With the arrival of Spring comes the annual deep-clean! It's been weeks since the season changed, but with all most of us staying at home these days, there's plenty of time to give our living spaces a real thorough cleaning! Whether you tackle a room one day at a time, or do the entire place in one go, get your home sparkling with these cleaning tips.
First things first,
Prepare your cleaning supplies!
Gather the items you'll need and carry them in a caddy for easy access.
Avoid paper towels by using microfibre ones instead. Use washable mop heads.
Prepare your vacuum cleaner by giving it a good clean itself!
Keep reusable spray bottles handy for homemade or your favourite eco-friendly cleaning solutions.
(Hint: Did you know that you can use our indoor/outdoor cleaner with bleach? Just mix enough to use within a week to ten days- any longer than that and the cleaner will degrade. Use:
1 teaspoon bleach or less
6 oz water
4 oz Indoor/Outdoor cleaner
More details on cleaning with Charlie's Soap and bleach here)
Housewide Cleaning
Some chores need to be done in each room of your home. Here are key cleaning points that should be done in every space.
Remove window screens and scrub with a brush and cleaner. Rinse thoroughly before replacing them.
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove all dust and debris. Take upholstery and cushions outside for shaking off the dust to avoid spreading it indoor. Vacuum and shampoo or machine wash rugs, curtains and other fabrics.
Wash baseboards, doors, cupboards, window sills and walls. Disinfect door handles, cabinet handles and light switches. Remove vent covers and wash in the sink with soapy water.
Remove and dust or clean overhead lights (Check out this article on dusting here!). Replace burnt-out lightbulbs. While you are up by your ceiling, swap out the batteries in your smoke detector.
Bathroom
While you probably clean your bathroom at least once a week, here are some extra tasks to add to your spring clean.
Descale faucets and showerheads and freshen drains with hot water and detergent. If you have a fabric shower curtain, it can be machine washed on a delicate setting and then hung back up to dry out. A plastic shower curtain can be sprayed down with your favourite cleaner.
Go through your medicine cabinet and remove any expired medications. Check with your local pharmacist on how you should dispose of these items- it can be unsafe to put them in the garbage.
The same goes for your makeup and other toiletries. Check their expiry dates- bacteria can grow in these items, causing infections. Make sure you are also cleaning your makeup brushes. They can be washed with warm water and a gentle cleanser. If you have reusable makeup wipes, launder them with a hypoallergenic detergent so that it is gentle on your face.
Kitchen
The kitchen, admittedly, is probably the biggest project to tackle! Here are some areas you shouldn't forget about!
Empty all drawers (including that elusive junk drawer!) and donate items you no longer use. Vacuum crumbs and wipe down the inside and out with your favourite cleaning product.
Deep clean your fridge, tossing expired items and wiping down all shelves and drawers. If possible, remove drawers and wash them out in the sink.
Check under your sink to make sure there aren't any leaks. Organize any cleaning supplies to keep it as clutter free as possible.
Bedroom
A clean bedroom will have you sleeping soundly!
Strip down your bed, and wash all linens, blankets and pillowcases.
Clean and deodorize your mattress with baking soda and the vacuum- you can find instructions on how to do that here.
Tackle your closet! Purge clothing and shoes that you no longer wear and sell or donate.
Wipe down dressers, shelves and drawers.
Laundry Room
It may be the room where you wash your clothes, but it also needs a good spring clean!
Super cleanse your machine by washing a load of rags with at least one dose of Charlie's Soap laundry detergent. Use hot water and heavy agitation.
Lint traps in your dryer should be emptied each time you use your dryer as they can be a fire hazard. Use a vacuum to thoroughly clean the trap, as well as in and around the dryer and washing machine.
And that's a wrap on another year of Spring Cleaning! Do you have any tips you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments below.
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