Spring Cleaning: Small Steps, Big Difference

At Havencare, we help people with learning disabilities and autism find homes that feel right for them. But we don’t just stop at finding the home, we also support people with everything that comes with living in it.

Our Homes team work alongside people to help them navigate everything from tenancy agreements to energy bills, cleaning, maintenance and so much more. As our amazing Homes team put it: “we do everything from fitting new kitchens and bathrooms to garden improvements and ensuring homes are safe and compliant, no two days are ever the same.”

This spring, the Homes team have been working with the people we support to freshen up their homes, finding what works for them and picking up some tips to share.

Week One: Easy Wins 

Start small. Focus on what’s quick and easy to do.

Open the windows to let some fresh air in. Give switches, taps and door handles a quick wipe, (they get touched a lot!) Empty the bins and clear kitchen surfaces down to the bits you use every day.

It won’t take long, and your space will feel calmer once it’s done.

Week Two: Do the bits you can’t normally see

This is the week for the places that don’t normally get much attention.

Go round your skirting boards and window frames with a cloth and see how much dust you pick up. Then tackle the monster under the bed: pull out everything you don’t use and bag it up for the charity shop.

These spots often get missed because they’re out of sight. But getting a handle on them makes the whole space feel better.

Week Three: Go Room by Room

Rather than doing everything at once, this week try focusing on one room each day.

On Monday, give the bathroom some attention. Pull on some marigolds and give everything a good scrub; the shower head, sink, tiles, behind the toilet and the extractor fan.

On Tuesday do the same for the kitchen. Tackle bits like inside the microwave, the fridge door seals and the hob rings.

On Wednesday, the bedroom.

Thursday, the lounge.

Just take it slow, one day at a time. You’ll get there.

Week Four: Finishing Touches 

By week four it’s just the finishing touches left.

Clean the windows (if you’ve got dogs who love sitting in the window, it’ll make a huge difference). Wipe the remote clean of sticky residue. Freshen up the sofa cushions and dust the picture frames.

Then put the kettle on, have a cuppa and enjoy your handiwork.

Small wins add up

If you need a bit of spring cleaning inspiration, take a look at our blog with Andy, who ‘recently celebrated the reappearance of his long-lost bedroom floor.’ Proof that small, steps do pay off!

Thank you to our Homes Team for sharing their tips and supporting people every day. If you’d like to see more of what they do, take a look at A Day in the Life of the Supported Housing Team