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There is a particular kind of optimism in the first properly bright weekend of the year. The light comes in at a new angle, catches the dust on the skirting boards, and suddenly you can see every corner of the house you have been ignoring since October. Spring cleaning is not about scrubbing yourself into exhaustion. It is about working through your home with a plan, one room at a time, so that by the end of it the whole place feels lighter, fresher and easier to live in.

Start With a Plan, Not a Marigold

Before you lift a single cloth, spend twenty minutes deciding what you are actually doing. A scattered approach — half a cupboard here, a window there — leaves you with rooms that are neither clean nor tidy and a temper to match.

Work room by room, and within each room work top to bottom, so dust falls onto floors you have not yet cleaned rather than ones you have. Open the windows first, even if it is chilly, and let the place breathe for ten minutes. Gather your kit in a bucket or caddy so you are not marching up and down the stairs: microfibre cloths, a couple of old toothbrushes, white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, a mild multi-surface cleaner, a vacuum with a brush attachment, and a bin bag for anything that is leaving for good.

Aim for one room per session rather than one heroic day. Two hours on a Saturday morning is far more sustainable than a whole weekend that leaves you stiff and resentful.

Windows and the Light They Let In

Windows are the single most rewarding job on the list, because the difference is visible from the moment you finish. Start with the frames and sills — a vacuum brush attachment lifts the grit, then a damp cloth with a little washing-up liquid deals with the rest. Check the trickle vents while you are there, as they clog with dust over winter and quietly reduce your ventilation.

For the glass, work in a figure of eight rather than circles, which shows up less streaking. A squeegee followed by a dry microfibre cloth gives the best finish. Do the inside on a cloudy day if you can; strong sun dries the glass too quickly and leaves marks. Outside, a long-handled squeegee saves you leaning out of upstairs windows, which is never worth the risk.

Finish by wiping the window surrounds and taking down any nets or blinds for a wash — you will be amazed how much grey comes out of a "clean" net curtain.

Cupboards, Drawers and the Kitchen Reset

The kitchen takes the longest, so give it a full session. Empty one cupboard at a time rather than all of them at once, or you will be living in chaos by lunchtime. Wipe the shelves with warm soapy water, dry them properly, and check dates on dry goods as you put things back. Anything past its best goes; anything you have not used in a year probably can too.

• Pull out the fridge and vacuum the coils at the back — dust there makes it work harder and costs you money.
• Wash the salad drawer and door shelves in warm soapy water, then dry fully before refilling.
• Run a bicarbonate of soda solution through the sink drain and pour a kettle of hot water after it.
• Degrease the extractor filter in hot water with a scoop of soda crystals.
• Wipe the tops of wall units, which collect a surprising film of cooking grease.

Move the microwave, the toaster and the kettle and clean underneath. This is where the crumbs of a whole winter live.

Soft Furnishings and the Air in Your Home

Textiles hold an enormous amount of dust, and they are the reason a house can look tidy but still feel stuffy. Strip beds and wash duvets, pillows and mattress protectors according to their care labels — a sunny, breezy day is ideal for drying them outside.

• Take curtains down and wash or steam them, then rehang slightly damp so they fall neatly.
• Vacuum upholstery with the brush attachment, paying attention to the crevices of the sofa.
• Beat rugs outside over a washing line, then vacuum both sides.
• Wash cushion covers and throws, and give lampshades a gentle going-over with a soft brush.
• Turn mattresses and vacuum them before putting fresh linen back on.

If you have an airing cupboard, this is a good moment to sort it: old towels to the charity bag, spare bedding folded into sets so you can grab one without hunting.

Bathrooms, Bedrooms and the Small Stuff

Bathrooms clean quickly if you let products do the work. Spray the shower screen and tiles, leave for ten minutes, then wipe. Descale the shower head by tying a bag of white vinegar around it overnight. Wash the bath mats, launder the shower curtain if it is fabric, and clear out the medicine cabinet — expired medicines go to a pharmacy, not down the loo.

In bedrooms, focus on under the bed and the top of the wardrobe, then be honest about the wardrobe itself. If it has not been worn since last spring, it is not going to be worn this one. A bag for the charity shop and a bag for the bin will clear more space than any amount of folding.

Finally, do the jobs nobody notices but everybody feels: wipe light switches and door handles, clean the inside of the bins, vacuum under the sofa cushions, and shake out the doormat.

Keeping the Calm Afterwards

A deep clean is not a one-off performance, it is a reset. Once the house is fresh, protect that feeling with a few small habits. Keep a basket by the stairs for things that belong upstairs. Wipe the kitchen surfaces before bed. Open the windows for ten minutes each morning, whatever the weather. Put a reminder in the diary to change bedding and clean the filters monthly, and the big spring job stays manageable rather than overwhelming.

The point of all this is not a showroom. It is a home that feels calm to walk into, where the light comes through clean glass, the cupboards close properly and you can find the spare duvet when a guest arrives. Work through it steadily, room by room, and enjoy the rest of the season in a house that feels genuinely renewed.