Spring clean your tech: 8 simple jobs for a better-connected home

Your annual spring clean usually means clearing out cupboards, wiping down windows and finally dealing with your jam-packed wardrobe.

But your home tech could probably use a tidy-up too.

From forgotten devices on your WiFi to passwords and apps you haven’t opened in years, a little digital housekeeping can make your technology easier to use, more secure and, in some cases, perform better.

A good tech spring clean starts with your home WiFi, devices and online accounts. Check your router placement, remove unused devices, install software updates, review your passwords, delete unwanted apps and files, check your backups, and make sure your broadband plan still suits how your household uses the internet. We’ll dive into more detail into what this looks like, plus a helpful checklist below.

1. Give your WiFi & router a refresh

Start with the technology that connects everything else and presumbly what you use the most: your home WiFi.

First, look at where your router is sitting. WiFi generally works best when the router is somewhere relatively central, open and unobstructed. Hiding it in a cupboard, behind the TV or at one end of the house can make it harder to get a good signal and can often be the culprit behind any speed issues.

If there are parts of the house where WiFi regularly struggles, take note of where and when it happens. The problem might be WiFi coverage rather than the speed of the broadband connection coming into your home, especially if you live in a large or multi-level home. If that is the case you might want to look at mesh router units or an extender to help spread your connection evenly across your home.

Does your router also need an upgrade? Your router does a lot of work. Phones, laptops, TVs, gaming consoles, security cameras and smart-home devices can all be competing for a connection, often at the same time. If you’ve got a fast fibre or Hyperfibre connection but you’re using an older router, it’s worth checking whether your home WiFi equipment is making the most of that connection.

Newer routers can offer better WiFi performance (WiFi 7), security features and support for more modern devices, whilst having easier in-app set-up and control - crucial for families. Read about what you should look for in a new router here, or if you’re already with Voyager, learn more about our market-leading smart eero routers.

Home WiFi spring-clean checklist

1. Check that your router is in an open, unblocked position.
2. Restart it if it hasn’t been restarted in a while.
3. Review connected devices and remove ones you no longer recognise or use.
4. Check whether weak WiFi is limited to particular rooms.
5. Make sure your WiFi password isn’t something that’s been shared far and wide for years.
6. Check how old your router is and which WiFi standard it supports.
7. If you’re considering an router upgrade, check whether your devices support newer technology such as WiFi 7.

If you’re having ongoing WiFi problems, investigate these before assuming you simply need a faster broadband plan.

2. Update your devices

Phones and computers tend to remind us about updates. Other devices are much easier to forget.

Think about everything connected around your home: tablets, smart TVs, streaming devices, gaming consoles, smart speakers and other connected gadgets.

Software updates can include security fixes as well as performance improvements and new features, so it’s worth keeping devices current where possible.

3. Have a password clean-out

Spring is as good a time as any to deal with the passwords you’ve been meaning to change.

Start with your most important accounts, particularly your primary email account. If someone gets access to your email, they may be able to use it to reset passwords for other services due to two factor authentication processes.

Look for passwords that are weak, reused across several accounts or haven’t been changed after a known security issue. If you have an Apple device, within the passwords app, it will actually flag any that have security issues - either if they are compromised or reused.

Where a service offers multi-factor authentication (MFA), switch it on. MFA adds another check when you sign in, making an account harder to access with a stolen password alone.

4. Delete the digital clutter

Digital clutter doesn’t take up space in the garage, but it still gets in the way.

Go through your phone, tablet and computer and look for things you don’t need anymore.

That might include:

• apps and games you no longer use
• duplicate photos and videos
• old downloads
• documents you no longer need
• browser extensions you don’t recognise or use
• accounts for services you’ve stopped using.

This will make your devices easier to manage and reduce unnecessary clutter, and if you’re paying for additional storage through iCloud or Google, this could help reduce this spend also.

5. Check your backups are actually working

A backup isn’t particularly useful if you only discover it stopped working six months ago when you need it.

Check where important files are stored, particularly family photos, videos and essential documents. If you use an automatic cloud backup service, open it and check that recent files have actually been backed up.

For especially important files, consider keeping more than one copy rather than relying on a single phone, computer or storage drive.

This is also a good opportunity to make sure other people in your household know where important shared files are kept.

6. Review your smart-home devices

Connected devices have a habit of accumulating.

You might have smart speakers, TVs, cameras, plugs, lights, appliances or other devices that were set up years ago and haven’t been thought about since.

Do a quick stocktake. Ask:

Do we still use it? If not, disconnect it and remove it from associated accounts where appropriate.

Is it still supported? Older smart devices may no longer receive software or security updates.

Is its software up to date? Check the manufacturer’s app or settings.

Does it need to be connected? Not every device needs permanent internet access simply because it has the option.

It’s a simple habit that can help keep your home network easier to understand and manage.

7. Give the hardware a physical clean too

Now for some actual spring cleaning.

Dust and grime tend to collect around keyboards, screens, vents, consoles and desktop computers. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, particularly before using liquids or cleaning products on electronics.

While you’re there, tackle the cables.

Dispose of unwanted electronics and batteries through an appropriate e-waste or recycling service rather than putting them straight into household rubbish.

And yes, you can probably let go of the charger for the phone you owned three phones ago.

8. Check whether your broadband still fits your household

Your internet use can change significantly without you noticing.

Maybe you’ve started working from home more often. The kids are older and now have their own devices, or you’ve welcomed another flatmate. Someone has started gaming online. You’ve added several streaming services, security cameras or other connected devices.

If your household has changed, it’s worth checking whether your broadband setup still matches the way you use it.

Start by separating two questions: Is the broadband connection itself the problem, or is it the WiFi inside the house?

If the connection is struggling when lots of people are online at once, your broadband plan may be worth reviewing. If the problem only happens in a bedroom at the other end of the house, WiFi coverage may be the better place to start.

For households with particularly demanding internet needs, faster fibre options such as Voyager Hyperfibre may also be worth considering where available.

Speedrunning your tech spring clean?

Don’t have an afternoon to spend on it? Start here and take just 20 minutes:

1. Check your router isn’t hidden away or obstructed.
2. Update your phone and computer.
3. Turn on MFA for your main email account.
4. Delete five apps you no longer use.
5. Check that your latest photos are backed up.
6. Review unfamiliar devices connected to your WiFi.
7. Wipe down your keyboard, screen and phone.
8. Make a note of any WiFi dead spots around the house.

Ready to give your home WiFi an spring upgrade?

If your spring clean shows your router is getting old or your WiFi still seems to be slowing down, newer WiFi technology & a plan upgrade could help you get more from your home connection.

Check out Voyager’s latest broadband & router options to find the right setup for your household, or get in touch with our team to chat through your options.