I had an awesome Saturday day/nite and we just got home from our adventure, but now I must start cleaning.
To me, cleaning can be pretty fun & relaxing. Call me crazy, but I know there are others out there like me. It's like a stress reliever in that it keeps the mind active and off other things. I guess it's a compulsion really. You clean to relieve anxiety. Oh well, whatever it is, my house is in dire need.
We have a ton of cleaning and packing up things in the next few weeks, so I was looking around for a guide that told me exactly what I needed to do for my house to get in tip-top shape and I found a list
here.
Hopefully this little list [well now that I look at it, it's quite large] will help you on your cleaning spree also.
Kitchen
1. Wipe down the freezer. Clear out the contents, and clean it with a
solution of one to two tablespoons of baking soda and one-quart hot
water.
2. Soak all oven knobs, burners, burner covers and spill catchers in hot
water with dish soap. Clean the oven and stove, then rinse the soaking
items and replace them.
3. If possible, pull out the stove and refrigerator and sweep and mop behind them.
4. Clean all small appliances like toasters, blenders and coffeemakers.
5. Clean refrigerator coils. It will boost energy efficiency, saving you money in the long run.
6. Sweep and mop the floor.
7. Throw out any expired products from the cabinets and refrigerator.
8. Pour hot water down the sink drain to clear out any drain sludge.
Bathroom
1. Take medicine cabinet inventory. Throw away anything that's expired.
2. Clean the fan and vent.
3. Wash the shower curtain.
4. Donate old and worn towels to your nearest animal shelter, like the
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
5. De-scum the showerhead. If you can easily remove the head, soak it in
a pot of one part-vinegar and one-part water and bring it to a simmer
for 20 minutes. Then, brush off any deposits with a toothbrush. If your
showerhead is not a removable fixture, pour hot water and vinegar into a
zip-lock bag and secure it around the showerhead with durable tape,
like painter's tape. Let it soak for eight hours, then brush off any
remaining deposit particles with a toothbrush.
6. Scrub the sink, toilet and tub.
7. Clean mirrors and any windows using our
streak-free tips.
8. Pour boiling water down the drain to clear out any sludge.
Bedroom
1. Flip over your mattress. This will even out the weight and maximize its lifespan.
2. Wash the pillows. Most pillows, whether they're down or polyester,
can be cleaned in your washing machine; just double-check the label.
Place two pillows maximum per wash cycle and use a mild detergent. Make
sure to thoroughly dry down and feather pillows using, since dampness
can lead to mold. Dry synthetic pillows on low heat and add a couple of
tennis balls covered in cleans socks to refluff the pillows.
3. Empty dressers and cabinets and use a vacuum attachment to suck up any loose particles.
4. Wash bedding you don't normally wash like the mattress pad, bed
skirt, and comforter. Most bedding can be machine-washed with cold water
and mild soap and dried on low heat in the dryer. However, some down
comforters need to be professionally dry cleaned. This will be indicated
on the care label.
5. Wash the window using
warm water and few drops of dish soap.
6. Clean blinds by using a vacuum attachment and sliding it across the
blinds from top to bottom. Then, dip a clean cloth in soapy water, wring
it out, and spot clean any stains. Dab with a clean cloth to dry.
7. Machine-wash, or, if necessary, dry clean, window drapes and panels.
Also, consider switching out thick window treatments with a lighter
fabric.
Closets
1. Take
closet inventory. Go through each article one by one to determine if you should keep, donate or toss something.
2.
Store winter clothing to make more room for spring and summer wear.
3. Label storage boxes.
4. Organize your clothing by the
most efficient method for you, i.e. by function, style or commonly worn.
4. Dust the shelves.
5. Sweep and mop the floor.
Living room
1. Dust display shelves. Remove everything from the shelves, dust the surface, and then dust each item before replacing it.
2. Shampoo or steam clean the rugs. No matter how much you spot-clean
and vacuum, there still might be stained fibers that can make your
carpets look dingy. A
deep clean will brighten it up. But because antique and Oriental rugs have delicate fibers, they require professional cleaning.
3. Machine-wash or dry clean the drapes as instructed on their care
labels. And, keep in mind that many natural-fiber fabrics can be washed
at home.
4. Vacuum and, if necessary, spot clean all your furniture and chairs.
5. Dust inside of lamps.
6. Clean off the TV screen by simply wiping it down with a microfiber
cloth lightly dampened with distilled water -- you'll be surprised at
how much clearer the picture will be!
7. Remove any item that shouldn't be there -- i.e. shoes -- and place back into the rightful place.
General
1. Clean the air conditioning filter. Simply pull out the filter, rinse
it off in your sink or tub and use a little dish soap and a toothbrush
to clean any grime. Give it another rinse, let it dry and snap it back
into place.
2. Polish your wood and metal hardware, from doorknobs to towel rods.
3. Dust around all wall art and photographs.
4. Wipe down every light switch.
What do you think of this list? What's your favorite room to clean?
