Ah, spring. The promise of warmer days and open windows, especially after this winter’s ‘Polar Vortex’, is a welcome change. For many people, it also awakens the desire to freshen up the house and clear out the clutter.
Where to start
Like any big project, you’ll want to start with a plan. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially if you’ve been a little lax in your everyday cleaning. Start with the goals of your project. Do you want to deep clean the house, de-winterize your home, or start remodeling or garden projects that were on hold during the colder months? Prioritizing your goals will help keep the tasks under control and focused. Take advantage of spring cleaning checklists and tips, and create room by room cleaning lists, highlighting tasks that you want to complete. Writing down tasks before you start is both efficient and ensures that jobs aren’t overlooked.
Make it a family affair
Once you have a list in place, decide what can be delegated to other family members. Determine what kind of schedule works best for you; some like to dedicate a weekend and get the majority done at once, while others prefer to cover a few tasks each day and take it slow. Some tasks may take multiple days to complete. Whatever your style, creating task lists and delegating will make the process much smoother.
Beef up your arsenal
Before you start, make sure you have the cleaning products you need, and enough of them. Running to the store in the midst of a chore tends to derail progress, so dig your cleaning supplies out of the closet and take an inventory. Green products are all the rage these days, and many can be homemade, if you have the time.
Practice better preventative maintenance
For most people, there are basic cleaning tasks that should be done on a routine basis. Using a few tricks in your everyday cleaning will make ‘deep cleaning’ far less tedious (and actually help you spend less time cleaning on a regular basis).
Here are our favorite tips and shortcuts:
Use a microfiber cloth for cleaning most surfaces
Microfiber can be used wet or dry, and in many cases, without any cleaning products at all. Use with disinfectant in bathrooms and kitchens, and on germy spots like doorknobs and light switches. Running a microfiber cloth over woodwork and floors will make deep cleaning less time-consuming.
Squeegee glass shower doors and tile
Shower doors can be a major time-sucker if hard water and soap scum are allowed to accumulate over time. Keep a squeegee in your shower and dry the water from the doors and tile at the end of each shower.
Start using a vacuum hose attachment
Adding this step to your cleaning routine can make a big difference when it comes time to wash or dry clean curtains, drapes, and blinds, and can certainly make a difference for allergy-sufferers in your household. Using the brush attachment, start at the top and work your way downward. While you’re at it, use the hose attachment for quick removal of dust bunnies under furniture to speed that deep cleaning chore along as well.
With today’s high-efficiency furnace filters, even microscopic particles can be caught before they enter your air ducts. This effectiveness means that filters should be evaluated at least once a month–more if you have multiple pets, smoke, or leave windows open frequently. Aside from potential damage to your heating and cooling system, dirty filters allow more dust to settle in your home, making cleaning even more of an uphill battle.
Bring in professional help
Know your limits! If your list too long or overwhelming, consider hiring a pro. In many cases, it will cost less than you think, because professional housekeepers are trained to be efficient and thorough. If you’ve created a cleaning to-do list, share this with your cleaning service and let them know what’s most important to you. Dirt Busters can work with your priorities and your budget. Request a no-obligation quote today so you can get back to enjoying the season!