As you fill your days with work and other activities, finding time to clean can be put on a the back burner. However, maintaining a clean house doesn’t have to take long. If you implement some of these tips and tricks throughout the week, you’ll find it easier to make your home spotless.
Tackle Clutter
If you have children or just simply a lot of stuff, you know it’s easy to have items scattered throughout the home where they don’t belong. The best thing you can do is to invest in furniture items with built-in storage. Also try to construct shelving so there is a designated place for everything you own. At the end of each day, go around your house and pick up any clutter on the ground. If you do this on a consistent basis, you home will instantly feel cleaner.
Disinfect the Disposal
After washing dishes, chances are a lot of food went down the drain. If you have a garbage disposal, there is probably food particles trapped inside which can emit a bad smell. Place a cut-up lemon, some salt, and some ice cubes inside. The lemon will deodorize the odor while the ice and salt will wipe away residue.
Deodorize Pet Areas
If you have an inside dog chances are you have a pet bed somewhere in your house. Eliminating tough odors can present a challenge. Find your pet’s favorite spots to play and deodorize them. Sprinkle the surfaces with baking soda and let it sit for fifteen minutes. When the wait time expires, vacuum up the cleaner. Wash linens, blankets and cushion covers in oxy powered laundry detergent and ¼ a cup of apple cider vinegar. For the most effective clean, rent a carpet cleaning machine.
Make Shower Doors Shine
No one likes cleaning the shower every week. One way you can expedite the process is by rubbing a teaspoon of lemon oil on glass shower doors twice a month. This will lead water to bead up and slide off the walls. Doing this will prevent water from building up and creating residue. Rain-X Original Glass Treatment is a car windshield cleaner that can also be used twice a year on your shower doors to create shine.
Clean Stopped Up Drains
If the water is taking longer to travel down the sink or you are standing in a foot of water in the shower, it’s time to clean your drains. Place ½ cup of baking soda down the sink followed by ½ cup of vinegar. Cover with a wet cloth as the substances break down the clog. After five minutes, use hot water to flush out your sink. You can also simply buy some Drano and pour it down your drains. It usually takes about 15 minutes for the cleaner to break down what is causing the blockage.
De-grease Cabinets and Clean Stove
Pans and utensils aren’t the only items in your kitchen where grease builds up. You cabinets can also accumulate grime. Add dish soap to warm water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture and wipe away the the grease. In addition to the cabinets, the stove often becomes a landing spot for parts of your dinner. To give your stove a good cleaning, sprinkle baking soda all over the surface. You should then take boiling hot water and spray it on top. After letting it soak for thirty minutes, scrub it off.
Clean Your Oven
If you cook regularly, your oven is probably the site of baked on messes. You can easily clean it by making a paste with baking soda and water. Use a sponge to rub the mixture on the bottom and sides of the oven. If this does not take off all the gunk that has accumulated, use vinegar on top of the baking soda paste. The chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar will loosen up the debris.
Wiping Down Windows
Cleaning your windows can help make your room sparkle. Just add a drop or two of dish soap to warm water. Using a sponge wipe down the windows with the solution. Take off the solution with a squeegee and wipe the window dry with a towel. If your windows have not been washed in a while, it doesn’t hurt to put some vinegar or ammonia in the solution.
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