Category: Home

When we think about “Spring Cleaning”, we often just think about cleaning our home, especially tackling the big cleaning jobs that we don’t do during the year. But there are lots of other areas you can apply a good old “Spring Clean” to your life. We sought the advice of some cleaning and organising experts to find out how to spring clean your office this spring. Here are some of their helpful tips:

1. Completely clear your desk

Rather than picking bits of pieces off your desk and dealing with them one at a time, Professional Organiser and transformed messaholic, Kirsty Farrugia says, “My top tip is to completely clean your desk of everything. Create a clean slate and then only put back on your desk the things you use every day and that you love (a picture of your loved ones). Deal with all other items, put filing away, put rubbish in the bin, give things back that belong to others and throw in the bin rubbish. This practice will help you maintain a clutter-free desk and help spark creativity”.
Jane Wilson, head of marketing and social at Melbourne branch of Fantastic Cleaners explains that “Every spring we have a de-cluttering organised in our entire office. Every employee is kindly asked to get rid of all the unnecessary items from their desks, such as old notebooks, pens that don’t work, various pieces of paper that are no longer relevant, and other similar items.” 

By completely clearing your desk, this also allows you to easily perform the next step…

2. Wipe down your desk and office equipment

Wiping down your desk will get rid of any dust and left-over lunch crumbs, but don’t limit yourself to the desk – wipe down your phone, computer, keyboard and anything else on your desk that gets used regularly. Jane Wilson says that her team are “asked to wipe their desks and computers/phones with the products we provide,” but you can use wipes, dust clothes – whatever you have handy. 

3. Organise, organise, organise

Completely clearing off your desk will allow you to see what pieces of paper need to be actioned, tossed, delegated, or filed. The key is to make a decision about everything you pick up – “Don’t just shift stuff from one area into another. Be realistic and know that things must go,” warns Susanne Thiebe from LessMess.

Don’t just stop at the physical files either. Use this time to also tackle your computer files. In Jane’s office, “Everyone also makes a small organising of their computer files, they get rid of everything they don’t need and every computer gets cleaned professionally,” which will enhance your work experience and efficiency when you can quickly find what you need. 
Just be careful not to over organize your files/docs/emails, advises Susanne. After all, “Filing is about retrieving. If you know you are never going to read that information again, put it in the bin!!”

4. Tackle all areas of your office

Look around your office for other opportunities to clean and refresh your space – this applies to both small home offices and larger commercial offices alike. “Other spring cleaning routines we have is to have the carpets in the office washed, the windows as well, the office plants get re-potted and trimmed if needed, and all the common areas like kitchens, bathrooms and storage rooms get decluttered of old items, everything gets organised and dusted,” says Jane. 

And don’t forget to “Get rid of excess furniture, paper, magazines, books etc,” Heather Gibson and Sara Hall from Finer Details Concierge & Organiser Services advise. Removing the larger items, especially furniture makes a remarkable difference in making your space feel less cluttered. 

5. Spring clean your timetable

If you don’t have time to spring clean, maybe you need to spring clean your diary and To Do List. “Say NO more often. If you don’t have time to do things now – it’s unlikely that you have time later. Cross unrealistic items off the to do list for good,” says Susanne. Consider your overarching goals and vision. If there are things on your To Do list that don’t align with your bigger goals, carefully consider if they need to be on your list in the first place. 

6. Set some ongoing “rules” for keeping your workspace organised

Heather Gibson and Sara Hall recommend the following “best practices” for ongoing maintenance:
1. Keep a clear desk – tidy at the end of each day
2. Allocate a time to deal with incoming mail – file, action or bin
3. Label storage areas so things are easily returned  
4. Clearly mark disposal date on archives so you don’t end up keeping years of unnecessary paperwork
5. Use the “one-in one-out rule” – when insurance, licences and other annual renewals arrive in the mail, discard the old straight away  

And finally, Susanne shares four motivating organising tips to remember:
1. Organising doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but “organising is a skill everyone can learn”.  
2. “It’s more important to get it done than to get it done perfectly.”
3. “Start small – with one easy drawer or box.”
4. Celebrate your achievements

Be kind to yourself, spring cleaning and organising your space will take time, especially if you haven’t done it for a while. Block out some time in your diary to minimise distractions and get it done, put on some comfy clothes and great music and imagine how great it will feel when it’s done!

Thank you to our contributors for sharing their wise words:

1. Kirsty Farrugia: Professional Organiser and transformed messaholic. 
Passionate about helping others to find space in their heads, hearts and homes, Kirsty wants to share with others the freedom that comes from living a decluttered life. 

Owner of Feels Like Home Professional Organisers, and co-producer of popular podcast The Art of Decluttering, Kirsty is on a mission to help those who are too busy, too confused, too tired, too stressed or too overwhelmed to deal with their own clutter – working with clients to create order and make long-term improvements in all aspects of their lives. 

Kirsty lives in Sydney, Australia with her uber-organised husband and her two gorgeous children.


2. Heather Gibson & Sara Hall, Finer Details Concierge & Organiser Services
Finer Details is a West Australian based Concierge & Organiser Service who have assisted local, interstate and overseas clients with their organisational needs. Sara and Heather are the owners of the longest operating Concierge business in Perth WA with a team of capable and dedicated employees. Learn more at www.finerdetails.com.au, or check them out on Facebook and Instagram. 

3. Susanne Thiebe, LessMess
LessMess is a Professional Organising business specialising in family management and office organisation. Susanne (Thiebe) has been running her business LessMess since 2006. She trained in Germany and has an engineering degree in Interior Architecture. She is married and mother to three boys. She is an accredited Expert Professional Organiser and founding member of the Institute of Professional Organisers (IOPO). Susanne writes a regular blog as well as a fortnightly newsletter that contain organising tips, interesting web links and snippets of her families’ personal journey to live a life less stressful and more fulfilling. Learn more at www.lessmess.com.au, or connect on Facebook and Twitter (lessmess). 

4. Jane Wilson, Fantastic Cleaners, Melbourne
Jane is a business manager, a mum and a blogger. She is originally from London, but moved to Melbourne more than 5 years ago. Jane manages the Melbourne branch of Fantastic Cleaners as the head of marketing and social. Jane also has a small personal blog, Modern Housewives, where she post articles on different topics, like home improvement, cool DIY and gardening projects, tips on raising children and more. 

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This Handy Home Tip was kindly shared with us by The Household Helper – your go-to hub; providing tips, tricks, hints and how-tos for keeping your home sparkling clean. From the kitchen, to the bathroom and everything in between, their mission is to share more than 100 years of expertise from the team at Pental Products, owners of some of your most trusted household helpers. Check out their Facebook page for more helpful tips…

Most of us use chopping boards everyday, so here’s a simple and easy way to keep them clean…

Here’s part two of our How to maintain and care for glass in your home mini blog series. 

11. Glass Storage
Do not store or place other materials in contact with glass. This can damage the glass or create a heat trap leading to thermal breakage. 

12. Reflective Glass
Extra care is necessary where high performance reflective glass is installed. The coated surface can be susceptible to stains and scratches. Temporary screens should be installed if welding, sandblasting, floor sanding, cutting or other DIY or construction practices take place near the glass. Glass installations which are adjacent to concrete (e.g. concrete slab floors) also require extra care and cleaning due to the abrasive nature of concrete dust. 

13. Toughened Glass
The cleaning of toughened glass requires special care. The glass surface opposite the standards compliance stamp may, as a consequence of the manufacturing process, have ‘pickup’ on the surface. ‘Pickup’ is a deposit of very small particles of glass which are fused to the glass surface. A cleaning method which does not dislodge these particles should be employed otherwise scratching of the glass surface may result. Blades or scrapers have been known to dislodge ‘pickup’ from the glass surface. A soft cloth, which will not dislodge ‘pickup’ should be used. 

14. Low-E Glass 
Glass with a Low-E coating cleans differently to ordinary glass. Cleaning the coated (interior) surface can be done with products such as Windex Multi-Surface Cleaner, Mr. Muscle Surface and Glass or a mixture of one part vinegar with ten parts water. When cleaning, always wear gloves and remove jewellery or watches. Flood the glass surface with the spray-on cleaning solution or with a cloth saturated with cleaning solution. Scrub the wetted surface with a clean, lint free towel or cloth. Wipe with a dry, clean, lint free towel or cloth. Do not use a squeegee on the coated (interior) surface. To prevent streaking, stop wiping when the glass is almost dry and there is a uniform film of moisture left on the glass surface. The film will quickly evaporate leaving a clean surface. The non-coated surface of the glass can be cleaned using the same procedure as ordinary glass. 

15. Care of mirrors
Mirrors require special cleaning care. To clean mirrors, simply wipe over the surface with a few drops of methylated spirits on a damp cloth. Polish surface dry with a lint free cloth. Some proprietary glass cleaners, if used to excess, can cause damage to the silvering as can excessive amounts of water. Make certain when cleaning the face of the mirror that there is no contact with the silver backing, particularly at the edge of the glass and be careful to keep any moisture away from the paint backing of the mirror. Ensure cleaning cloths used are free of any abrasives. 

16. Window components 
When cleaning also make sure to consider the window components i.e. frame, glazing gaskets, seals, hinges and locks, etc. as these will carry their own considerations, you should consult the manufacturer regarding the specific cleaning instructions for these items. 

17. Paint spots 
When doing paint work in the home avoid removing any paint spots using a sharp razor blade as this can damage the glass. As an alternative, investigate solvents or graffiti removal materials, ensuring they won’t damage the glass. If a blade or scraper is used then the risk of damage can be reduced by using a scraper which has a clean edge and is held at an angle of 30° to the glass. However, surface coated, modified or tinted glass requires special care, you will need to seek cleaning advice from your local glass merchant regarding this. 

These tips were kindly shared with us by Viridian. Viridian is Australia’s number one glass provider and the only manufacturer of float glass and hardcoat performance glass products in Australia. Being a part of CSR Building Products, and with a long history of glass making in Australia, Viridian is able to offer comprehensive glass and glazing solutions across Australia and New Zealand. Learn more about what they do here…

Glass is a beautiful material to use around the home – be it through large windows that let the morning sun poor into your house, or mirrors that add a sense of depth and space. 

The challenge with glass is keeping it clean. 

Whilst we don’t always notice when glass is clean, we definitely notice when it’s dirty (or covered with little people’s handprints!). 

There are many ways to clean different types of glass, as well as safety precautions to observe when handling and storing glass. 

The experts at Viridian Glass have kindly shared some of their tops tips on cleaning and handling glass with us, which we will share with you in two parts on our blog. 

1. Glass Protection 
During any home construction or DIY, it is recommended that glass is protected from any contamination caused by building materials and methods used during construction. Construction dust, leachate from concrete and rusting from steel can contribute to the formation of mild chemicals which can stain or damage glass. 

2. Safe glass handling
If glass gets damaged or broken during any home DIY or construction, ensure that experienced glaziers are engaged to rectify the situation. Glass can be a safety hazard if not handled properly. 

3. Appropriate cleaning tools
Glass should be cleaned using only cleaning materials which are free of grit and debris (to avoid scratching and marking). 

4. Appropriate cleaning materials 
When cleaning glass only use detergents and cleaning solutions that are recommended specifically for glass cleaning. Mild detergents are preferable. 

5. Avoid corrosive cleaners
When cleaning glass do not use cleaners which contain Hydrofluoric or Phosphoric acid as they are corrosive to the glass surface. 

6. Avoid harsh cleaners
Do not use any abrasive cleaners, powder based cleaners, scouring pads or other harsh materials to clean windows or other glass products. 

7. Avoid tapes or adhesives
Avoid using any tapes or adhesives on glass as they can sometimes stain or damage glass surfaces (unless they are known to be easily removed). 

8. Careful cleaning method 
When cleaning do not allow cleaning solutions to contact the edges of Laminated glass, Insulating Glass Units or Mirrors. 

9. Avoid cleaning in direct sunlight 
Do not clean the glass when the glass is hot or in direct sunlight. 

10. Avoid thermal fracture 
Avoid causing extreme temperature changes to the glass as this may lead to thermal fracture of the glass, i.e. do not splash hot water on cold glass or freezing water on hot glass.