Keeping your home interior clean and well maintained is important for health reasons and aesthetic reasons, and for your furniture and appliances. Most electronics, for example, must be kept clean to function correctly. Some – such as microwaves — even pose a fire hazard if they are not kept clean. In addition, if you ever move and have not kept up with cleaning, you will have a tremendous task ahead of you.
Items typically are jostled around during moving, whether you do it yourself or hire a moving company, and the dirtier the home is, the more likely things will incur damage or become soiled during the process. Just by spending a few minutes a day, you can keep your home cleaner and prevent an overwhelming mess.
Purchase Smart Cleaning Supplies
Your cleaning supplies do not have to be expensive nor must they be loaded with chemicals to work well. Plain white vinegar and water, for example, deodorizes, cuts grease and dirt and is safe for most surfaces, with the exception of marble and natural stone. Vinegar is also non-toxic.
In place of harsh chemical scouring powders, you can use baking soda, in most instances. Micro fiber cloths work great for dusting and general cleaning, and they are reusable. Environmentally friendly cleaners nearly always work as well, or even better, than standard chemical cleaners do and you will not have to worry about being exposed to toxins.
Place your cleaning supplies in a cabinet designated solely to these supplies. This way you will not have to go hunting for them each time.
Make a Cleaning Schedule
Make a list of all your cleaning tasks, such as mopping, dusting, window washing, and appliance cleaning and then create a schedule of when each should be done. Some things, such as windows, only need cleaning once a week or once every two weeks, whereas cleaning countertops and washing dishes must be done daily. Chart at least one task for each day.
If several people live in your household, tasks can be divided up. Alternatively, you can make a chore jar. Write chores down on slips of paper, fold the slips and place them in a jar. Each person picks one chore a week – this way cuts down on arguing about fairness. You can also create two chore jars. One can be for daily chores and the other is for weekly chores.
Do a Thorough Cleaning Once a Month
A thorough cleaning includes shampooing the carpet, if you have carpet, vacuuming in places you sometimes neglect, such as beneath sofas and beds, cleaning the refrigerator’s interior and discarding any expired food from your kitchen cabinets.
Maintenance
Home maintenance is as important as cleaning. Here are common maintenance steps you should remain aware of: Furniture feet scratch a wood floor finish and mar tiles when furniture is moved. All furniture should have protective pads on the feet or caster wheels.
Check appliances for damage each time you use them. Check the power cords for frayed areas, for example. Change air conditioning filters and furnace filters regularly, in accordance with their user manuals, and clean your dryer’s lint trap after every use.
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These are great tips and I try to do a little each day so that I am not overwhelmed with any task.