Your ultimate cleaning checklist
Posted on 19 OCT
While we are all stuck indoors with some time on our hands we can tackle those parts of the house that haven’t had much attention during the year. It may seem like a big task, which is why putting together a checklist can make the job a little easier. You’ll probably need a few pairs of hands to get it done, so get the kids on board one weekend, assign jobs, give incentives and you’ll be done in no time. It’s a great chance to get the whole family involved and helping out.
Here are some of the top areas to tackle when cleaning.
Kitchen
The kitchen is heart of the home, which as well as lots of cooking, often means lots of people in and out. Here’s what to make sure you clean once in a while.
Clean your oven and stove top. Get ready for those summer dinners with friends and family by cleaning your oven and stove top. Keeping them clean will improve the effectiveness of them too.
Defrost your freezer. This one should be done at least once a year to ensure efficiency of your freezer. It’s something that can be ongoing whilst other jobs are being performed around the house, so do this one early on in the day and come back to it at the end. Here is a guide on how to do it.
Clean out that fridge. It’s easy to forget about the fridge. Every so often, take everything out and give it a thorough clean. It will improve the efficiency of the fridge and keep your food fresh for longer.
Declutter and reorganise the pantry. Empty bottles hanging around? Expired items? Decluttering is super helpful in the long run.
Bedrooms
We often spend more time in our bedrooms over the winter months, so they collect a little more dirt and dust. Here’s what to look out for.
Wash your pillows. Everyone knows it’s important to wash pillow cases but how often do you wash the actual pillow? Keep it clean to keep you healthy throughout the year.
Declutter and reorganise the your closet. Time to go through your clothes and split them into four categories: keep, give away, sell and throw out. Make sure you don’t just throw away everything – give your local charity shop a call and give your clothes to somewhere in need.
Bathrooms
Apart from the week to week cleaning of your bathroom, here are some to-do’s that are perfect for a spring cleaning session.
Declutter and reorganise the cupboards. Have expired or outdated medicine sitting around? Get rid of them, you’ll be surprised by how much extra room you’ll free up.
Tile cleaning. If you have tiles, now’s a great time to give them a good clean and keep your bathroom looking spotless.
Unblock your drains. Drains often gather a lot of grime over time, so pouring some drain unblocker down your drains won’t do any harm even if they aren’t actually blocked.
Living room
During the winter months, we spend plenty of time huddled around the fire in the living room – so come springtime it’s ready for a good clean.
Lampshades. Ever thought about cleaning these? They can be dust traps, so take them off their stand and give them a good wipe down.
Coffee tables. Mugs, handbags, plates – we put plenty of things on coffee tables, so they’re always in need of a good clean.
Outside
With summer coming, it’s the perfect time to prep your outdoor area for those summer barbeque dinners with friends and family.
Replace any broken bricks or tiles in your courtyard. Get your courtyard ready for the warmer nights ahead by fixing up any broken tiles or bricks.
Trim trees/bushes/hedges. Sprucing up your backyard by trimming back overgrown greenery can do wonders! If you can’t do this one yourself, give the team at Goodnest a call.
Clean outdoor lighting fixtures. This isn’t one we often think of, but can help keep your outdoor area looking it’s best for the summer season.
Water blast. Water blasting can seriously transform your backyard. It is always worth it for the facelift. If you don’t have time to do it yourself Goodnest also offers this service.
Around the house
There are some tips that go for the whole house – so when you’re done with each room give the whole house a once over with these last tips.
Skirting boards. This is a common part of every room that never gets the attention it needs. Being down at ground level, it collects all the dust and dirt that falls from above as you clean. By doing it last you’ll make like easier for yourself.
Clean the carpet. This can be a big task and can require heavy-duty equipment. Goodnest offers a great carpet cleaning service if you don’t have the time to do it yourself.
Wipe doorknobs and light switches. This is definitely something that goes unnoticed most of the year. Who thinks to clean these? Yet, they probably are touched more than anything in the house, meaning more germs.
Spot clean your walls. As you move through each room, check the walls and clean the marks to keep your home looking spotless.
By Lili Stellingwerf
