Do you ever wonder how some people manage to maintain an absolutely flawless house, yet you never see them cleaning? This is because they do not attack the house in one sitting. Most of the time, they have a home cleaning checklist.
A cleaning checklist gives you a system that enables you to continually keep your house in tip-top shape without feeling like you are running around like a headless chicken.
Four Reasons to Maintain a Home Cleaning Checklist
When you have a house cleaning checklist, you can prioritize what needs to be cleaned, and when you need to clean it. This makes it easier to handle different tasks. By breaking down your cleaning chores, you accomplish more than trying to tackle everything at once.
Sometimes, the people living with you may not ‘see’ what needs to be cleaned. Having a cleaning to-do list also helps you to delegate duties as everyone will know what is expected of them.
Consistent cleaning will prevent clutter and make your house safer. Routine house sanitization and disinfection prevents the spread of germs. Dust is less likely to build up, reducing the chances of allergic reactions and respiratory diseases.
A home cleaning schedule can save you from the embarrassment of a messy house, especially when you have unexpected visitors. It is not a nice feeling to apologize for the ‘state of the house’ when company just drops in.
Basic Cleaning Equipment
Before you begin spring cleaning your home, you will need some products and equipment to help you get the job done right. No, you don’t require a hotel housekeeping trolley, but there are some necessary cleaning supplies you would need to stock up on if you don’t already have them. These include:
Microfiber cloths or disposable rags
Scrub brush, scrub sponges and abrasive scrub pads
Mop and bucket
Extendable duster
Toilet brush
Grout brush or an old toothbrush
Lightweight vacuum
Rubber gloves
Indoor broom (if you have a balcony or patio, have a separate broom for that area)
Dustpan
Squeegee
Plunger
Stovetop scraper – only for flat-glass ceramic cooktops
Cleaning Products You Can Purchase for Your Home:
All-purpose cleaner – these are generally mild solutions used to remove grease and dirt. They can be used on a variety of surfaces such as stovetops, countertops, and sinks. It is good to note that all-purpose cleaners are not disinfectants.
Disinfectant – This is essential for the kitchen and bathrooms. These should be left on the surfaces for at least 5 minutes before wiping them off to kill germs.
Tile and grout cleaners – Scrub free solutions are the better option for shower tiles and bathtubs as they will not eat through the enamel.
Wood cleaner – This should match the type of wood you have in your house to maintain its appearance.
Glass cleaner – A no-streak or streak-free glass cleaner will give you the best results.
It may sound like a daunting task, but a daily home cleaning routine will ensure that you are not living in a never-ending mess. This little known secret to keeping a clean home goes a long way. When you get into a daily cleaning routine, you will find that it takes just about 15 minutes a day to get your house in order.
Before we get into the daily cleaning checklist, there are a few tidy habits you could start on:
Make your bed as soon as you get out of it.
When you take off your clothes, either hang them if they are still clean or drop them in a laundry hamper.
Try your best not to leave dirty dishes in the sink before you go to bed.
Use wet wipes to clean bathroom counters and sinks after use.
Keep kitchen counters free from appliances to make wiping down easy.
Teach kids to put away their toys before they go to bed.
Squeegee the glass walls after a shower to prevent stains.
Daily cleaning checklist
Your daily cleaning schedule should tackle the areas in your home with the most traffic. This includes the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms.
Kitchen:
After your last meal, load dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
Use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down kitchen counters, dining table, and food preparation surfaces.
Straighten up the living room – fold blankets, tidy up remotes, magazines, or paperwork.
Wipe down tables in the living room, playroom, or home office.
Make beds and collect dirty laundry.
Bathrooms:
Wipe down the exterior toilet, sink, and bathroom surfaces.
Squeegee shower walls.
Fold or hang towels.
Weekly cleaning checklist:
Having a weekly home cleaning checklist can help you knock down one household task every day. This way, you do not get overwhelmed by a load of laundry or a messy kitchen.
Mop up Mondays
After all the weekend activities, you would like to start the week with a clean home. Dedicate Mondays to moping and vacuuming:
the entrance hallway
family room
stairs
corridors
bedrooms
bathrooms
kitchen
Be sure to go under the dining table to collect any crumbs that may have fallen there. Keep this weekly mop up to areas that can be easily accessed.
Scrub and sanitize the toilets, bathtubs, showers, sinks, and counters.
Plastic shower curtains and bathmats can be sprayed with disinfectant.
Change towels and do an inventory of toiletries. You do not want to run out of toilet paper.
Wipe away Wednesdays
Using an all-purpose cleaner and microfiber cloth, wipe away any dirt or smudge from the kitchen sink, stovetops, faucets, counters, and backsplash.
Wipe down the exterior surfaces of the microwave, oven, coffee maker, toaster, fridge, blender, mixer, and other kitchen appliances.
Dust and wipe furniture; lamps and lampshades, picture frames, windowsills, doorknobs, light fixtures, ceiling fans, and vents.
Wipe the TV, entertainment system, and remote controls.
Dust off cobwebs and clean mirrors.
Throw out Thursdays
Organize your home by getting rid of unwanted, outdated, or expired items. You can start with the fridge and move on to the medicine cabinet. Throw away junk mail, newspapers, old make-up, and lotions. Chuck out clothes with holes that you know you will not mend or craft projects from 10 years ago.
If you have not used something in your house for the past two years, then there is the likelihood that you will not use it this year. Ridding your house of old, unused items every week will not only create space for other important things, but decluttering also gives you peace of mind.
Fold it up Fridays
As the week comes to an end, the laundry basket should have filled up pretty well. Friday is a good laundry day.
Soak your whites separately as well as clothes with tough stains.
Strip the sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, kitchen, hand, and bath towels and throw them in the washing machine.
Fold, iron, and put away clean laundry.
Pet-friendly Saturdays
If you have furry friends in your household, you can make use of Saturday mornings to show their living spaces some love. Empty the kitty litter box and scrub it with soap and water. Do not use any chemical cleaners such as bleach or ammonia because certain chemicals can be harmful to cats. Felines are also very picky and sensitive to smells. Any chemical odor may make a fussy cat have a bathroom break on your freshly cleaned carpet.
Saturday’s are also a great day to change the bedding for dogs and caged animals. If you have fish, doing a partial water change for the aquarium will keep them swimming happily.
By following this weekly home cleaning checklist, your weekend should be free to enjoy with friends and family in a squeaky-clean home.
Three Months Spring-Cleaning Checklist
Every three months, we recommend that you set some time aside for a thorough, top to bottom, house spring cleaning. Understanding that not everyone can spring-clean like maid service, we suggest that you dedicate a specific section of the house for this particular task. You can work through the kitchen at one time, the living room, and bedrooms the next time and attack the bathroom last, then rotate. This way, you will not get tied down cleaning up for hours, and you can concentrate your effort on one cleaning duty.
Kitchen checklist
Refrigerator
Clear out your kitchen area because you will need space.
Take out everything from the fridge first. This includes the shelves and drawers and wash them in dishwashing liquid and warm water. Rinse and wipe dry.
Using a microfiber cloth dipped in warm water and baking soda, wipe inside the walls and floor of the refrigerator, as well as the top and outside. You can use a stainless-steel cleaner if that is what your fridge door is made of.
Food inventory
Take an inventory of items that need to be eaten soon, thrown out, or restocked before putting things back in the fridge. Do this with food in the freezer as well as the pantry.
Oven
Using an oven cleaner and a cloth, wipe away any grease, grime, residue, or crusts from the door and inside the oven.
Clean the rangehood to remove any grease as this can be a fire hazard.
Clean the oven racks in dishwashing soap and hot water.
It is good to note that oven cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can irritate. You should protect your hands with a pair of gloves and safety glasses for your eyes.
Microwave
Clean the inside of the microwave by mixing a quarter cup of vinegar with one cup of water and boiling it in the microwave for 3 minutes. When the walls are all steamed up, wipe them with a clean cloth.
Dishwasher
If you start to smell something foul coming from the dishwasher, put one cup of vinegar and another bowl with baking soda on the top rack, and run a normal cycle.
Living room and bedroom checklist
Check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in:
The living room is one of the most important rooms in the house. It’s where you relax, entertain guests, and spend time with your family. However, because people use it so much, it can be one of the most challenging rooms to keep clean. This is especially true if space is limited, like in a small apartment in San Francisco, CA, or a condo in Seattle, WA. From dusting to vacuuming to deep cleaning, there’s a lot to do to keep your living room looking its best.
Vacuum all carpeting, upholstery, and area rugs. Don’t forget to get behind large pieces of furniture and under couch cushions.
Take down and wash curtains, drapes, duvets, comforters, pillows, and cushion cover
Dust and wipe down window blinds, windowsills, air vents, doors, walls, and molding
Use a glass cleaner on the windows and glass cabinets
Dust the smoke alarm and check the batteries
Change your air conditioning and vacuum filters
Sparkling bathroom cleaning checklist
If not well looked after, your bathroom can become a good host for nasty fungi. Mildew and mold thrive in dark and damp environments. Discourage unwanted bathroom guests with these bathroom cleaning hacks.
Clean and disinfect the trash can with a cleaner that can kill bacteria and neutralize odors. Rinse it and let it air dry in the sun to prevent mold.
Disinfect the toothbrush holder – most of them are dishwasher friendly.
Check the label on your shower curtain or liner and see if it can be run in the washing machine. For plastic shower curtains, you can soak them in water and vinegar and hang them out to dry. If the time has taken its toll, replace your shower curtain.
Wipe or vacuum the inside of drawers and cupboards. Put new lining in drawers.
Shine your porcelain throne both inside and out
Using a disinfecting spray, spritz the entire toilet, inside, outside, at the back of the base, under the seat, and the wall behind. Let the cleaner do its magic for at least 5 minutes. Wipe the exterior of the toilet from top to bottom with a paper towel. Use a stiff-bristled toilet brush to scrub under the rim and inside the toilet. Flush to rinse.
Annual house cleaning checklist
Good news – there are some areas of the house that can remain overlooked for a year. Having said this, you still need to have a go at them as they are essential for the overall upkeep of your home.
Clean and organize the garage and basement.
Clear out gutters.
Clear out chimney and fireplace.
Special projects – Declutter, donate or sell any clothes, shoes, toys, sporting equipment, gadgets, or things you have stored in the house that you have not used in the past year.
When to call the experts
Starting a home cleaning routine when your house is already ‘too far gone’ can seem hopeless. Spekless House Cleaning is here to help. In just 60 seconds, you can book a quality cleaning appointment through our online and digital communication platform.
You can choose whether you would like a standard cleaning to get you started on your way to maintaining a home cleaning checklist, or you prefer a deep cleaning where we get under every nook and cranny. We can help you create a house cleaning schedule and checklist that will work around your needs.
We’ve got your back, so you don’t break yours while trying to keep a clean home.
How to Deep Clean Your Laundry Room
Our step-by-step guide to help you deep clean your laundry room efficiently
Today we’re back with another cleaning checklist and today’s room is none other than the laundry room. We’ll walk you through each and every part of your laundry room and show you how to give it a nice deep clean.
How to Deep Clean Your Laundry Room
The dust
The very first thing you want to do before entering into any deep clean is to take your swifter and dust the room from top to bottom. Start in the corners and work your way around the room to ensure that you get rid of any lingering cobwebs and dust.
Look for dust behind the washer and dryer, under the washer and dryer, near the window or windows, covering the baseboards, and on top of a ceiling fan if you have one.. Laundry rooms can get pretty dusty even when tended to on a regular basis.
The washer
When you go to clean your laundry room it can seem like there isn’t that much to do because of your washer and dryer. But those need to be cleaned too. You can start by taking a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda and run it through your washing machine.
This will help sanitize the machine and eliminate any odor that’s build up over time. After you’ve done that you’ll want to wipe down the outside of your washer. You can do this with some mild soap, lukewarm water, and a cleaning cloth.
The dryer
Similar to the washer you’ll also want to wipe down the outside of your dryer. You can do this using the same soap and water you used to wipe down the washing machine. Instead of running the drying using vinegar and baking soda you can wipe it out with your damp soapy rag.
After you’ve wiped your dryer inside and out be sure to check and see if the lint trap needs to be emptied. If you happen to see a buildup of wax on the trap simply take it out and wash it in the sink. Sometimes fabric softener can cause a buildup of wax on the trap preventing it from doing its job to the fullest.
Pro Tip: Make sure you get behind both the washer and the dryer. Take your swifter back there and get the dust and then stick the vacuum back there to suck up any loose debris.
The countertops
Now it’s time to deep clean all the surfaces in your laundry room. If you do happen to have countertops in your laundry room go ahead and spray them down using a multi-surface cleaner and let it sit for 2 to 4 minutes.
Once the solution has had some time to do its magic you can go ahead and wipe them off checking at eye level to see if there’s anything you missed. During this step, you can also go ahead and spray anything else your hands may touch including doorknobs and drawer handles.
The sink
Some laundry rooms have a sink in them. If your laundry room has a sink it in, it’s time to clean that next. Spray the sink out with vinegar(or alternatively bleach) and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing it out.
If there’s an outside to your sink and it’s not sitting in a cabinet, be sure to wipe that part too. When you’re finished wiping the sink inside and out take a dry microfiber cloth and shine the faucet and handles.
The cabinets
Another thing you really want to make sure you give a deep cleaning to in your laundry room is your cabinets. Cabinets are often the most neglected thing in a room yet sometimes they can be the dirtiest. Aside from opening them up and touching the handles, cabinets tend to get dirty with dust, things splashing on them, and outside debris blowing in from an open window.
The cleaning solution you’ll use for your cabinets depends largely on the type of cabinets you have in your home. Most cabinets can be cleaned using mild dish soap and warm water. But if you have wood cabinets you can use a wood cleaner such as Murphy’s Oil or Old English. And if you have stainless steel cabinets, a stainless steel cleaner should do the job.
The windows
Next on our laundry room cleaning checklist is the windows, if there are any. Some laundry rooms are bigger than others. Some have windows and some don’t. If your laundry room happens to have windows you’ll want to spray the inside and the outside of them making sure to clean the sills and the lips of them in the process.
If you’re starting to get really into cleaning the windows you can even take the screens out and clean them out in the sink. Or spray them outside with the hose if it’s a nice day out.
Pro Tip: Coffee filters and vinegar works wonders on windows!
The vents
Deep cleaning your vents is very important. Especially in the laundry room. First, you’ll want to take your swifter to them and get as much dirt and dust off as possible. Then you can take your vacuum(and the brush attachment) and run it over the vents to get the rest.
If your vents are reachable by hand you may even want to consider taking your cleaning cloth to them along with some dish soap and warm water.
The baseboards
As we reach the end of our laundry room cleaning checklist, we have everyone’s least favorite thing to clean – the baseboards. When done right, the baseboards can be an easy task to accomplish. Once you give them a good deep clean the less you’ll have to clean them in the long run.
Take your swifter all the way around them to get all of the dust off. Then grab a small bowl and fill it with warm water and dish soap. Using your microfiber cleaning cloth, take the rag and wipe down all the baseboards in your laundry room.
The floors
If you made it this far then congratulations! We’ve made it to the last task on our checklist, the floors. Deep cleaning the floors is similar to cleaning the cabinets. The solution you’ll use for the floors depends on the type of floors you have in your laundry room.
Most floors can be cleaned using an all-purpose cleaner such as Pin-Sol. But if you prefer a different floor cleaner then, by all means, use what feels comfortable to you. For a deep clean, you may want to go over the floor twice. In any case, you’ll work your way from the inside of the room out toward the door.
By giving the rooms in your home a nice deep clean, you’re giving yourself the opportunity to build new habits that can help you create and maintain a clean environment. Studies show that having a clean house put you in a better mood and elevates feelings of depression while reducing your daily stress level and increase your happiness.
Before we close here, there are a few extra tips & tricks we wanted to share to help you clean your laundry room better. When deep cleaning your laundry room it’s helpful to know that:
Everything has a place(put it back where you found it to prevent unnecessary clutter)
By making deep cleaning your laundry room a priority and not a chore, you’ll not only maintain a clean laundry room but you’ll also get more things accomplished in less time. By getting into the groove of cleaning you’ll begin to master the art of it so that you can spend more time doing what you love and less time scrubbing the toilet. It’s really a win-win situation.
Here at Spekless House Cleaning, we understand that not everyone has the ability or the time to keep up on their house cleaning. Or their deep cleaning. There are some houses that just need help with it, and that’s ok. That’s where we come in.
Our professional house cleaners are able to provide you with a routine house cleaning to help get all of your chores done without lifting a finger. We work with you to create a flexible cleaning schedule to work around the needs of your household. By providing optional bi-monthly, monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly cleaning schedules we give you exactly what you need to achieve a clean laundry room.
Have you ever wondered to yourself how some people always seem to maintain a clean home? They’re so busy, yet their home is so clean. And some of them even have children running around it. It almost seems impossible. How do they do it?
If you’re wondering that, you’re also probably wondering how you, yourself can maintain a clean home. Well, you’re in luck. Today we’re discussing 12 habits to help you do just that. Because that’s really what it’s all about. It’s less about maintaining a clean space and more about maintaining a good habitual routine.
How to maintain a clean home
1. Always put away your laundry
Making sure you put your laundry away when it’s finished is a really important component to maintaining a clean home. Often times people who lead busy lives tend to get in the habit of leaving their clothes in the basket or in piles on the floor. But when you actually take the time to put your clothes away you give yourself an opportunity to build better habits and keep your space clean and clear of clutter.
2. Only keep the things you need
One thing to do when you’re trying to build better cleaning habits is to go through everything you have and organize. Make sure you only keep the things you absolutely need and discard the things you don’t need. Marie Kondo creator of the KonMari Method explains a simple method of decluttering your life by removing the things that don’t bring you any joy and only keeping the things that do.
3. Minimize the paper clutter(go paperless)
A great way to maintain a clean home is by utilizing the paperless system. So often we see people with piles and piles of mail on the counters and checklists in their offices. The great thing about going paperless is that it works for almost everything these days and it’s environmentally-friendly. You can set most of your mail to be paperless and you can organize your files online in a cloud-based storage platform like Dropbox.
4. Dust weekly
Have you ever noticed someone’s home is so clean there isn’t any dust? That’s because they’ve mastered the art of weekly dusting. Getting into the habit of dusting your house weekly is the key to maintaining a clean home. Once you get into a routine, anything less just simply won’t do. Put on some feel-good music and swifter as you go.
Plus dusting your home on a weekly basis doesn’t just keep your home clean, it also keeps the allergens away and increases proper airflow. If you or someone in your family suffers from allergies, dusting may be more beneficial than you think.
5. Wipe all surfaces after every use
One sure fire way to ensure you maintain a clean home is to wipe down all household surfaces after each use. This is a fantastic habit for any homeowner to adopt. Keep disinfectant wipes in each room so that when you’re finished with a task you can easily wipe and go. Of course, this may not be necessary for every single thing you, it’s important to get in the habit of doing it.
You can also keep a can of environmentally-friendly disinfecting spray in certain rooms (like the bathroom) so that you can easily just spray and go. This will help you stop the spread of germs and diminish the growth of unwanted bacteria throughout your home.
6. Make your bed every day
Another great way to help you maintain a clean home is to get up and make your bed every single day. Making your bed is a good habit to adopt not just for the cleaning aspect of it but also for the mental aspect of it. When you get up and make your bed in the morning, there’s a feeling of accomplishment that comes with it. A feeling of content and peace washes over you. It makes you feel like your life is together even when it’s not.
7. Have a designated place for shoes & coats
A lot of times when we come home from a long day at work, we get in the door toss our shoes to the side and throw our coat on the first couch we see. But taking just two extra seconds to put your shoes in a designated spot and hanging your coat in the closet or on a coat rack goes a long way. A good thing to remember here is aces in their places. When you put things in their place it doesn’t leave room for clutter.
8. Don’t leave dishes to pile up in the sink
When you walk into a well-maintained home one of the first things you may notice is that their sink probably isn’t filled with dishes. It can be hard to want to do the dishes after a long draining work-filled day. Especially if you don’t have a dishwasher in the house. But letting them pile up isn’t the answer. Instead of letting the dishes overflow, wash the dishes as you go.
Remember how we talked about wiping down surfaces as you go? The same principle can be applied to the dishes. When you’re finished with a cup or a plate clean it. If you need to let something soak in hot water, fill it up immediately to let it soak so when you come back to it later you can rinse it and let it dry.
9. Create a chore list
A weekly chore list works regardless of whether you live alone or not. If you have a family or roommates, then that’s great. You can split the list up evenly among the other people. But if you don’t a chore list will help you hold yourself accountable for the things that need to get done around the house. And it serves as a great reminder. You can even have fun with your chore list and buy a printable off Etsy to help inspire you to to do your chores.
10. Use the right products & chemicals
It’s really important when you’re trying to maintain a clean and healthy environment, that you use the right products and chemicals around your house. There are some cleaning products that can actually do more harm than good. Certain products cause allergens, dust buildup, and damage to surfaces throughout your home. So when you’re trying to keep a clean space, you really want to invest in products that are going to do the job well and keep you and your family safe at the same time.
11. Read cleaning blogs
Reading cleaning blogs are a fantastic way to maintain a clean home. Cleaning blogs(like the Spekless cleaning blog) are a great resource to inform and inspire you to get up and clean on a regular basis. You’ll learn easy tips and tricks to help you clean faster and more efficient and ways to organize your home so that it looks better.
The best part about reading cleaning blogs is that each one is different. Each blog offers a different outlook and a different perspective on cleaning. By doing this, you’re able to see what works for you and what doesn’t so that you can come up with a routine on your own. Which leads us to tip number 12.
12. Dedicate your time to a weekly routine
Last but not least on the list of tips to help you maintain a clean home we have dedicating your time to a weekly cleaning routine. Having a weekly cleaning routine is probably one of the easiest ways to keep up with the never-ending chore that is cleaning. And it’s the easiest thing you can do.
Sometimes when people hear the word weekly, the think that their routine has to be this big elaborate scheme in order to clean their house. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Your weekly cleaning routine is something that should be tailored to you and your household. So if that means taking out the trash and dusting in one room then that’s what you should do every week.
But if your home requires a little more work there may be more do to. The good news about that is that when you do have a weekly routine, the cleaning isn’t as bad as it would be if you would have waited. So essentially once you get into a routine it won’t take you long to finish it. And if you do have a house full, you can pull out the cleaning chart and divide the chores among the family!
Tips & tricks to help you along the way
By adopting some of these habits you will be able to maintain a clean home. But not only will you be able to do that but you will also be able to reduce your daily stress level and increase your happiness. Studies show that having a clean house put you in a better mood and elevates feelings of depression.
Before we close here, there are a few extra tips & tricks we wanted to share in order to ensure your success. If you’re having trouble adapting to some of these new cleaning habits you should:
See what your friends are doing(how do they make it work?)
Meditate to help you focus clearer and adopt better habits
Read books & blogs written by professionals who share their secret tips & tricks
Diffuse essential oils to help you keep clean air and reduce household dust
Spekless House Cleaning
When you make cleaning the house a priority and not a chore, you’ll not only maintain a clean home but you’ll also get more things accomplished in less time. By getting into the groove of cleaning you’ll begin to master the art of it so that you can spend more time doing what you love and less time scrubbing the toilet. It’s really a win-win situation.
But here at Spekless House Cleaning, we understand that not everyone has the ability or the time to keep up on their house cleaning. There are some houses that just need help with it, and that’s ok. That’s where we come in.
Our professional house cleaners are able to provide you with a routine house cleaning to help get all of your chores done without lifting a finger. We work with you to create a flexible cleaning schedule to work around the needs of your household. By providing optional bi-monthly, monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly cleaning schedules we give you exactly what you need to achieve a clean house.
15 Spring Cleaning Tips for a Sparkling Clean Home
There isn’t anything more satisfying than a little spring cleaning around the house. Whenever you’re ready to get things back to the way they were after a long cold winter, just grab out your cleaning basket and begin your spring cleaning ritual.
Pump up the jams because below we’ve listed 15 spring cleaning tips both big and small to help you get your home back to its natural state of being cleaned and organized.
1. Clean out the drawers
First up on our list of spring cleaning tips is to get organized. In order to get organized, you’ll want to go around and empty out all of your drawers. Make sure that you get rid of anything old or unused before wiping out the drawers with a microfiber cloth and a mild soap.
Then go ahead and neatly fill the drawer with things you are currently using. Do this in the kitchen, the bathroom, the bedroom, the office, and any common areas of the house.
2. Toss out all the old products
We mentioned this a little bit in tip number one but this also applies to other areas of the house. So the next step in the spring cleaning process is to go around and toss out things that are old or things you aren’t using. One of the main areas you’ll want to look at here is the kitchen working your way through the cabinets and the refrigerator throwing away old and expired food.
3. Disinfect your devices
Nothing great spring cleaning tip is to make sure that you clean and disinfect all of your electronics and devices. Unless you’re a clean freak and you find yourself wiping these things down often throughout the week you’ll want to do this now. Just take a can of disinfecting dusting spray and a microfiber cloth and work your way through the house wiping down places like the television, the remotes, the computers and keyboards, and anything that you touch.
4. Restore your bookshelves
If you have a bookshelf in your home or a shelf that could use a little bit of organization, bring your attention to it. Remove everything from the shelves and wipe it down with a duster then place the books back on it in a neat and organized fashion.
5. Wipe down all the cabinets
During the winter there are specific things in your house that tend to get neglected. Cleaning the cabinets is one of them. Be sure to go around and wipe down all the cabinets in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room using a cleaning cloth and a mild detergent.
6. Empty out the diaper bags
One of the fun things about spring cleaning is that it’s out with the old and in with the new. This goes for your diaper bag and purse too. You can either empty out these bad boys before throwing them in the washer and cleaning them or you can resell them and start fresh with new ones for the new year. It’s up to you, but cleaning them out is a must.
7. Vacuum all furniture
Not only do you want to make sure that you vacuum all the floors in your house but you also want to make sure that you go through and vacuum all the furniture. Make sure you get in the crevices of your couch, in between your bed, and under any coffee tables. This is to ensure that you get all the lingering dust mites out.
8. Revive the dishwasher
A vital part of spring cleaning is cleaning your appliances. But one appliance that is often left standing in the dust is your dishwasher. Take a cup of cleaning vinegar place it inside and run your empty dishwasher to help get it back to its original clean state.
9. And the washer
You also want to do this in your washing machine. And if you notice that your washer has an odor coming from it you can add a cup of baking soda to help absorb and kill any bacteria.
10. Shampoo the carpet and wax the floors
Once you’ve gone through and vacuumed or mopped all of your floors the next thing you want to do is go through and shampoo the carpets. Or wax the floors. When you go to do this you should make sure it’s the very last thing you do in that room and you should do it on a room by room basis. This is to ensure that you aren’t backtracking and that no dirt gets carried from one place to another.
11. Clean and clear the drains
For this spring cleaning tip, you’ll want to go around to all the drains in the house and check that they are working properly. If they are you can clean them by pouring a cup of vinegar down the drain and letting it sit before flushing it out with hot water. If the drains aren’t working properly, try cleaning them first and if that doesn’t work then it’s time to call a plumber.
12. Buff the appliances
After you’ve cleaned all of your appliances you’ll want to go around with a dry cleaning cloth and make sure they’re all nice and shiny. If you have stainless steel or copper appliances using a dab of olive oil on your cloth is a really good method for buffing them nice and shiny.
13. Wipe down the fridge inside and out
A vital part of any spring cleaning tips list is ensuring that you clean out your refrigerator from top to bottom. After you’ve emptied out the fridge and gotten rid of any old or expired food, you want to wipe it out. Wipe down all of the shelves, drawers, handles, and walls inside and out.
14. Don’t forget about your yard work
Spring cleaning isn’t just about cleaning the inside of your house. It’s also about making sure things look good on the outside. So don’t forget to go outside for work. Check to see if the grass needs cut or the gutters need to be cleared before you call it quits.
15. Hire a professional if you need help
If you need any help with spring cleaning your home, hiring a professional can help. Here at Spekless, we can send a professional cleaner to your home to help you with your inside chores. Contact us today for a free estimate and see how we can assist you.
How to Save Money on Cleaning Supplies
It’s no secret that everyone loves to save money. But one of the questions people always ask is,“is it possible to save money on cleaning supplies? They’re so expensive!” And the answer to that question, in short, is yes. You can save money on cleaning supplies.
We’ve got some tips and tricks to help you do just that so today we’re lining out our hacks to help you save money on cleaning supplies and still end up with a clean house.
Use things you already have around the house
There are plenty of things that you probably already have around the house that you can clean with. Many kitchen items can be used as cleaning products which can save you time, money, and energy. Things like vinegar, lemons, baking soda, olive oil, vodka, and coffee grounds make great cleaning aids.
Another thing is that most areas in your home can easily be cleaned using plain dish soap and water. You can use dish soap in your home as a window cleaner, surface cleaner, fruit and vegetable wash, and even to dust surfaces. It’s a great alternative. And it helps save money too.
Swipe out your paper towel for microfiber cleaning cloths
If you use paper towel in your house, you may want to think about switching it out for some reusable cleaning cloths. According to AOL.com, the average American spends almost $200 per year on paper towel if not more depending on the size of the household. You can buy a bulk pack of microfiber cloths on Amazon(or at your local grocery store) for less than $10.
Microfiber cleaning cloths are great for cleaning nearly anything in your home. They work good on any surface and can be color coordinated by rooms, chore, person, and more. And when you’re finished using them all you need to do is throw them in the laundry basket until it’s time to wash them.
Clip your coupons
If you’re one of those people who doesn’t like to switch it up and you want to keep on using the same cleaning supplies you’ve been using, one way you can save money is by clipping coupons. Sign up for email newsletters for your favorite brand and wait for them to send you coupons directly to your inbox.
Another thing you can do is look at sites like TheKrazyCouponLady, RetailMeNot, and Coupons.com for coupons to clip from all of your favorite products. Clipping coupons is a great way to save money on any household item especially cleaning products.
Simplify your stash
These days there’s a cleaning product for everything. The truth of the matter is that you don’t need one cleaning product for your dusting and another one for your surfaces. So if you’re really looking to save money on cleaning supplies and you have a lot of products under the sink, simplify your stash.
There are three types of cleaning products you need in your home: window cleaner, surface cleaner, and bathroom cleaner. Anything else could just be taking up space and causing you to spend an unnecessary amount of money.
Hire a housekeeper
One of the best ways to save money on cleaning supplies in your home is to hire a housekeeper. Many companies provide you with a professional house cleaner and supplies to clean your house so that you don’t have to.
Here at Spekless, it is our goal is to provide you with impeccable customer service. That includes having our professionals bring cleaning supplies to each and every visit. Hiring a professional can save you tons on cleaning supplies and allow you to free up some time to do what you love.
Final thoughts
As you can see, there are a plethora of ways you can save money on cleaning supplies. From using products in your pantry to discounts and coupons on your favorite items, there’s a way for everyone to save.
When you modifying your cleaning habits and ensure that you are using the right amount of product, the results are astonishing. It proves that you can save time, money, and energy and still clean your home the way you like it.
6 Benefits of Using Green Cleaning Products in Your Home
It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional housekeeper who cleans with chemicals on a regular basis or if you’re someone who uses them to clean your own taking the time to consider your options is important. Especially when it comes to using products that are good for you and for your family.
Most of the chemicals in the cleaning aisle are a harsh cocktail of toxic chemicals. Many of them being be bad for your health, your kids’ health, and the environment. As more and more people rethink what they’re bringing into their homes, we see them looking for safer alternatives.
What is green cleaning?
Green cleaning in the process of cleaning your home using all natural products. These products are often made with organic ingredients that aren’t harmful to humans, animals, or the environment.
Everywhere you look more and more people are committing to this act and to using green cleaning products. The movement has drastically increased in popularity in recent years. In fact, some experts would suggest that around half of the US population now uses some form of green cleaning technique on a regular basis.
Benefits of green cleaning
Now that we have a basic understanding of what green cleaning is, let’s talk about some of the benefits that you can get from it.
Using green cleaning products in your home allows you to…
1. Eliminate toxins in your home
When you use green cleaning products in your home you eliminate the risks of exposure to toxic chemicals. Most cleaning products come with harsh toxic chemicals that are bad for your environment. These chemicals can actually cause damage to surfaces in your home as well as the skin of those who are working with them.
According to the American Medical Association,“frequent use of antibacterial ingredients can promote bacterial resistance to antibiotics,” and“Triclosan, a common antibacterial agent found in many soaps, has the ability to mess with your hormonal system and your thyroid. Most, if not all green cleaning products don’t contain antibacterial agents.”
2. Clean with your kids
Cleaning with your children can be hard depending on what type of chemicals you use to clean your home. Green cleaning products allow you to let your kids clean the house without worrying about harsh chemical burns, respiratory problems, and possible chemical poison.
If you have any allergies, respiratory problems, or just can’t stand the stench of strong chemicals lingering throughout your home, green cleaning products are the way to go. Products that are green allow you to increase the quality of air that flows throughout your house by eliminating toxins and allowing proper air flow.
4. Be more environmentally friendly
One of the main reasons people turn to green cleaning products in the first place is their keen ability to help preserve the environment. Many chemicals and cleaners contain harsh chemicals that are bad for the environment.
Switching to greener methods of cleaning will help reduce pollution to our water and airways while minimizing the impact on the ozone layer depletion and climate change. Many of these products also come in recyclable packaging which helps to reduce waste when you throw them into the recycling bin.
5. Save money
If you are worried that you might have to spend more money we assure you that is not the case. When compared to other products green cleaning products often cost less. Or can be made from ingredients that you already have in your kitchen.
Not only are green cleaning products cheaper when you use them in your home but investing in these products is also cheaper for companies. Author Sarah Snow of Sarah Snow’s Fresh Living says, “The cost of environmentally friendly cleaning products has become much more competitive. While cleaning in an environmentally sound way reduces the risk of sick days for employees and the risk of fires and chemical spills.”
6. Live without worry
As the concerns for our overall health become more prevalent more people are becoming more aware of the harsh effects cleaning chemicals are having on their bodies. They’re going back to basics and looking for greener ways to clean their home. The benefits of green cleaning speak for itself.
That’s why when you switch to this method of cleaning using more natural ingredients, you’ll be able to live a life without the worry. You won’t have to worry that the products you’re bringing into your home are detrimental to your overall health and well being.
How to Get Unwanted Odors Out of Your Home
It doesn’t matter how many times a day you mop and scrub your house. Sometimes the stenches of every day living are inevitable. As long as you’re living in your home, there will be smells that come and go. But with the right products and tricks, you’ll be able to fight those unwanted odors and get rid of them for good.
Below we’ve lined out a guide to help you get unwanted odors out of your bathroom, bedroom, common area, and kitchen once and for all.
Unwanted bathroom odors
The bathroom is the one area in the house that we come to clean our bodies and eliminate our waste. Which is why this area of the house can get pretty smelly from time to time. To keep the bathroom free from unwanted odors there are two main areas of concern.
The toilet
As a general rule of thumb, you want to clean your toilet bowl before you notice any visible sign of wreckage. Make sure you keep a toilet bowl cleaner inside of the bowl to help clean and prevent smells with each flush and remember to take your toilet bowl scrubber to it at least once a week. Not only will this prevent it from becoming too dirty to clean, but it will also prevent rust and keep those unwanted odors out of your bathroom.
The shower
The next place to keep an eye out for in the bathroom is the shower. This is where you clean your body, emptying all of your bodily fluids like sweat and dead skin cells. Because of this, the shower drain can sometimes become filled with a strong smell you might not know how to get rid of. Add a cup of cleaning vinegar to your shower drain and let it sit for 30 minutes before flushing out with a pot of boiling hot water.
Unwanted bedroom odors
Depending on the layout of your bedroom you may or may not have that many places to take into consideration when cleaning. There are two main areas that we’ve found in the bedroom that like to harbor odors.
The mattress
Since you’re sleeping on your mattress every night, it can sometimes become filled with a weird stench that many people don’t know how to get rid of. Once you’ve taken off your blankets and sheets to wash, start by running the vacuum over your mattress using the brush attachment. Then go ahead and sprinkle baking soda on the surface and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Go ahead and vacuum up the baking soda and lightly spray your mattress using a disinfectant.
The carpet
Carpets tend to hold a lot of odors because of the fibers that they contain. These fibers can hang on to things like dirt from your shoes and socks as well as hair from any pets that you may have. Similar to cleaning your mattress you’ll want to sprinkle the carpet with baking soda. Then let it sit for 30 minutes before vacuuming it up. And you’ll also want to remember to shampoo the carpet at least once a month to prevent a buildup of odor.
Unwanted common area odors
Most living rooms or common areas have two areas of concern that homeowners look to for cleaning and eliminating odors.
The furniture
Living room furniture that’s made out of microfiber, cloth or fabric has the ability to lock in odor for a long period of time. If your furniture came with care instructions, it’s important that you follow those instructions and clean your pieces as often as directed. But if it doesn’t you can sprinkle baking soda on your furniture, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then vacuuming using the brush attachment.
If you have leather furniture and you notice a weird smell coming from it, you can wipe it down using lukewarm water, a mild dish detergent, and a cleaning cloth.
The pet bed
If you have pets in your home, chances are their pet beds or toys are in this area of the house. Because your furry family member has a different anatomy than the rest of the family, it’s important that you clean their beds to prevent the smell of“dog” or“cat” from lingering throughout your home. Throw their bed in the wash at least once every two weeks. If the stench is strong you can add a teaspoon of baking soda to help remove the odor.
Unwanted kitchen odors
Along with the bathroom, the kitchen is one of the most frequently used rooms in the house. Because of this, there are many places for unwanted odors to become trapped making them difficult to eliminate.
The garbage
If you’ve taken out the trash and still notice a strong stench coming from your garbage can, it might not be the scent lingering but the actual garbage can itself that smells. Once a month you should spray down your garbage can with a disinfecting spray and give it a good wipe down. After that sprinkle a little bit of baking soda inside the can before putting a trash bag in it to help prevent and conceal future odor.
The refrigerator
There’s nothing worse than the smell of a bunch of leftovers every time you open up the fridge. Make sure you double wrap your food when you put it away to prevent leakage and bacteria growth. If you’re still noticing a strong smell, put an open box of baking soda in your refrigerator to help absorb the odors.
The sink & dishwasher
When it comes to cleaning the sink and the dishwasher are two of the most overlooked places in the kitchen. Because both of these areas involve cleaning up food debris, they need to be cleaned often to avoid a strong odor arising. Add a cup of vinegar to your sink drain, garbage disposal, and dishwasher to help eliminate any bad smells. Run the vinegar through an empty dishwasher to clean.
Looking for a way to save time cleaning the house or a way to cut back on harsh chemicals? Instead of hitting the cleaning aisle at the grocery store, you might just want to stick with the grocery aisle. This is because you can actually clean your home using foods you already purchase.
It doesn’t take bleach or toxic chemicals in order for you to remove harmful bacteria from the surface of your house. In fact, some of the chemicals that you find in the cleaning aisle can actually do more harm to your home than good. So today we’re discussing ways to clean your house using some of the foods you may already have in your pantry.
Here are 8 different foods that can be used to clean your house.
1. Baking soda
Baking soda can be used for many different tasks throughout your house including removing odor from the refrigerator and cleaning carpets. But aside from that, it can also be used to polish and whiten surfaces by creating a light paste and allowing it to sit for 30 minutes before wiping off. This paste works in places such as the bathtub, toilet, and sinks.
Baking soda also works well for removing odor-causing bacteria in shoes. Simply sprinkle some inside the soles of your shoes and let it absorb the bacteria before vacuuming it out.
2. Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds work as an excellent exfoliate for hard stuck-on food. The grainy texture of the coffee grounds removes gunk and debris from utensils, pots, and pans. Just take a handful of ground and scrub them into the surface before rinsing away to a clean surface.
3. Lemon slices
Lemons are a natural disinfectant. Fresh lemon slices can be added to a homemade cleaning solution of 1 part vinegar 1 part water to create a fresh scent and help you get a better clean. They can also be used to remove odor in the garbage disposal and stuck on food in the microwave.
When cleaning the garbage disposal, cut up a few slices of lemon and place them inside to help kill any odor-causing bacteria that may be coming from it. Let them sit a while before turning it on and letting them run through.
When cleaning the microwave, take a microwave safe bowl and fill it up with water. Add a few lemon slices and microwave on high 3 to five minutes before easily wiping away and stuck-on food using a microfiber cloth.
4. Rice
Struggling to clean the bottom of your favorite vase for the next set of flowers to go in? Here’s a great cleaning hack, clean it with a scoop of rice. Add a drop of soap, some warm water, and a scoop of uncooked grains into the bottom of it and swish it around. The edges of the uncooked rice will help scrub away the dirt and grime so your vase comes out clean every time.
5. Table salt
You may know that table salt can be used to soak up red wine stains, but did you know it can also be used to clean brass? Just by combining white cleaning vinegar, a slice of lemon, and a teaspoon of table salt you can have your very own brass cleaner. This solution works well for cleaning non-lacquered brass knobs and handles without damaging them.
6. Olive oil
Olive oil is a great thing to keep in the kitchen. Not only is it great cook with but it’s also great for helping you polish your stainless steel appliances. Just take a little bit of olive oil and dab it on a microfiber cloth and rub it into the stainless steel wiping with the grain. Using olive oil will help you get a nice clean finish on your stainless steel appliances while helping to prevent future watermarks.
7. Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the multiple purpose food sources that everyone should have in their pantry. It can be used for a variety of things throughout the house including but not limited to cleaning the counters, floors, bathrooms, and helping to kill unwanted odors.
Many people use vinegar as the basis of their own DIY surface cleaner. Take an empty spray bottle and fill it with one part water and one part vinegar. If you want to enhance the scent of your cleaner you can add a few drops of lemon, orange, or lavender essential oil which have their own antibacterial properties and will help you get a better clean.
8. Vodka
Similar to vinegar, vodka can also use as a natural deodorizer to help kill order causing bacteria. But instead of using it around the house, use it to kill order directly on your clothing. Just take an empty spray bottle and add a little bit of vodka to it, then spray down the items you want to clean and hang them in a well-ventilated area. This hack works really well to remove body odor that may be trapped in a garment.
