Cleaning your Home: How to Get the Job Done

Imagine coming home to a house in disarray - beds unmade, floors dirty, dishes unwashed. Not exactly the best place to raise kids in, right? Every family member is entitled to a clean, fresh, and relaxing home. According to Dindo Cleofas, vice president for operations of Trustee Clean, Inc., a home cleaning service, it also makes for a more positive atmosphere. Family members (pets included) are happier - and healthier. With better air circulation and less bacteria buildup, you can be sure your family won’t be getting sick anytime soon. Here, Cleofas gives a room-by-room guide to keeping your home germ-free.

Tips

• Schedule a” changing” day, like Tuesdays for changing bathroom rugs and beddings.
• Reserve tougher tasks for weekends when you have more time. Trim the plants or unclog sink drains on Saturdays.
• Don’t forget to give yourself a free day - when you don’t have to touch a single micro fiber cloth.

Living Room
Regularly used for hanging out with the family or welcoming guests, the living room is quite prone to accumulating dirt.

• Clean the sofa weekly by using a vacuum cleaner. Once a month, pat the surface with a clean, damp cloth. Leather sofas may be cleaned with cloth daily. For imported sofas, check the label for its proper cleaning process:

1. W: can be shampooed
2. S: dry clean only
3. S/W: can be shampooed or dry-cleaned
4. X: vacuum only

• Wipe tables weekly. Apply wood wax or mineral oil on wooden tables every month. Light virgin olive oil is a good alternative to aerosol sprays.
• Dust the top of bookcases every week, as well as spine shelves and light fixtures.

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Bedroom
It’s important for you to have a restful sleep at night. One way to ensure this is to keep the bedroom germ-free, especially with kids around.

• Change beddings once a week. Use only gentle laundry products that don’t weaken delicate fibers.
• Air out mattresses and pillows quarterly. If you’re going on vacation, leave your mattress bare.
• If your floor is carpeted, vacuum once a week. Waxed wood and marble floors require daily sweeping and damp mopping.
• Clean kids’ toys once or twice a week. For young infants, toys should be cleaned before every use.

Dining / Kitchen Area
Food spills and other messes are common in this area. A practical tip in keeping the dining and kitchen area spic and span: Wipe spills immediately.

• Keep a box of baking soda with punched holes inside the ref to eliminate odor.
• Clean the ref weekly. Moisten a cloth with white vinegar to prevent mildew (it also gives your ref a clean, fresh scent).
• If soiled, tablecloths should be changed after every meal. Remember that spilled sauce can be a source of bacteria buildup.
• Clean the kitchen counter as you go. For tile, wood, and plastic surfaces, use 1 part baking soda, 1 part vinegar, and 1 tablespoon dishwashing liquid. For granite counters, plain water will do.
• During food preparation, designate a chopping board for fresh produce and another for meat, poultry, and seafood to prevent cross contamination.
• When washing dishes, silverware, and cookware, loosen food particles first with warm water. Wash the most soiled dishes last.
• Wash the strainer in your coffeemaker every day. Don’t leave used coffee grounds inside. Once a month, put white vinegar into the reservoir and turn on the coffeemaker. Leave it for 30 minutes, then repeat the process with cold water twice.
• Once a week wet a dishcloth and microwave it on high for 30 seconds. Wipe off hardened spills inside the microwave using a baking soda, vinegar, and water solution.
• Clean your rice cooker weekly with a damp cloth and an all-purpose cleaner.
• Twice a week, turn your oven toaster upside down and shake off crumbs. Wipe the outer surface with warm water and white vinegar.
• Segregate biodegradable from non-biodegradable waste.
• Put food residue inside plastic bags.

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Bathroom
The best thing about keeping the bathroom spotless? You can do it every day, each time you take a shower. Some tips:

• Don’t miss a spot. Follow this general rule: Clean from top to bottom, left to right.
• Use a squeegee on tiles - it absorbs excess water faster.
• Take down shower curtains once a week for washing.
• Get rid of mildew in the shower area by scrubbing it with a soft brush and baking soda paste. Set for 30 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.
• Change your toothbrush every three months. Check out supermarkets for brushes with a replacement indicator.
• Change bathroom rugs weekly. Brush mats with a soft brush and liquid detergent. Rinse well.

 

 

Main photo by Evil Erin from flickr creative commons