re much more economical than fresh flowers), so perhaps choose three or four to match your colour scheme. Donna Wilson’s Use My Tail tea towel is impossibly cute, or why not Save Water (and) Drink Champagne?

Lovely Laundry

Ah the endless task of laundry! The more clothes you wear (a lot in our case), the more laundry there seems to be. And that’s before we even mention (in a whisper) the necessary evils of dry cleaning or hand-washing. The first step in keeping the Laundry Monster under control is to invest in a stylish or sensible washing basket. Wenko’s bin makes sorting laundry into colours a cinch, while this pretty woven basket from Idyll Home has that Homes & Gardens countryside chic look.

Once you’ve sorted out the laundry and are ready to dive into the pursuit of actual washing, may we suggest the most sophisticated detergent - that of New York-based company The Laundress. The packaging looks like it belongs in the boudoir rather than the utility room, and there’s an endless range of products available - from Denim Wash and Swimwear Care to a delicate Wool & Cashmere Spray. There’s even a couple of detergents created through a collaboration with posh parfumeurs Le Labo, which are scented with santal and rose. Washing done, peg out all of your underwear and let dry in the fresh air - we love these fun spotted pegs or try the V&A’s quirky Blackbird pegs.

Don’t forget…

…to jazz up even the most unloved areas of your home. How about an unusual toilet brush? We like this wood and concrete one from Lovisa Wattman. Use with Method’s amusing Eau de Toilettes toilet cleaner. Yes, really. And so that you don’t let things get into a mess - leading to an even more Gargantuan spring clean next year, we recommend this practical Random Crap storage bag. Truly ingenious.