3 Deep Cleaning Tips for Your Whole House

Many people take part in different “spring cleaning” activities each year. But that doesn’t mean you should neglect your home’s cleanliness every other season! Deep cleaning throughout the year can help to keep you and your family healthy. Keep in mind that about 10,000 dust mites live in your bed at any given time. Additionally, one bacterium can grow by 8 million in just 24 hours. Ready to start cleaning?

 

In addition to being healthier for you and your family, regular deep cleaning can give you peace of mind and reduce your stress levels. Many people want to clean, but may not because they think they don’t have the time or energy. There is actually some powerful psychology around cleanliness. If you feel you don’t have time or you’re too stressed to clean, break each task up into smaller chunks that take 20-30 minutes of time. Doing so can help to make your chores feel less overwhelming. When you’re done, you might be motivated to move onto another task. So if you understand the importance of deep cleaning more than once a year, how can you make it happen? Keep these tips in mind for smarter cleaning, everywhere in your house.

1. Find the Motivation

According to Google, between July 2017-2018, the watch time for “cleaning motivation” videos had increased by more than 10 times over the last year. Finding the motivation to clean isn’t always easy, especially if you feel like you have a lot of ground to cover and a lot of things you want to get done. Finding ways to motivate yourself can help you get started. Once you accomplish one of your tasks, it’s more likely you’ll be motivated to move onto another one because you’ll see the results of your efforts. One way to motivate yourself to get started is to turn on your favorite music. Now might be the time to crank up something upbeat, instead of your favorite slow jam. Choose something that will get you moving and excited, and make the cleaning process fun. Some people also work better with a ‘deadline,’ so if you work well under pressure, try setting a timer for yourself to get certain tasks done. When you feel like you’re competing against the clock, it can be a huge motivational tool. People get fired up to do things for different reasons. Use whatever motivational tactics work for you, and do what you can to get moving, room by room.

2. Clean Commonly-Overlooked Areas

If you really want to deep clean your home, that means paying attention to everything. Let’s face it, there are some areas of your house that probably don’t get as much attention as they should. For example, when was the last time you cleaned the drains of your kitchen sink, bathtub, or bathroom sink? If you never notice a stinky smell coming from your drains, they could be clogged or caked with something. That isn’t exactly a pleasant thought. Thankfully, you can clear a clogged, stinky drain with a few things you probably already have around the house, including:

• Rubber gloves
• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Wrench (if needed)

Other common areas of the home that tend to get ignored include mattresses (and we already know how many mites could be living there!), showerheads, refrigerator coils, ceiling fans, and oven racks. Thankfully, most of these things only take a few minutes to clean when you do it a few times a year. Think about areas of your home that experience some neglect when you’re cleaning, and take the time to work through them more than once a year. In the end, it can save you a lot of time and effort.

3. Create a Cleaning Schedule

Again, you don’t have to wait until spring to perform a deep clean on your house. In fact, it’s not even something you have to do once a season. By creating a cleaning schedule for yourself, you can avoid long periods of deep cleaning. Instead, a schedule can break down different chores, so you can do them throughout the year. Not only will that help you to save time, but the rotation you use will help your house to constantly stay as clean as possible. Don’t forget to add the “little things” to your cleaning list, including mobile devices and technology. Some of the most common types of bacteria on a cell phone include:

• Yeast
• Mold
• Coli
• MRSA
• Streptococcus

By including these smaller things in your schedule, you’re less likely to forget about them, and you don’t have to spend extra time on a “deep cleaning” day worrying about the small stuff! So don’t wait until next spring to give your house a deep clean. By staying motivated, understanding the importance of cleaning different areas of your house, and breaking down the tasks, deep cleaning doesn’t have to feel so overwhelming. When you make regular cleaning a priority, you’re also prioritizing you and your family’s health and safety in your home.

 

Author Bio

Ainsley Lawrence is a freelance writer that lives in the Northwest region of the United States. She has a particular interest in covering topics related to good health, balanced life, and better living through technology. When not writing, her free time is spent reading and researching to learn more about her cultural and environmental surroundings. Find her on Twitter.