Hello friends! Today I am sharing just a quick post with tips for keeping your busy home clean and disinfected by tackling some of the most dreaded chores. Over the past couple of weeks I have been deep cleaning, purging and decluttering and staying on top of daily choires and I actually enjoy doing them! I have to say it has been a huge success and I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulder and really helped with my well-being. With the holidays coming, it’s a great time to get your home really clean before dragging out all of the decor. Some of the really dirty jobs like cleaning the oven, carpets and windows can be done now so you have more time to decorate and celebrate with friends and family in the weeks ahead. Here are some tips and links to some blog resources you may find helpful.*This post contains affiliate and/or sponsored links.
If you have kids and pets, it can be a little harder to keep on top of things but with a little planning the cleaning battle can be won! 38% of American households have 3 or more children, according to the Pew Research Center, and if you are one of those households then you know how quickly things can get messy. Instead of trying to do everything at once, it is better to have a schedule and tackle different spaces on different days.
On top of this, 68% of households across the U.S. are sharing their homes with an array of pets, including cats and dogs. The two combined typically results in lots of household mess, scuffs, and dirt. But for hygiene purposes, it’s essential that you keep on top of the biggest cleaning jobs in your home and tackle them early before it becomes overwhelming.
Keeping your carpets fresh
The average carpet contains 200,000 organisms per square inch, making it crucial that you take action to keep them clean. Ideally, you should vacuum once per week to keep your home tidy and hygienic. You can get young children involved in vacuuming by buying them a play vacuum so that they can mimic you while you work, whereas older children can vacuum in return for an allowance or extra screen time. When you’ve got little feet and paws constantly running across your flooring, you need to regularly deep clean your carpets, too.
Potty accidents caused by pets should be treated, as they stain carpets and create unpleasant odors. A pet carpet cleaner can also be used when your pets run across your carpet with muddy paws or when your kids spill food and drink. As these cleaners penetrate deeply, your carpets will be wet for a small period of time, so it’s best to complete this task when your kids and pets are out for the day or are having fun elsewhere in your home. Getting a professional carpet cleaner can make even the dingiest room look fabulous. You can also get someone to do your carpet cleaning for you or also rent the machine and do it yourself. Keeping carpets and floors clean can help reduce of having pet pest problems such as fleas. Of course you should still call a professional such as https://naturesgatepest.com/ if you do have a larger infestation to ensure it is dealt with and they won’t come back.
A healthy oven
Despite the high temperature in your oven, food debris and grease encourages bacteria growth. Plus, scientists have found that oven handles have more bacteria on them than a toilet seat. As your oven is used on a daily basis, make the effort to disinfect the handle of your oven with a clean cloth once per day to keep microorganisms at bay.
The inside of your oven should also be cleaned out on a monthly basis. Shelves should be placed in a bag with oven cleaner and left to soak before being scrubbed, while the main oven needs to be scrubbed with oven cleaner and a wire brush. To ensure you get the job done each month, select a memorable date, such as the 1st of the month, and make it ‘oven clean day’.
Cleaning the Bathroom
First and foremost, it’s important that you keep your bathroom as dry as possible. This is because damp environments can encourage the growth of bacteria, mold, and other problems that are best avoided in your home. Take simple steps such as using a bathmat on the floor outside of your shower or next to your bath. Wash and dry the mat regularly. Invest in quick dry bath towels that won’t harbour moisture. Wash and dry these regularly too. Mop up any spills and air the room to release steam after baths and showers.
The Basics
Chances are you already carry out these basic cleaning tasks in your bathroom:
- Wipe down all tiled surfaces
- Clean the sink
- Clean the bathtub
- Clean the shower
- Mop the floors
- Clean the toilet
- Polish mirrors
Cleaning Your Shower Curtain
While shower screens are becoming increasingly popular, many homes still have shower curtains. All too many people make the mistake of thinking that these curtains clean themselves, as they come into frequent contact with soap and water. But when it comes down to it, shower curtains can harbour water and bacteria can quickly begin to grow on them. It’s essential that you proactively clean your shower curtain regularly. All you have to do is unclip the curtain from your shower rail and put it in your washing machine. Turn the machine on to a warm wash, adding some detergent. Once the cycle has finished, simply hang your shower curtain back up to drip dry.
Spic and Span windows
Almost 40% of Americans say that cleaning their windows is their least preferred chore. Yet, it’s important you keep them clean inside and out because it’s common for mold to grow on and around windows. If there’s no mold present, you can get your kids involved in the cleaning of ground floor windows. Simply give them a bucket of soapy water and a sponge and let them scrub away. If there is mold, you’ll need to treat it with an anti-bacterial spray and water before letting your kids loose on the windows. Be sure to wear a mask and gloves if cleaning mold. If it is black and you have any suspicions of black mold, contact a professional mold removal company.
Whether you are going to dust and mop the floor, clean the windows and kitchen sinks, or do laundry, the point is, you should be systematic in your cleaning. As a member of a busy household, it’s all too easy to forgo big cleaning jobs. However, as these items typically contain thousands of harmful bacteria, you should always make time to get these jobs done. And, best of all, your children can pitch in with many of these tasks, too.
Planning a Cleaning Schedule
Planning is vital in cleaning a house as it can help you transition from one room to another smoothly. It can also act as a motivator when you know what and where needs cleaning. Start by selecting the right time to clean. Note that it is advisable to clean a house early in the morning when you feel more energetic than in the afternoon. Secondly, gather all your cleaning items, detergents, fragrances, and tools.
Sometimes, you can’t do it all yourself. There is too much mess and not enough time to do it. This is where reinforcements come in. Ask your family or friends to give you a little hand in tackling the most demanding cleaning tasks so you can have some support. Call your girlfriends and have them help you clean your house. Later on, you can cook some chicken piccata, sip on your favorite flavored coffees, and binge-watch your favorite show together.
Likewise, professional help, such as bed bug removal or deep commercial cleaning, can also give you the peace of mind that everything is clean, especially if you’ve moved into a new house that was not left in acceptable condition.
With our current kitchen renovation I have been forced to declutter the cabinets and a lot of my excess countertop decor and knick-knacks. I am not sure I am really ready to purge some of the antiques because I may want to open an antiques booth again. We are out of room in the basement so looking into storage rentals might be an option. It’s times like these that I rather wish I were more of a minimalist. Wish me luck getting as I work to get our home clean and organized before the summer. Now I am off to purging more basement clutter!
Wish me luck getting as I work to get our home clean and organized before the summer. Now I am off to purging more basement clutter!
Thanks for visiting today!
Amber
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