Let’s face it; cleaning is a few people’s cups of tea. But If you want to stay in a clean house, you must make the conscious decision to maintain a cleaning routine and follow through with it.
Thankfully, it doesn’t have to take a lot of time and elbow grease to achieve your desired squeaky clean look.
If you have limited time and need to keep everything neat, taking care of these key tasks will have the most impact with the least effort.
1. Wipe Down Surfaces
No matter how often you clean your house, some surfaces will gather dirt faster and more often. Make sure that you go through your home and wipe down all hard surfaces like cabinets, countertops, light switches, appliances, telephones, TV remotes, and more. These surfaces hold more dirt than you think and can create a real mess if ignored. Wipe down glass surfaces and mirrors using clean water and detergent. You should also disinfect countertops and other surfaces that are prone to germs.
2. Empty Trash Cans
Empty trash cans instead of leaving them full and uncovered. Taking out the trash is a quick way to achieve a cleaner-looking home in a matter of minutes. After you’ve emptied the trash can, make sure there are no lingering food particles on the edges or major gunk at the bottom of the container. Use a hose to wash out the can and let it dry outside in the sun. Consider lining the bins with two or three bags so you can easily take out the trash next time when full.
3. Clean the Windows
Over time, outside windows get dust, water spots, spluttered bugs, and visible stains that can affect your home’s appearance. A dirty window is not only unsightly but can prevent your home from getting maximum natural light. But many people get it wrong with cleaning windows. They forget the basics of cleaning windows the right way by not using the right cleaning tools and cleaning products. For starters, cleaning windows can be easy when using a spray bottle with window cleaning products, a bucket of clean water, and a soft microfiber cloth or sponge to go over the surface.
4. Scrub Carpets
Carpets take a lot of abuse from shoes, spills, kids, and pets, retaining a lot of dirt and mess. Scrubbing carpets and periodic deep cleaning can immensely improve the cleanliness of your home and extend the life of the carpet. If you constantly must clean spills and stains, do a deep clean at least twice per year. When dust and soil particles accumulate on carpet fibers, they lose their brightness and retain odors.
To clean the carpet, you will need warm water and a scrub brush with stiff nylon bristles to remove the dirt particles and stains. Begin by gently scrubbing the stains with warm water until you cover the entire carpet. Alternatively, the best portable carpet cleaners will be able to lift a stain in record time.
5. Clean the Kitchen
A dirty kitchen makes your entire house feel dingy and disorganized. But a clean kitchen has the reverse impact; it makes your house feel cleaner and neat. If your house feels pretty haphazard, the first thing you want to do is to go to the kitchen. Wipe down the counters, wash dishes, and vacuum the floors. The kitchen is the heart of every home and cleaning will have a tremendous impact on the overall tidiness of your house.
