Our 8 favourite spring-cleaning tips

1. Pick up pet hair with a rubber brush

Erin Bennett, a product test writer at Consumer, has a new favourite tool – a cheap rubber brush. She says they’re amazing at picking up both pet and human hair if your vacuum isn’t great at it. “They can pull up a surprising amount that the vacuum has just been missing,” Erin says.

If pet hair is a problem in your house, check out our picks for the best standard and stick vacs for tackling fur.

2. Clean vacuum heads with a safety cutter

Erin also recommends buying a cheap safety cutter to clean your vacuum head and keep it working well. Hair and threads can get wrapped around the brush head but can easily be chopped free with one of these little cutters that cost less than $10. “They’re easier and safer than using a pair of scissors,” Erin says.

3. Clear your dishwasher’s spray arms

If you can detach your dishwasher’s spray arms, get them out and poke a toothpick or skewer in the holes to clear out any clogs. It’ll do a better job of washing your dishes if the water can easily get through every hole.

4. Check your clothes dryer’s sensors

Did you know about cleaning your clothes dryer’s sensors? If your dryer has been a bit unreliable lately, you might need to give its sensors a wipe. Our guide to getting the most out of your dryer tells you where to find the sensors and what else your dryer might need.

5. Save time cleaning the rangehood

Do you know you can put your rangehood’s metal filters in the dishwasher? There’s usually no need to spend time scrubbing off all that grease.

6. Get your jug boiling brilliantly

If your jug is taking longer to boil or you’ve noticed it’s louder, it might just need a clean. Check out our guide to getting rid of limescale using vinegar.

7. Give your pillows a refresh

Pillows need a wash every now and then to get rid of the microorganisms and dust mites that have made it their home. Check the tag, but usually they can be put through the washing machine.

8. Get the bbq ready for summer

James le Page, our product test team leader, says you don’t need to dread cleaning your barbecue if you’ve got a couple of good tools – you just need a scraper and a brush. He’s even made a barbie-cleaning video to show you how easy it is.

Do you have a spring-cleaning trick to share with us? Maybe it’s a quick way of doing something or a product that makes the job easier. If you’re a Consumer NZ member you can let us know in the comments.