Keeping Your Home Spick And Span: 10 Essential Focus Areas
Home maintenance is no walk in the park. It takes a lot of time and dedication to make sure everything is clean and in working order, and it can feel like the second you take a break away from it, things get chaotic.
It’s often difficult to even know where to start, especially when things have gotten a little out of hand. In this article, you’ll learn about 10 key areas you should focus on to get organized!
1. Start by Decluttering
No matter how much of a mess your home actually is, remedying the problem starts with decluttering.
Clutter doesn’t refer to cleaning exactly, but the general accumulation of ‘stuff’ that you’ll find in room corners, on surfaces, and crammed into drawers. Every home accumulates clutter in some form, and it’s very easy for a neatly stacked pile to turn into a problematic overflow.
Start room by room, separating the items in each room into those you want to keep, sell or donate, or simply throw away. Be systematic in your approach, and you’ll have the place cleared up in no time.
2. Organizing Storage Spaces
It’s very difficult to clean if you still have stuff everywhere despite decluttering. Even when it’s stuff you want to keep, it’s essential to organize properly, opting for only a modest number of items out on display.
Of course, that stuff has to go somewhere, so at this point, you’ll want to organize your drawers and cabinets. Having decluttered them already, you should now be able to prioritize shifting items from the living space into these hidden spaces. There are many great videos on YouTube, so pick a method that resonates with you the most.
3. Windows and Mirrors
A great place to start the cleaning process is your windows and mirrors. You’d be surprised how much smudged or dirty glass can detract from the look of your home, as it has a significant impact on the way the light reflects throughout.
Mirrors are nice and easy: you’ll want to use a streak-free glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth (don’t use tissue as you’ll leave a lint residue). Windows can be a little trickier depending on the style of your house, but you’ll be using the same cleaner for the inside. On the outside, it’s advisable to hire a professional window cleaner once every now and then.
4. High-Touch Surfaces
When you start your major clean, high-touch surfaces should be a priority, as these are the areas that pick up the most germs. Think door handles, light switches, and faucet handles: take extra care to disinfect these surfaces properly with an antibacterial spray and a clean cloth.
If your home has older features that are a bit more delicate, make sure you don’t use a cleaner that’s too harsh. A simple soap and water mixture is often best in these cases.
5. Maintaining Your Air Conditioning System
Another key element to be aware of is your air conditioning unit. Your air con isn’t something to simply be installed and left alone. It requires continuous maintenance to ensure that it’s operating efficiently and not wasting money, and functioning cleanly and hygienically.
Remember to replace the filters at the appropriate intervals, and regularly clear the outdoor components of any accumulated dirt and debris. If your system isn’t working quite how it should, always reach out to the professionals: local air conditioning repair services can save you a lot of money in the long run, so don’t put it off.
6. Controlling Dust
Dust is the primary enemy of any household, and while you’ll never eliminate it completely, there’s plenty you can do to keep it at bay.
One of the best ways to clean away dust is with a damp cloth on a pole attachment: given that the stuff collects everywhere, you’ll need something with a longer reach to get the tops of doors, shelving, and window casings.
It can also be beneficial to equip your vacuum with a HEPA filter, as these can greatly reduce the amount of dust circulating in the air (this is especially important if you or someone you live with has allergies).
7. Tackling the Bathroom
The bathroom is naturally a priority when it comes to home maintenance. Since it’s a high-footfall area that comes into contact with water at every point, it’s easy for dirt and bacteria to settle here, making it extra important that you keep on top of things.
Your toilet, shower, sink, and bath should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week. Bleach is usually the best option for killing bacteria permanently, and while you don’t necessarily need to use it in anything other than the toilet, diluting it with some water can work well for your other fixtures.
Don’t forget about the shower door, either. This may need cleaning more than once a week given how easy it is for the glass to gather scum, and the same goes for tiles, too.
8. Taking on the Kitchen
The kitchen is another high-traffic area that deserves special attention. It’s easy for food residue to build up and harbor bacteria, and while you’ll only need to do a proper clean once a week, it’s a good idea to give surfaces a wipe down with food-safe antibacterial spray more regularly than that.
Areas where food is directly prepared, such as cutting boards, should be cleaned daily, and don’t forget to replace sponges and wash clothes frequently, as these are prime items for bacteria to build up.
Every now and then, you’ll also want to take the time to take everything out of the fridge and give the shelves and interior walls a deep clean. However careful you are not to spill anything, food residue will inevitably collect here over time.
9. Cleaning Your Floors
When doing a thorough clean, it’s a good idea to do the floors last. As you go throughout the house, cleaning other areas, you’ll likely be kicking up dust and dirt, and you don’t want to clean them first and then have to go back over them again. Treat them as the finishing touch.
In terms of how to clean them, it all depends on what sort of floor you have. Your carpets will likely benefit from a wet wash and shampoo – you can hire a cleaner from your local supermarket or hardware store. Wooden, laminate, or tiled floors can usually be cleaned with a damp mop and basic detergent. For special types of wood and laminate, make sure you follow any manufacturer's instructions.
10. Staying Consistent
Staying consistent with your maintenance habits is one of the most important elements of all; a thorough clean means nothing if you just allow everything to regress. The main idea with a deep clean is that it means you don’t have to do it again anytime soon, only needing to lightly maintain for the following several weeks.
It can be a good idea to buy a dry-erase board and create a simple schedule, noting down which days you’ll clean each area. Breaking things up like this makes cleaning a much less laborious task.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully, you’re now a little clearer on how to properly maintain your home when things feel too much. Breaking things up into manageable chunks is always the way forward. While it’s easy for things to get out of hand, staying organized and knowing which areas to prioritize can help you manage mess without the headache.