How to Spring Clean Your Linen Cupboard in 6 Easy Steps

Spring has sprung and it's time to tackle your linen cupboard.

There’s no better time than September for a little spring clean. While the sun comes out and everything blushes back into life, we like to take stock of what we have in our home and think about ways to revive, refresh and renew what we already own.

When it comes to your linen cupboard, there are a few key steps that you can take to give it a little update in time for the warmer months, all of which will help you figure out what you have, what you need, and what to donate or repurpose.

Here is our handy guide for spring cleaning your linen cupboard – block out a weekend and let’s get to it!

1. Take stock of what you have

The first thing to do is to look over what you already have. Set out a clean surface, or spread a picnic blanket on the floor, and pull everything out of your linen cupboard to figure out what you have. How many full sets of sheets do you have? Are you missing anything? Have you got enough tran-seasonal pieces, and have you got enough winter and summer-weight quilts and duvets? Do any sets need repairing or updating? Are any of them stained?

And what about towels: Do you have sets for the beach and the bathroom? What are you missing? What needs to be refreshed? Make a list of what you have so you can identify the gaps that need to be filled.

2. Clean your cupboard

While you have everything pulled out, it’s time to clean your actual linen cupboard. Give it a really good wipe down with a damp, soapy cloth, getting into all of the corners of the shelves as well as the doors and handles. Leave it to air dry. One thing you can do, before you start folding everything to place it back into your cupboard, is invest in something to scent your cupboard and keep your linen smelling fresh. We love sprigs of dried lavender, which you can tuck in the back of each shelf.

3. Wash your linen

Sure, we know you wash your linen all the time. But a proper spring clean is about giving everything a refresh. Take it all out and wash it on a gentle cycle, hanging it up to line dry – this is why you need to block out a day, and preferably one where the weather forecast is favourable! Wash all your quilts and throw blankets too by following the care instructions on the tag. This is also a great time to give your pillows and cushions a wash, which is something you should do every six months. Most pillows can be put in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, but just check the care tag first (e.g. foam pillows can’t be washed in the machine). This will give your pillows a much-needed refresh before you put them back on your bed.

4. Identify any repairs that need to be made

As you’re washing and drying, identify which pieces are in need of a little extra TLC. Have you got stains, tears, rips, or fraying? Can any of them be removed or fixed with repairs? Can you patch over any holes? And if not, is there a way to repurpose what you have into something else? For example, if you have a flat sheet that is no longer fit for purpose, could you use it as a tablecloth instead, by cutting it down to size and giving it a new hem? Or can you transform an old duvet cover into a picnic blanket? Over time, your beloved linens will eventually wear out, but with some creative thinking, a spring clean will help you find new life in these pieces.

5. Replace or fill any gaps

This is the fun bit! Once you have cleaned everything and made your list, as well as undertaken any repairs, you can see where the gaps in your linen cupboard are. What needs to be replaced? What are you missing? What would you love, but haven’t yet been able to track down? The best part of spring cleaning is when you get to fill in all the gaps.

6. Restock the shelves

Fold everything up neatly and arrange them on the shelves. We like to keep full sets together, for ease of finding everything, so that means duvet cover, fitted sheet and pillowcases all folded together, but another way of organizing your linen cupboard is to keep everything in categories, e.g. all the quilts together, all the pillowcases together. It’s really all about what makes the most sense to you. Separate towels and bathroom items from manchester. Think about storing heavier, seasonal items on higher shelves, because you won’t be needing them for a while. Air out your lighter quilts.