Start The New Year On The Right Footing By Cleaning Your Entire Home
The holiday season is filled with food and fellowship. Once the decorations come down, a deep cleaning is the perfect way to start the new year off right. Life gets busy, and there are so many places in the home that don’t get proper attention throughout the year. A clean home is one way to start the year off fresh, although it is not always easy to know what areas to focus on first. Checking these ten items off a cleaning list makes a large task seem much more manageable.
Kitchen Essentials
One of the first items to check off the list is the oven. However, oven cleaners are notoriously harsh for humans, so making a cleaner out of natural ingredients is a great option. By mixing a tablespoon of dish soap, a half a cup of baking soda and some water, it is possible to create a paste. Coating dirt or grime with the paste, allowing it to sit for a few minutes, and then wiping it away helps. The back of the oven can be accessed by using a kitchen tool to extend a rag to the problem areas.
The cabinets in the kitchen get surprisingly dirty over time. One of the best ways to clean this tricky area is with dish soap. It does not cost a lot of money, but it can get rid of most of the marks and smudges that sneak up on homeowners when used in conjunction with a microfiber cloth. All the nooks and crannies in the cabinets also need to be targeted.
The first step to tackling the refrigerator is to clear out any old food. After that task is complete, a microfiber cloth, paired with a plant-based cleaner, can be used to clean the door and each individual shelf. It is important to look at the coils in the back as well. The refrigerator needs to be unplugged before this process takes place. The brush tool from the vacuum cleaner can be utilized to carefully go over the coils until they look like new. Some refrigerators have grilles in the front that come off. The coils are then accessed from that area.
Let The Light In
A dirty window can inhibit the flow of light through a room. Like oven cleaners, many window cleaners are harsh on the lungs. A natural alternative involves using Seventh Generation Glass and Surface cleaner. A microfiber cloth is also useful; when the cleaner is applied to the cloth, and the cloth is moved in a “Z” pattern around the window, it gets sparkling clean. If there sticky spots, a bit of mayonnaise, plus a plastic spatula, can get rid of what is left on the glass. Razors should never be used, as they can damage the area.
Sleep Well
Mattresses start to smell over time. Baking soda can neutralize the odor and help make the mattress seem fresh and new. By stripping the bed and then scattering baking soda across the surface, amazing results are often achieved. The baking soda should sit for approximately sixty minutes, after which it can be vacuumed up.
It is important not to forget the sheets and blankets during this process. Washing the bedding while the mattress is processing is often the best option. Pillows can and should be washed as well. The settings on the washer and dryer need to be selected carefully, particularly when delicate materials are being washed.
Small But Important Details
Bathrooms are normally a targeted area for regular cleaning. However, in the new year, showers and tubs can use a deep clean. As was mentioned above, many deep cleaning agents have fumes that can irritate the lungs and skin. The tub and tile cleaner from Seventh Generation is one way to avoid these issues. Once it is sprayed on the problem area and allowed to sit for several minutes, dirt and grime comes off with the help of a stiff brush.
Many people don’t think about vent covers, but they play a huge role in the air quality of a home. By taking off a vent cover and placing it in warm, soapy water, it can be effectively cleaned with the help of a microfiber cloth. Once the cover is dry, it can then be easily screwed back into place.
It doesn’t take much to destroy carpeting; it quickly becomes a trap for dirt, allergens and more. To keep carpet looking fresh and new, a little baking soda will often do the trick. Scatter it around the living space and let it sit for as long as possible. Once that process is complete, the baking soda can be vacuumed up.
It’s a little odd to think of cleaning something that solely exists to clean other objects, but the washing machine needs occasional care as well. When two cups of vinegar are added to the drum, and a cup of baking soda is put where the laundry detergent normally goes, many of the mineral deposits and buildup are eliminated following a rinse cycle. Remembering to clean under the lid or around the rubber gasket is also crucial.
Once these ten items are attended to, any house will feel fresh and clean. The best way to start off a new year is with a “new” house!
