Job one in a cottage spring clean is finishing what you probably started last fall: get rid of the clutter. Work up your most ruthless, unforgiving mood and ditch anything you don’t need. Then choose a strategy. Maybe you like tackling all the windows first or maybe you want to deep-clean one room at a time. Assign tasks—give everyone a dopamine hit with a job they secretly enjoy or one that shows clear, satisfying results, in compensation for the nasty chores no one wants. Work methodically, top to bottom or left to right—because this weekend, cottager, you are a cleaning machine.
Scrub Daddy damp duster
A long-lasting ridged dust grabber activated with water. No more disposable wipes.
$8, kitchenstuffplus.com
Fred sponges
When there’s so much wiping to be done—mouse-soiled surfaces, hard drives, bad memories—you need a sponge that makes the job fun.
$14, genuinefred.com
Vileda bath magic mop
The pad’s shape gets in the corners, and it’s safe for bathroom surfaces. Use it with or without the handle.
$13, vileda.ca
Tide
A teaspoon of Tide powder in a litre of water is an effective all-purpose cleaner; a tablespoon in a litre makes a strong degreaser. Rinse to remove residue. tide.ca
Bar Keeper’s Friend
Because it uses oxalic acid (not chlorine bleach), BKF is better at removing rust stains and tannins. Lake and septic-friendlier too.
barkeepersfriend.com
This story originally appeared in our Early Spring ’26 issue.
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