HOW TO KEEP A SPOTLESS HOME
Few things in life are as big of an eyesore as an untidy, dirty domicile. The home is meant to be a sanctuary, but when dust bunnies, clutter and germs accumulate, you can’t relax.
That’s why the experts advise getting on a regular cleaning schedule and taking the time to learn how to tidy, disinfect, and neaten up your home correctly. “The cleanliness of your home impacts your mental and physical well-being. It can also help you preserve the value of your home,” says Nicole Levine, president/CEO of Home Clean Home Inc. in Brooklyn, New York. “Keeping up with a regular cleaning routine will minimize the effort it normally takes to tidy up.”
Levine suggests keeping a daily, weekly, monthly, and even yearly schedule for different cleaning and organizing activities.
“For example, you should be doing dishes, sweeping, and wiping your counters daily. I recommend decluttering once a week and cleaning your home from top to bottom once a month. And at least once or twice a year, you should attempt a deep house cleaning to take care of any buildup in areas you don’t normally pay attention to.”
Danelle Schrader, chief operating officer for CottageCare Housecleaning in Littleton, Colorado, recommends a cleaning regimen that begins by decluttering.
“This could be as simple as tossing out old mail, emptying the dishwasher, and cleaning up toys, shoes, laundry, or other items that need to be put away. Of course, you can hire a quality cleaning service to get the house clean, but they are not going to solve your clutter problem,” says Schrader.
Sanitizing is also important. Pay attention to removing any spiderwebs and dust all surfaces, working your way from top to bottom. Use cleaning wipes or a water/ bleach solution to disinfect commonly used surfaces.
In bathrooms, take a scrub brush and cleaning solution to the toilet, shower, and sink area. Remember that elbow grease matters here. Use cleaning/deodorizing pellets or a liquid product in your toilet bowl, too.
We all lead busy lives, so don’t put undue pressure on yourself to keep things spotless 100% of the time.
“There may be days where, for instance, the laundry is a little bigger than you like – and that’s okay,” Levine adds. “The important thing is that you try to do as much as possible to keep things clean and organized and to make a schedule that works for you and stick to it.”