While you’re stuck at home with a little extra time on your hands, instead of sitting around and bingeing the most recent Netflix offering, make the most of a bad situation and use this outbreak to deep clean and disinfect your home, just in time for spring.
Start in one room
Depending on your cleaning style, you may prefer to tackle all tasks such as ceiling fans in each room of your house and then move on to the next. If this works for you, then great, keep crushing that spring cleaning checklist. However, if you find yourself getting overwhelmed by the dust, dirt, and clutter, a good idea is to start in one room and clean it top to bottom and then shut the door and move on to the next.
Top to bottom
Speaking of top to bottom, instead of going about haphazardly in each room and cleaning the floors, then tracking dirt from other rooms onto them, try starting with the highest point in the room and then working down. Clean and dust the fans, light fixtures, and all the corners of the ceiling. Then wipe down the walls, baseboards, and finally clean the floor thoroughly. If you have any clutter or disorganization, now is a great time to remove everything and clean shelves and drawers. Once your storage space is clean, return the items to the space in an organized fashion.
Wash windows
Most people who choose to tackle a spring cleaning list will remember big items like cleaning the floor and dusting behind furniture, but there is one critical feature that is often overlooked…the windows. Since you look out of them every single day, it is easy to not notice the dirt and grime that builds up, especially on the outside. Use a vinegar and water solution and paper towels (or a microfiber cloth) and tackle your windows on a cloudy day. Yes, taking out the screens will be a bit of hassle, but will be well worth it in the long run, especially if you only clean your windows a few times a year. Don’t forget about the windowsill and clean out any dead bugs or dirt.
While you are doing this, vacuum window dressings to get rid of any dust or wash them on a delicate setting (or following the tag’s instructions) if they are really dirty.
Deep clean carpets
Carpets can quickly become grimy and will certainly last longer with a good deep cleaning in the spring. The winter months are often hard on carpets, and renting a carpet cleaner to detail your rugs, and installed carpet is a great way to help protect your flooring investment. If you’re not a fan of the DIY route or your carpets are really bad, consider hiring a professional to take care of them.
Disinfect
When you are gathering up your cleaning supplies and preparing to tackle your home cleaning, remember, disinfecting power is key. Anyone in your family could be tracking in nasty germs and bugs from surfaces and people outside your home, so it is crucial to create a safe, disinfected space where you don’t have to worry about catching any viruses. Disinfect your home, including all commonly-touched surfaces such as doorknobs and light switches during your spring cleaning and give each one a quick once-over with an antibacterial mixture of lemon, vinegar, and water, every day after your main cleaning.
Freshen furniture
Remove and wash throw pillow covers, condition your leather couches or chairs, and vacuum under cushions to eradicate any loose crumbs or wayward popcorn kernels. It is also a good idea to condition any of your wood furniture with a mixture of ½ tsp of olive oil and ½ cup vinegar in a spray bottle. Apply this to your wood using a microfiber cloth and a circular, buffing motion. Be sure to shake before using it.
Get organized
Tackle those long-ignored corners of clutter, go through your closet and donate clothes you don’t wear anymore, stop piling more and more random cords in your junk drawer, and get organized instead. Spring is a great time to get rid of some unnecessary baggage and will make you more equipped to face the busy summer season. When you know exactly what you have and where everything is, you can think more clearly and focus better on the other tasks at hand.
-Susan Patterson