With spring season just around the corner, it’s time to consider a thorough home clean-up to get rid of all the accumulating dust and clutter.
Spring cleaning might seem daunting, but breaking it down into small steps with a clear goal in mind can help. And setting aside a day or two to complete the task – with help from family, friends, or neighbours – can make it much more manageable and enjoyable.
Furthermore, spring cleaning not only refreshes your home, but also uplifts your mood. Clearing clutter reduces stress, improves focus, and promotes a sense of accomplishment, contributing to overall well-being.
And cleaning tasks such as vacuuming and scrubbing can burn up to 300 calories an hour.
There are non-health benefits, too. You might uncover a personal treasure you thought you’d lost. You’ll likely discover a trove of items that you no longer need that could be donated to charity – or sold for that little extra in your pocket.
A clean slate
A thorough home clean-up begins with preparation: lock down a cleaning schedule and gather necessary supplies.
Be realistic: don’t bite off more than you can chew. While the tasks may be simple, they can be physically (and in some cases emotionally) exhausting.
Sort through all the clutter before diving into the cleaning process.
Work through the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living spaces, first decluttering and organising messy cupboards and cabinets, then dusting furniture and cleaning in and around appliances.
Often overlooked areas include baseboards, ceiling fans, and light fixtures.
Don’t get sidetracked by missing, partial, or broken items. Place these into a separate box or area, and return to them later.
Tackle outdoor spaces such as patios and window sills, and maintain indoor and outdoor plants, all the while focussing on air quality.
Optional: deep-clean appliances, scrub surfaces, wash windows, and launder curtains and linens. And take the opportunity to enhance your cleaning routine, such as using natural cleaning solutions.
Unwanted items
There are plenty of ways to deal with unwanted items besides tossing them in the trash.
If it’s broken, try fixing it! Look online for some DIY tips, ask a neighbour, or contact your local Men’s Shed to see if they can make some use of it.
If you’re financially in need, list your big items for sale locally via online platforms like Gumtree or Facebook. Note: Beware of scammers posing as buyers who concoct complicated stories that invariably result in you being asked to send them a payment first.
If you have lots of pre-loved goods to trade or sell, a garage sale is an option. Or try a community sale event, like the ‘Trash 2 Treasure Fair’ at the Camira Springfield Community Centre on September 16. Visit the My Precious Events website (mypreciousevents.com.au/trash-2-treasure) for more details.
Feel generous and want to do some good for the community? Consider donating items to local charity group Westside Community Care. Visit their website (wccare.org.au/donations) for more information.
Kerbside collection
Some things are unsalvageable, so it’s time for kerbside collection.
Conveniently, Ipswich City Council now offers an annual kerbside hard rubbish pick-up through its new on-demand service.
Eligible Springfield households are entitled to one collection of unwanted large household items every year, at no charge, on a day of their choosing.
The process involves contacting the Council, receiving a large 2 cubic metre container, and leaving it out for collection.
What’s more, previously collected items went straight to landfill, but under the new kerbside collection model, up to 80% of the material will be covered, according to the Council.
Council is also currently exploring options for additional large items to be collected on a pay-per-use basis.
Hazardous waste
While spring-cleaning, you might encounter chemical substances and other hazardous materials that need to be disposed of carefully. Leaving them around the home can be dangerous to people, pets, and wildlife.
For old cans of paint, try the free ‘Paintback’ service – available via the Greenbank Waste & Recycling Facility, open seven days a week. They not only recycle the tin but also convert any leftover solvent and acrylic paint into an alternative energy source or for other industrial applications. Visit the Paintback website (paintback.com.au) for more info.
If you have lingering questions, Redooo, based in Richlands, is a handy full-service waste management provider for residential and business.
In addition to regular rubbish removal and recycling, Redooo ensures chemical or toxic materials are correctly identified, classified, transported, and either recycled or safely disposed of.
To help with your cleaning and clearing, Redooo is exclusively offering Springfield residents and businesses 10% off chemical waste removal standard pricing – as well as free delivery for business general waste. Scan the QR code in the ad below for more information.
For more information about Council or Redooo waste collection services, visit shapeyouripswich.com.au/resourcerecovery and redooo.com.au/services, respectively.
