With a winter storm blanketing much of the United States with snow, it’s unlikely that legendary groundhog Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow tomorrow morning. To cope with another six weeks of winter gloom, try doing a thorough #deep-cleaning of your home. Start small, says My Creative Days. Pick a single drawer, closet or room, and #purge it of accumulated #junk. Keep an empty box nearby for anything you find to #donate to ClothingDonations.org, and call for a #donation #pickup as soon as you fill a few boxes or bags. Then #deep-clean the area and #organize the stuff that goes back in it.
Tag: deep-clean
Deep-Clean, Room by Room
With the #pandemic restricting social gatherings and the severe winter weather, many people have been spending a lot of time indoors — and it probably shows. To renew your space, give it a thorough cleaning. Good Housekeeping offers an “Ultimate Guide to Spring Cleaning” that can help with almost any household cleaning task, and its best suggestion is to go room by room. Start by refreshing a single, heavy-use room such as the living room or kitchen, and dust, wash, wipe and organize everything in it.
Clean Top-to-Bottom for Best Results
Now that you’ve gotten some of your household #clutter out of the way, it’s time to start a spring deep #cleaning in earnest. Pick a room and go top-to-bottom to ensure you get every surface, says One Good Thing. Dust the cobwebs from the ceiling, clean the fan blades, wipe down the walls and switchplates, wash the windows, dust the baseboards and finally, sweep, mop and/or vacuum the floors. Not only will the room sparkle when you’re done, it will be nearly free of dirt and allergens just in time for spring.
Declutter Before Deep-Cleaning
The snows of February are melting, and warmer weather is on the way. But before you can enjoy the outdoors in your shirtsleeves again, make time in your schedule to tackle the spring cleaning. To get started on a deep clean, sort out anything that isn’t going to be useful next winter, such as the sweaters nobody wore, the blankets that don’t match and the holiday decorations you didn’t put up. Bag them and schedule a free #donation #pickup from ClothingDonations.org so that a new home can enjoy them next winter.
Cleaning to Prevent the Coronavirus
With many parts of the nation initiating localized lockdowns against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, many readers may be wondering what they can do to help the situation as they prepare to spend more time at home.
First, don’t panic. The “social distancing” measures advised are intended to slow the spread of the virus by decreasing person-to-person transmission — and the faster they are implemented, the less impact the virus can have on day-to-day activity.
Although you may be forced to reduce participation in group activities for a short period time, purchasing six months’ worth of toilet paper and other supplies will only make it more difficult for others to access the basics. Stores will restock!
If you and/or your children are forced to stay home due to a COVID-19 lockdown at work or school, make the most of that time and do a good #decluttering. Set items you no longer need or want items aside for a donation to ClothingDonations.org.
Decluttering is a good step toward a thorough deep-cleaning, but since scientists say COVID-19 can survive on certain surfaces for up to three days, you may wish to do some cleaning and disinfecting to prevent the virus from spreading or causing an infection.
You’ll want to clean and disinfect household surfaces that get touched regularly, including doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, door handles, toilets and sinks, The Seattle Times says. Use EPA-registered disinfectants or a bleach solution to kill the virus.
Also remember to practice good antiviral personal hygiene to protect your health. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face, WHO says. If you feel feverish, develop a dry cough or have difficulty breathing, seek medical help immediately.
Hopefully, these precautions will prevent COVID-19 from affecting you directly and spreading. Stay safe!