With the cold weather coming to an end (hopefully) and the sun shining through your windows, it can only mean one thing. Springtime is finally here! The winter is behind us, and for most people this is the time to have a good clear out of your home, ready for the summer.
If the thought of spring cleaning fills you with dread, you are not alone. Having an image in your head of scrubbing on your hands and knees for days on end is enough to put most people off, but it doesn’t have to be this way. There are little tricks that you can do to make it seem like your apartment is cleaner, without breaking a sweat.
Sure, you can pull out the refrigerator and give the walls a deep clean if you really want to, but that’s for another day. This article is all about quickly getting your living area up to a respectable standard, so that you have more time to enjoy the sunshine.
Store Your Winter Coats and Boots
When you walk into someone’s apartment, the first thing you usually see is a coat rack filled with jackets and a shoe rack overflowing with shoes. If you want to have the appearance of a tidy and organized apartment, this is the first place you should start.
Put all of your winter coats and furry boots (yes, this means you as well, Milwaukee and Minneapolis residents) into a box and store them away ready for next winter. This will instantly transform your entrance into a clutter-free, spacious area.
Wash Your Bedding and Towels
Nothing says spring like the smell and look of freshly washed bed sheets. Gather up all of your used towels, throws, bed covers and bed sheets (pillowcases too), and stick them in the wash. Clean and fresh smelling linen is one of the easiest ways to give the impression of a well-kept and clean living space.
The best thing about this is that you can let the washing machine do all the work, while you spend a couple of hours in the park sunbathing!
Vacuum and Clean Your Floors
Cleaning your floors is one of the best things you can do to maintain an image of a clean home. If your carpets are covered in crumbs and pet hair, or your kitchen floor has spills and stains, it just looks messy. Cleaning the floors will instantly lift and brighten a room, not to mention make it smell better.
According to the experts at a that will do everything a more expensive vacuum does. As long as it has a few attachments for getting right into the corners and edges and has good suction, it will be fine. You should also ensure that the vacuum cleaner is suitable for carpets, and has a brush roll to get deep in the fibers.”
If your carpet is a bit old and smelly, you may want to consider cleaning it further. Now, you could rent a carpet cleaner and spend all day shampooing your floors, but there is an easier and faster way.
Simply sprinkle baking soda all over the carpet and leave for a few hours, or overnight if you can. The baking soda will work its magic and draw out any odors and stains from the carpet. All you have to do is vacuum the baking soda up with your vacuum cleaner. This little tip will instantly freshen up your carpets, and save you time and money in expensive cleaning equipment.
For other floor surfaces, such as kitchen tiles or hardwood floors, quickly go over them with the vacuum to remove any debris. Then go over the floor with a mop and a bucket of hot water with a little detergent in it. You could also use a steam mop if you have one. Your floors will now be sparkling clean, and will really make a difference to the overall cleanliness of your home.
Deal With the Surface Mess
You don’t have to spend days going through each room and making it perfect. If you deal with the surface mess first, the things you can actually see, then your task won’t be nearly as energy-draining. Remember, it’s about having the appearance of a clean home without actually deep cleaning.
Start with the living room, as it’s where you spend most of your time. Put every item that is lying around and doesn’t get used on a daily basis into a box. You can stop at this point if you wish, and you will have instantly made the room clutter-free. Just leave the box in a corner of the room and if you need something, it will be there.
If you want to take it a step further, you can sort through the items in the box. Any junk or items that you don’t want or need can either be thrown away or donated to charity. Any items that you want to keep but are not used frequently can be stored away. For anything that is used more frequently, you can either find a place for it or just leave it in the box.
Once you have finished with one room, repeat with the rest of the rooms. This should really take less than 10 minutes per room, and it will completely transform your home into a tidy and organized living area.
Conclusion
Spring cleaning is a necessary part of owning or renting your home, but hopefully, you can now see that you don’t need to dedicate days or weeks to have a clean home. If you deal with the stuff that you can actually see, then the rest can wait.
If you keep on top of the areas mentioned and do it regularly, you will find that it doesn’t actually take up much of your time. You will then have more time to tackle the bigger tasks, such as cleaning the insides of your closets, cleaning behind sofas and appliances, and cleaning walls and ceilings.
The point is, these are the things that aren’t really noticeable, so it’s completely your choice whether you want to clean them or not; or you could just hire a professional cleaner for the job if you want to spend your time enjoying the summer.
