Dirt and dust collect fast in winter, when houses are closed up against the cold. To keep your air #allergen-free, do a top-down #cleaning that includes the tops of moldings, framed artwork, blinds, books, and other hidden horizontal surfaces, Broomstick Cleaning says. Change the furnace filter on a regular basis to maintain air quality and optimize your heating dollar. And remember that a #cluttered home is harder to keep #clean, so try to eliminate any #clothing, papers and tchotchkes that you just don’t need or want and are getting in the way. #Donate any lightly used items to ClothingDonations.org. #WinterCleaning
Tag: dust
Tackle Winter Cleaning Tasks Now
With the holidays over and lots of indoor time, now is a good time to complete #cleaning projects that help keep your space dirt- and allergen-free. Make a checklist, House Beautiful says, so you don’t miss any spots as you go room to room. Radiators and vents, windows and window treatments, bedding and upholstery, and rugs and carpets should be on the list since they are the biggest dust-catchers. And don’t forget to clean out the refrigerator, throwing out anything that’s expired or just unused. Do this ahead of your next trip to the grocery store, so you’ll have less to remove and replace. #WinterCleaning
Focus Your Household Deep-Cleaning
Any #spring #scrubdown should target areas of the home that have seen heavy use over the winter, the Iowa State Daily says. Clean and deodorize rugs and carpeting, clean the oven and the refrigerator, and clean and freshen drains. Also wash the windows — inside and out, if possible — to let the sunlight in. The change of seasons is also a good time to clear out and #donate extra #clothing: “Free up space in your closet or dresser by going through old, unused items,” the story says. “If you haven’t worn something in the last year, consider #donating it to someone in need.”
It’s Time to Do a Deep-Cleaning
With the temperatures warming and trees budding, it’s time to do a deep #cleaning to keep your home #healthy and (relatively) allergen-free. If you have the time and equipment, you can do a #deep-clean in 10 days, Swirlster says. Dedicate the first two days to the living or family room, and start at the top by #dusting ceiling fans, light fixtures and vents. Proceed to dust/wipe down the walls and any pictures or decorations hanging there, as well as the blinds and drapes. Once the dust has settled (literally), wipe down the baseboards and all flat surfaces, then sweep, vacuum and mop.
Get a Headstart on Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning is a tradition that’s likely as old as civilization itself. Certain cultures even incorporate spring cleaning into their religious practices, but the imperative is more likely a byproduct of brighter days and warmer weather. People naturally want to shake off the cold, dark days of winter and make a fresh start.
You don’t have to wait unit March 20 to begin a thorough spring cleaning, however. In fact, with unusually warm months ahead predicted for much of the U.S., it may feel like spring in your area sooner — and that means you can take advantage of the weather to make everything spotless.
The Simply Organized Home suggests starting spring cleaning in February — that’s now — with a thorough #decluttering. “There is no reason to start deep-cleaning if you are surrounded by clutter,” it says. “There is no point in cleaning things that you don’t need, use or love.”
Go through the house room by room and get rid of the things that are just taking up space — clothing you don’t want or need, small appliances you don’t use, knickknacks that hold no real sentimental value. Box and bag your lightly used castoffs and visit ClothingDonations.org to schedule a free #donation #pickup.
With that #junk out of the way, you can start #deep-cleaning. Take a single room and dust, vacuum and clean everything in it, from the window treatments to the windows to the linens to the baseboards to the floors. Proceed to the next room (not necessarily on the same day) until everything is clean.
Alternatively, Apartment Therapy has a single-day spring cleaning plan that refreshes bedding and household fabrics while also sanitizing windows, woodwork and other seldom-scrubbed parts of the home that may have accumulated dirt and grime over the winter.
Spring cleaning is a once-a-year opportunity to freshen your space and make it more livable. But you don’t have to wait — start it now, and you’ll be in a great position to fling open your windows and enjoy the gentle breezes.