Some extroverts consider winter a dull season since their movement is limited, and they’re mostly stuck up in an indoor space that they’re not used to. However, winter presents the best time to get things organized around your home, and you should take advantage of this moment.
Cleaning up is not a favorite thing for many, but during those days when you’re not too busy and stuck indoors, it will help you slowly get rid of the winter blues. Besides, a clean home settles your emotional being to a peaceful state. In this brief, we’ll go through everything that helps you tidy up your house in the winter:
1. Make A “To Do” List
A checklist will be necessary to make the process easier. Move through each room and note down the areas which will require extra attention. Doing this will help you plan your time accordingly, focusing on the neglected zones that haven’t been cleaned for a long time.
Doing everything at once can get overwhelming, so to avoid fatigue, distribute each task at different times of the week. That way, you will notice that you will have the energy to complete tasks much faster other than doing it all at once each day.
2. Declutter
Besides cleaning, decluttering is one of the most complex tasks to bypass. However, if you desire a tidy home, you can’t evade this process. The rooms most affected by clutter are your garage, bedroom, kitchen, and living room. If this seems like an overly tedious task for you, a little help from the best junk removal service will help you bypass it efficiently and within a shorter time. Together, you can move through each room and dump unnecessary items into their storage bins. You will be stunned at how much junk you hoard in your home, especially in the garage.
The garage is the most common place to keep all the trash. As you declutter, ensure that everything hidden in there gets taken away. You can hire professional junk removers to ease the process along. They can also help you rearrange everything perfectly back in place without struggle. A good declutter will show a notable difference even before getting down to the cleaning phase.
3. Clean The Fireplace
Besides the warmth, a fireplace adds a sense of style to your home when clean. When did you last give your fireplace a good cleanup? First, I’m sure most homes didn’t light it up during the summer, so there’s accumulated dust in it, more so don’t forget to do a chimney sweep. Doing this will also reduce the risks of getting entangled in an accidental fire. It can be technical to do the chimney sweep yourself, so if you’ve not done this for a long time, call in a certified chimney sweep to do this as a wholesome inspection and cleanup.
4. Clean Your Windows and Shutters
If you’re fond of using candles or your fireplace, some soot will automatically form on the windows and shutters after some time. At this moment, you want to maximize the amount of light or sunshine in your home by ensuring nothing blocks it. So, give your windows a good wipe down and dry them, preferably with a newspaper or microfiber clothing to avoid streaks. Use the same principle to clean your mirrors as well. If you have curtains, soak them and wash them as well.
5. Clean Your Carpet and Floors
The carpet may not look dirty, but it keeps in a lot of moisture, dust, dirt, and bacteria. Take advantage of the steam cleaners to help you do the deep clean without bending. Besides, it is much more efficient as it sinks deep through the carpet to remove the dirt hidden beneath the carpet, and it will help you save time.
After cleaning, there’s bound to be some dampness left in your carpet, and it shouldn’t be left unattended. Luckily, this doesn’t take too long to dry. Since sun-drying is not an option in the winter, use these alternative indoor methods. Open the windows- if it’s not too cold, turn on the fan and air conditioner or else get a blow-dry to help dry it up much faster.
6. Clean Your Floors
In as much as you mop your floors every other day, there are scuff marks that still build up over time. First, sweep or vacuum to remove the dirt, and then, later on, use your steam cleaner to get rid of the stubborn stains. Like the carpet, a steam cleaner will also be effective for the floor. However, if you have a wooden floor, use a regular mop to clean it. The floor can dry on its own even without any drying alternatives.
7. Clean The Garbage Bins
Do you ever take time to clean your rubbish bin after taking out the trash? In most cases, you rarely do! You probably clean up the rubbish bin that stays in your kitchen, but what about the trash can outside, which might be getting water leaks from the rain? You probably have been dreading opening it to empty your bin because of the foul smell coming from it. This time around, give it a good cleanout and stick to a routine of at least twice a month to clean it and don’t give bacteria a breeding place.
8. Clean the Kitchen
Several things need to be cleaned up; your refrigerator, pantry, kitchen gadgets, kitchen walls near the cooking area, and kitchen ceiling. As a result of cooking, fumes and smoke may form a dark clog on the top. Clean the wall and the ceiling gently by gently using mild soap and warm water to avoid messing with the paint. As for the fridge, empty everything, dispose of expired foods, and wipe the interior and exterior till it’s clean. Don’t also forget the area behind the refrigerator and underneath it.
9. Disinfect the Toilet Brush Holders
We often use these cleaning tools, but we don’t clean them. Like the garbage bins, the toilet brush is another essential tool that is never cleaned well. Immerse both the toilet brush and the holder in a bucket of hot water mixed with a disinfectant spray for a couple of hours, then rinse it out.
As you can see, many cleaning activities can keep you busy throughout the winter. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to hire cleaners to help you and involve your family members in maintaining a clean home. All of you are beneficiaries.
About the Author
Jenn Walker is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.
Leave a Reply