
Do you still have your decorations up? Are you tripping over leftover holiday decorations? Having trouble dealing with the filth that has gathered in your home over the last year?
You’re not alone.
Although it is considered bad luck to clean on New Year’s Day, many individuals clear their spaces and psychologically recharge after the commotion of Christmas.
There’s also a sense of pride at work. The last thing you want is for people to come over and find that you’re living in filth, especially if you’ve made a commitment to improve your health or well-being.
A cluttered home can indicate a chaotic mind, so while your loved ones won’t blame you for letting things lapse, it does dim the lustre of your ‘New Year, new me’ character.
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend January toiling away to keep the mask of perfection from slipping. Cleaning smarter, not harder, is the key to a clean, organised home.
These tasks each take less than ten minutes to complete, providing you with a sense of accomplishment without requiring too much work.
Do them whenever you have a spare moment, and you’ll be free of house-shame the next time the doorbell rings.
Get your microwave gleaming
The microwave is one kitchen appliance that is frequently overlooked, primarily because it is difficult to clean.
Dean Davies, Cleaning Expert from Fantastic Services, has collaborated with Russel Hobbs to share his techniques, including an elbow grease-free microwave hack.
‘A great technique to clean your microwave is to fill a microwave safe basin with warm water,’ he advises. Place the bowl in the microwave for one minute on high with two tablespoons of dishwashing soap.
‘The steam will soften the dried-on food, allowing you to clean the microwave with a damp sponge, leaving your microwave squeaky clean and ready to heat up all those wonderful leftovers.’
Try rubber gloves for pet hair
Anyone who owns a pet knows that their fur gets everywhere, making your soft furnishings look unkempt.
When a vacuum just isn’t cutting it, a pair of rubber gloves from your kitchen cupboard is a better option.
‘Put on a rubber glove, slightly dampen it with water, and then massage it over the surface of your sofa [it also works on carpets and other fabrics],’ says Ray Jones, sofa expert at interiors shop ScS.
‘You’ll be surprised at how much fur you collect.’
You can also use a moist sponge or a rubber window squeegee, but be careful not to use too much water to avoid water streaks.
Keep carpet odours at bay
There’s no need to spend money on pricey items to get rid of odours in the home.
‘Sprinkle a little dusting of baking soda over your carpet and let it sit for a few minutes before vacuuming,’ Dean suggests.
The absorbent powder will absorb nasties; just be sure to clean your vacuum’s filters on a regular basis to keep it running smoothly.
Banish hard water stains on your glassware
January is an excellent opportunity to complete those tasks that often slip by the wayside, such as removing those bothersome water stains from your glasses.
‘When you arrive to the glassware cupboard, tackle any hard-water build up on glasses by soaking them in vinegar for five minutes, then rinsing and drying with a microfibre towel,’ advises Joe Authbert, Buying Manager at ProCook.
The acidic nature of vinegar is so strong that it can dissolve mineral deposits while also killing microorganisms.
Freshen up your fridge – inside and out
When was the last time you scrubbed your refrigerator? It’s probably in need of one after harbouring Christmas delicacies and rotting leftovers.
Dean suggests first emptying the fridge and discarding food with expired use-by dates.
‘Wash the shelves and drawers with a sponge and warm dish soap, then wash the inside with a mixture of two tablespoons baking soda, one part white vinegar, and three parts hot water,’ he continues.
‘Pay special attention to mildew-prone areas, such as rubber seals.’
All you need for the outside is a towel and your standard all-purpose cleaner.
Keep your dishwasher in top order
It is critical that you maintain your dishwasher. Otherwise, it will not function well and will add to your daily routine with re-washing and scrubbing.
Begin with the drain, removing any food waste by opening the appliance’s bottom rack.
‘Then, pay attention to the dishwasher filter because if it isn’t clean, nothing else will be,’ Dean says.
‘You can find it underneath the bottom spray arm; remove it and soak it in a bowl or sink full of warm water and dish soap. After a few minutes, clean the filter with a toothbrush to remove any remaining food particles, then rinse and replace it.’
Wipe off the door seals, spray arms, and the inside of the dishwasher with vinegar, then use a toothpick to remove any debris from the spray holes. Voila.
Shine your sink with citrus
Utilize citrus fruits by putting them to use in your New Year’s cleaning.
‘Use half a lemon to scrub salt into the surfaces of your kitchen sink before washing with water,’ explains Joe.
‘The citric acid will cut through filth, while the salt will aid with stain removal.’
Give kids’ toys a bath
Toys for children can be filthy, so use your January cleaning to ensure they’re playing safely.
Toys containing electrical components can be disinfected with a cloth, but bath toys and plastic dolls are even easier to clean.
‘Fill a bath an inch or two deep, toss in a couple of sterilising tablets, and soak the toys for around an hour,’ suggest the Munchkin experts.
‘There’s no need for boiling water or rinsing them after; simply let them dry properly once you’ve taken them out and they’re ready to go.’
Renew pots and pans
‘It’s usual for stainless steel cookware to exhibit signs of daily wear and tear, so it’s a good idea to give your pans a freshen up every now and again,’ Joe explains.
For this one, use baking soda to remove ‘pitting’ by wetting a sponge and working through part of the powder.
‘For obstinate calcium build up, bring a solution of one teaspoon of vinegar to one litre of water to a boil in the pan,’ Joe adds. Allow the contents to cool before cleaning with soapy water and thoroughly drying them.’
Tackle touchpoints that harbour bacteria
The surfaces we touch are some of the dirtiest components of a house. Although guests cannot see it, it is important to go over dangerous locations with them before they arrive to ensure they do not spread bacteria.
‘We touch devices like light switches, TV remote controls, laptop keyboards, and kettles every day, but how often do we properly clean and disinfect them?’ says Terry Fisher of WeBuyAnyHome.
‘From Staphylococcus aureus and salmonella to E.coli and mould, these surfaces can provide a great home for a variety of microorganisms.’
Sweep a diluted disinfectant-soaked cloth (or disinfectant wipes) over the following areas:
- Light switches
- Door and window handles
- Keyboards
- Remote controls
- Kettles
- Buttons on appliances
Use baskets for clutter
When it comes to clutter, putting everything in one area is your best hope for clearing it.
‘My favourite technique for fast tidying the home is this – grab a laundry basket (I use Ikea bags since they fold up so compact and store so much), rush around and just stuff everything in there,’ adds Zoe, also known as CaptainMumsCleans on social media.
‘You can clean things up later, but for the time being, all visible clutter is hidden.’
The weight of a cluttered space will be lifted immediately, and you will feel more inspired to maintain your neat habits.
If getting organised still seems difficult, consider using various baskets for different family members or spaces in your home. This will make the task appear less intimidating.
Wash up your washing machine
StadeClean cleaning gurus Steph and Jade advocate using vinegar to clean your washing machine.
‘Depending on usage, washing machines can quickly accumulate filth,’ they add.
‘You may avoid this by putting two cups of white vinegar to the detergent drawer of your washing machine. Then, use a hot wash to get rid of the filth.’
‘Add half a cup of baking soda in the drum and run on a hot wash for best cleaning power,’ the duo adds. This will eliminate any odours in the drum and inhibit bacterial growth around the seal.’
This should eliminate damp smells in your clothes as well as keep your washing machine running longer and give you the pleasure of a job well done.
Spring cleaning conducted prior to the coming of the season appears to be rather productive – and no one needs to know you did it during your teabreaks.