Cleaning the house stands as one of the oldest chores in the world, driven by two fundamental reasons: upholding good hygiene within the home and fostering emotional well-being. A tidy and well-organised home is renowned for reducing daily stress and promoting the health of household members. Therefore, it’s essential to pay heed to this article as we provide you with all the necessary insights to thoroughly clean your house, complete with the best cleaning tricks.
Preparation Before Embarking on the Cleaning Adventure
Before delving into the depths of a thorough home cleaning, proper preparation is crucial. This initial stage aids in organising tasks, saving time, and ensuring optimal results. Here are the key steps for effective preparation:
Planning
Before commencing, craft a detailed plan encompassing all the areas and rooms you intend to address. Segment your home into sections and establish a realistic schedule for each. This approach ensures an orderly and systematic progression through your deep cleaning.
Prioritisation of Areas
Identify the areas you want to deep clean (bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms, living room, dining room, storage spaces) and sort them based on their level of dirt, frequency of use, or specific needs.
Task Breakdown
Divide each area into specific tasks and make a list. For instance, you can write down tasks like cleaning the shower, sink, toilet, tiles, and mirrors and categorise them as “Bathroom”.
If you have pets, creating a separate task list for their specific cleaning needs is essential. Each tool and item associated with your pet, such as feeders, puppy pads, blankets, and toys, requires different methods of cleaning to ensure thorough sanitation and hygiene. For example, feeders should be scrubbed and disinfected regularly to prevent the buildup of bacteria; while puppy pads can be washed, some need to be disposed of and replaced frequently. Pet blankets and bedding should be washed with pet-safe detergents to remove fur and odor, and toys should be cleaned according to their material—some may be machine washable, while others might need a more delicate hand wash. By delineating these tasks, you can maintain a cleaner and healthier environment for both your pets and your family.
Check Supplies
Verify that you’ve everything you need for cleaning so you don’t waste time running around looking for stuff.
Dividing Household Chores
In the event that you cohabit with others, contemplate engaging every household member in the cleaning endeavour. Allocate specific tasks and responsibilities to each individual, ensuring that everyone plays a role to expedite the process.
Essential Tools
Vacuum Cleaner
A dependable vacuum cleaner serves as your primary ally in effectively removing dust, dirt, and allergens from both floors and upholstered furniture.
Brooms and Mops
For non-carpeted floors, employ a hard-bristled broom to sweep and then use an appropriate mop with suitable cleaning products for hard floors.
Cloths and Sponges
Assign dedicated cloths and sponges for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in diverse areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, or furniture.
Cleaning Brushes
Tackle challenging areas or stubborn stains with both soft and hard-bristle brushes. Keeping an old toothbrush specifically designated for detailed cleaning can prove handy.
Cleaning Products
Select products designed for specific rooms and surfaces, encompassing all-purpose cleaners, disinfectants, glass cleaners, bathroom cleaners, kitchen cleaners, and more. Always adhere to the provided usage directions.
Cleaning Gloves
Shield your hands with latex, vinyl, or nitrile gloves to prevent skin irritation from cleaning chemicals.
Buckets
Highly versatile for carrying water, cleaning solutions, and soaking and rinsing cloths and sponges.
Sprayer
Ensure an even application of cleaning solutions on various surfaces, especially windows, mirrors, and furniture, by utilising a handheld sprayer.
How to deep clean every room: Step-by-step
Deep Cleaning the Living Room
Dusting and Cleaning Surfaces
Just as a detective starts piecing together a case from the outside in, begin with dusting. Approach it like gathering evidence – methodically, meticulously. To save time and effort, the ideal is to clean everything from top to bottom. Cobwebs on the ceiling, dust on lampshades inside and out, light bulbs, basically everything from the top of the bookshelf to the underside of the coffee table, demands scrutiny. Without forgetting skirting boards, corners and some hard-to-reach corners, such as closet lofts, behind radiators and under sofas.
Upholstery and Carpet Care
The living room, much like a busy crime scene, bears witness to daily life. Vacuum the seats and fluff the cushions. Use a duster or clean the furniture with a multipurpose tool. Then, vacuum clean your carpet thoroughly and use a broom or sweeping disc to pick up dust and dirt if you have hardwood or tile floors. In case there are stains on the floor, you should use a cleaner specific to the type of floor you have to remove them. Think about delving deeper and steam clean to unearth the deeply embedded tales of everyday living.
Electronics and Appliances
In cleaning, as in detective work, the details matter. The fingerprints on the TV screen, the dust behind the stereo – these small, often overlooked details can make or break the cleanliness of a room.
Mastering Bedroom Deep Cleaning
In bedrooms, it’s important to remove objects from drawers and just get rid of everything that’s not useful. It’s also worth cleaning the closet, recycling all the clothes you don’t use and tossing out those objects that only take up space.
Clean from top to bottom
Start cleaning from the top of the room. Clean high surfaces first, such as shelves, window frames, and crown moulding, using a damp cloth or duster. Then, move down to lower surfaces, like nightstands, desks, and other furniture. Make sure to remove any dust and stains before continuing to the next step.
Bedding and Mattress Maintenance
Regularly and meticulously clean your bedding and mattress to eradicate accumulated allergens and germs. This practice not only aids in the creation of a fresher and more hygienic living space but also helps in minimising the likelihood of health problems like asthma and nasal congestion.
Clean windows and mirrors
Wipe windows and mirrors from top to bottom with a microfiber cloth, and pay attention to frames and corners. Tip: spray the glass cleaner directly on the cloth.
Clean lamps, frames, doors
Use a soft cloth and appropriate cleaning products to clean lamps, picture frames, doors, and other decorative or functional items in your bedroom. Take time and make sure to leave them clean and sparkling.
Vacuum and mop the floors
To achieve a clean and dust-free environment, it’s important to pay extra attention to the cleanliness of the bedroom carpets while vacuuming. Focus on them, so you can effectively remove any accumulated dust, dirt, and hair. Additionally, using a mop and a suitable cleaning solution will guarantee the complete eradication of any remaining dirt and will result in a floor that looks polished and revitalised. It will be satisfying not only for the eyes, trust us.
Ventilate the room for 15 minutes
Lastly, to enhance the overall air quality and get rid of any persistent smells, it’s important to allow fresh air to circulate in your bedroom. Open the windows for a minimum of 15 minutes.
The Ultimate Kitchen Deep Clean
Appliances Inside and Out
The kitchen is the heart of the home, so scrub the appliances inside and out to remove grime; it’s about preserving the core of your home.
Cabinets and Countertops
Surfaces in the kitchen can hide more than they reveal. A deep clean brings everything to light, much like a well-conducted line of questioning.
Sink and Dishwasher Care
The sink and dishwasher deal with the aftermath of every meal, so give them the attention they deserve and ensure they’re not just clean but sanitary.
Bathroom Deep Cleaning Techniques
Sanitising Fixtures and Surfaces
In the bathroom, every fixture is a potential harbour for germs, and when you sanitise them, it isn’t just cleaning; it’s an act of safeguarding your health. If the shower tray or bathtub has black spots (mould), you can count on agents such as bleach or liquid ammonia to remove them. And for the yellow stains, you can use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to whiten them.
Tile and Grout Focus
Tiles and grout tell the history of a bathroom. Wiping and scrubbing them clean reveals not just their original state but also restores a sense of freshness.
Mirrors and Screens
Mirrors reflect more than just our images; they show the marks and spots of daily use. That’s why you want to remove all the grime and dirt accumulated on them.
Other Areas: Entryways, Hallways, and Utility Rooms
Managing High-Traffic Areas
These areas are the thoroughfares of your home. Maintaining them is like patrolling the streets – it requires regular, consistent effort.
Utility Room Maintenance
The utility room, often overlooked, functions like the back office of an investigation. Keeping it in order ensures the smooth running of the household.
Maintaining Cleanliness After Deep Cleaning
Creating a Regular Cleaning Schedule
Post-deep clean, the key is maintenance. Establish a routine, much like a detective’s daily beat. It’s the regular check-ins that preserve order and cleanliness.
Seasonal Adjustments to Cleaning Routines
As the seasons change, so do the requirements of your home. Adapt and adjust your cleaning routine like a detective shifts his focus with new evidence.
Conclusion
Just picture the feeling of walking into a good-smelling home where everything is organised and ready for unexpected guests. It’s such a comforting and satisfying experience that fills you with appreciation for your living space. To maintain this level of order and comfort throughout your home, here are some tips to follow!
Bob Duncan is the lead writer and partner on ConversationsWithBianca.com. A passionate parent, he’s always excited to dive into the conversation about anything from parenting, food & drink, travel, to gifts & more!