As a homeowner you will always have a lot of things to keep on top of.
Cleaning, for one, can become a pretty massive and daunting task. If you are looking forward to the festive season and feel as if you need to prepare for hosting guests, here are some of our top cleaning tips to keep the home clean and tidy.
Tip #1: Put things away
The first thing you can think about doing this winter is putting away any mess you have hanging around. When we first move into a home it can be easy to tell ourselves that we will always keep the home spotless, but a lot of the time this isn’t the reality of things. If you have lots of old letters, cables and other bits and bobs lying around the house: it’s time to clear up and put them away for good. It will make your home instantly look so much cleaner and ready for the festivities.
Tip #2: Throw out rubbish
If you want to make sure you home is ready for the festive season a great idea would be to clear out the home of any old clothes, furniture and other items you may have. The reason for this is that you will likely be gifted with lots of new items at Christmas and if you have no space in the house, it can be pretty awkward to try and fit them in. Before December starts it can be very beneficial for you to clear out the house and then you can have an open, spacious home to work with when cleaning!
Tip #3: Get a dehumidifier
During the winter, as the temperature outside becomes significantly lower than inside the house, you will notice condensation on the windows. This can be a big issue if you don’t keep on top of it because it will create the perfect breeding ground for damp and mold. To stop this from taking over the house and damaging your window frames, you can instead think about buying a dehumidifier. This will suck the moisture out of the air which will prevent it from becoming too moist and damp. I might not initially seem like it is making a difference, but after a day or two you will see a huge improvement in the damp present in your home.
Tip #4: Clean the windows, inside and out
One of the cleaning tasks you might want to avoid during the harsh winter is cleaning your windows both inside and out. But when you make your fall and winter cleaning checklist (more info here) you will inevitably need to add this niggling task. For the inside of the windows you will find cleaning pretty easy with a squeegee and some window cleaner, but outside there may be more grime and spider webs, and this can call for the garden hose. Pick a sunny day to do this job and you should be able to avoid doing it again until at least February!
Tip #5: Clear the gutter
Being in the garden is likely not on your mind in these chilly conditions, however there is one outdoor job which you absolutely need to do right now. The gutter above your home is there to lead rainwater away from your house and into the drains, however when leaves and tree branches are falling they can clog up the gutter and make it impossible for water to drain away from your home. This means that before the harsh weather truly kicks in you should get up there and clear it out. This will keep the water away from your brickwork and keep the house free of damp and mold.
Tip #6: Unclog the drains
One of those notoriously annoying cleaning jobs at any time of the year has to be unclogging the kitchen drain, but no longer do you need to reach into the drain with a pipe cleaner to get rid o the grime and food. All you need is to pour some boiling water into the drain to loosen things up, pour a mix of hot water and vinegar, add some baking powder and let it fizz for 10 minutes. Rinse with boiling water and voila!
Tip #7: Remove wine stains
Because it’s winter and Christmas is coming up… you will inevitably need to think about spillages of drinks after a rowdy Christmas dinner. Red wine is one of the most tough stains of all, and before you panic and rub it into the carpet even further… pour on some salt and let it sit for a while. Once you have let it sit for a little while you can slowly pour over the stain to lift the wine and then dab dry with a towel.
Tip #8: Clean the oven
When it comes to preparing for the festive season, something which we always want to take time to do is clean the oven thoroughly. However if you want to avoid using the harsh chemicals normally found in oven cleaners, you can instead look into using Magic erasers to do the job for you. They are super easy to use and should easy lift off the muck from your oven glass without any need for harsh chemicals to be used.
Tip #9: Pine-sol your toilet brush
The toilet brush is one of those things that no one enjoys using in the house but it can be a handy tool to have on hand in case of blockages. When you put your toilet brush back into its holder make sure to pour in some Pine-sol. This will not only keep the brush clean for your next use, but it will also offer a lovely fresh scent.
Tip #10: Dust mop the walls
No matter how hard you try, the walls in the house will inevitably end up covered in dust at one time or another. To prevent this from making your home look dirty this winter, you can use a dust mop to wipe the walls and keep them pristine and tidy. You can even refresh the paint to make the room feel brand new.
What other ways are you planning to keep your home clean this winter? Let us know in the comments!
