That’s it! Spring is here and you’re planning to clean your house! A colossal task, you’ll tell us! Even if this chore may seem insurmountable, it’s possible to plan it well in order to make your life easier. So here are the tips from the Entraide diabétique du Québec team for very successful spring cleaning!
The list: a necessary evil
Before you even start your spring cleaning, take a moment to make a list of the tasks you would like to accomplish. First, plan the order of the rooms you will be cleaning. This will then prompt you to make a list of what you will need to get: cleaning products, garbage bags, rubber gloves, storage boxes, pails, mops, paper towels, and so on. You will then be able to do your shopping beforehand and avoid having to go out and buy the missing items at every turn. The idea here is to make the most of your time for maximum efficiency.
The kitchen
The kitchen is undoubtedly the most important room for your spring cleaning, which is why we suggest you tackle it first. When you open your pantry, this will be a good opportunity to dispose of food that is past its best-before date or dried spices that have been lying around for too long. Clean the shelves and containers before putting everything back in the pantry, grouping foods together in an orderly fashion (sweet foods, canned food, spices, pasta and rice, etc.). This will help you find your way more easily in your everyday rushes. Do the same for the refrigerator and freezer. Once again, dispose of the food that is past its best-before date either in the compost or garbage can.
If your oven is equipped with a self-cleaning cycle, now is the time to use it. During this process, don’t forget to air out the house, as the resulting odour can sometimes be unpleasant. The same goes for the dishwasher, which can be cleaned by running it with no load. Also remember to scrub all your small appliances: coffee maker, toaster, microwave oven. In addition, empty the contents of your cupboards and drawers and take the opportunity to get rid of the tools that you no longer use or that you have duplicates of. Now is the time to place in a plastic bag everything you no longer want but is still in good condition so that you can donate it to Entraide diabétique du Québec. And lastly, when cleaning the floors, don’t forget to move the stove and oven to remove the dirt hidden underneath. Once this room is finished, the worst will be done!
The bathrooms
First open the cabinets to weed out their contents. Here too, look at the expiry dates of the various medications and beauty products. The medications will have to be returned to the pharmacy, while the beauty products will unfortunately need to be disposed of in the garbage. However, before throwing anything out, look at the containers to see if they might be useful to you. In fact, this could be the time to consider transitioning to a zero-waste lifestyle and make the resolution to have your jars of creams, liquid soaps and other household products refilled. Then clean your bathtub, shower, toilet, mirrors, fan and sinks from top to bottom. Polish the ceramics and any small spaces with an old toothbrush. Be sure to ventilate the room well to allow the air to circulate as best as possible.
Living room and common areas
Start by emptying bookcases, toy bins and cabinets to get rid of what is no longer needed or damaged. Anything that is in good condition can be given to Entraide diabétique, while broken objects will go into the garbage or to the ecocentre. This is also the time to spruce up your decor by getting rid of superfluous furniture or trinkets that just collect dust. Don’t forget to sort out the wires of electronic devices because they often get tangled over time. Remember to put drapes, curtains and cushion covers in the washer in order to get rid of dust mites. Dust light fixtures, heaters, fans and switches and don’t neglect to disinfect door knobs, which are too often forgotten. For the finishing touch, clean the floors and windows.
Bedrooms
If you haven’t already weeded out your clothes closets, now is the time to get started. To do so, consult our tips for efficiently paring down your clothes. In these rooms too, wash the bedding and drapery. Rotate your mattress 180 degrees, dust walls, ceilings and decorative objects and then clean any ceramics.
Although the list of tasks may seem overwhelming to you, the important thing is to tackle one room at a time. That way, you’ll quickly enjoy a feeling of satisfaction and avoid getting bogged down in it. For anything you don’t want to keep, consider locating our donation bins or contact us to plan a home pick-up. That way, you will be able to say “mission accomplished” and reap the benefits of a clean and tidy home once the summer comes!
