Though winter is approaching, it’s never too early to start thinking about your annual big spring clean. That’s because spring cleaning is more than just cleaning things up and opening the windows for some fresh air. In fact, some steps that you should have done in the spring can help improve the health and quality of your home right now. Never underestimate the power of deep cleaning your home, and tackle these steps throughout winter so that your home is clean and ready for a new year come spring:
Get Your Air Ducts and HVAC Unit Cleaned
As stated, some of the “spring clean” steps will help improve your home’s health and efficiency right now, and this is one of them. Cleaning your HVAC unit and the air ducts is critical, as it provides you and everyone in your home with cleaner, healthier air. This in turn will reduce the particle buildup in the air and reduce allergies and asthma attacks right from the source. You’ll have to dust less throughout the winter, and benefit from an increase in airflow. In short, it’s good for your health and for the heating and cooling of your home. Home air duct cleaning is best done by a professional, however, as the spaces can be small and difficult to reach.
Steam Clean the Carpets and Upholstery
Another area of your home that definitely does not get as much attention as it should are your carpets and upholstery. Bring in professional cleaners to deep clean your carpet and especially your curtains, furniture and even your mattress. This will reduce the particles in your home and improve your property’s health for the whole family. As a bonus, all your now-cleaned furniture and carpets will last longer.
Deep Clean Your Appliances
It is important to deep clean your appliances at least once a year, though in some cases it should be done much more regularly. This means deep cleaning the oven, your washing machine, your drying machine and most importantly your fridge and freezer.
Your fridge can easily build up bacteria without you being aware of it, and on a less hazardous note they can also house foods that have gone off without you knowing about it. Go through and remove all expired foods and sauces, wipe down your fridge with an antibacterial cleanser, and you’ll be good to go.
Freezers are important to clear out to save space (freezer-burnt food is never nice) and to also get rid of the ice buildup which can make your freezer less efficient over time.
Wipe the Walls and Ceiling
All-purpose cleaners are generally a good option to wipe down walls and ceilings, as they are gentle on paint. You will need to make changes depending on the type of paint or if you have wallpaper etc., but the point still stands – you need to wipe down your walls and ceiling. This is particularly important in high-traffic rooms like the kitchen and bathrooms, which will see a lot of particles in the air that can then build up on surfaces.
Tackle Discolored Grout and Mold Buildup
Grout can continue to look stunning and sharp, but you are going to need to commit to deep cleaning it on a semi-regular basis, at least once a year. Before you reach for the bleach, don’t. Bleach will break away at the grout and even the tile surface, making it more porous and more prone to stains over time. Instead, mix a solution of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and work that solution into the grout. After waiting for it to soak in you’ll need to scrub the grime away and then wash the floor.
The same will apply to mold build-up, although if there is a certain area that is prone to mold, you will need to look into a more long-term solution and investigate the source of the damp.
Clean Home as Normal
While you’re at it, you are going to want to wipe down your home as you would any regular spring clean. Wipe down what you can, wash what you can and generally make a habit of keeping your home clean and dry.
Declutter
And last but certainly not least, declutter while you are deep cleaning. Keeping ahold of things we don’t care about just because they are ours is not healthy. It also doesn’t help keep the home neat and tidy. So, go through and declutter while you deep clean, because this is the perfect time to unearth all those boxes of nick knacks!
Hopefully these tips will help you take care of your home and save you money and headache later.
