Keeping your apartment clean and organized becomes challenging when you lead a busy life. After a long day, the last thing you’d want to do is scrub the kitchen floor or tackle laundry. Unfortunately, procrastinating on cleaning only makes the mess worse. The following tips will assist you in maintaining a clean home, allowing you more time for activities you truly enjoy.
Apartment Cleaning Made Easy: Essential Tools and Products
Moving into your first apartment is a significant milestone. You’re now responsible for bills, managing your time, and establishing routines that will stick with you. But have you considered how to keep your new place clean?
If cleaning is new to you or you’re unsure about the “right way” to do things, don’t worry. We’ve gathered tips from Deonarain and other experts to help you keep your apartment looking its best.
Step 1: Invest in Basic Cleaning Tools
To start, acquire essential cleaning tools based on the surfaces in your apartment. Deonarain suggests assessing the surfaces that need cleaning to guide your choices.
- Vacuum cleaner
- Broom and dustpan
- Mop or Swiffer
- Extendable duster
- Sponges and scrub brushes
- Microfiber cloths
- Toilet brush
Step 2: Purchase Cleaning Supplies
Next, stock up on cleaning supplies to tackle various cleaning needs. Different surfaces require different cleaners, so consider the following basics:
- Dish soap
- Dishwasher detergent (optional)
- Glass cleaner
- All-purpose cleaner (or make your own)
- Oven cleaner (or use lemons)
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Furniture polish
- Disinfecting cleaner
- Laundry detergent
Cleaning might seem overwhelming initially. But with these tips and a bit of effort, you’ll transform your space into a clean and comfortable haven.
Safety Note: Read labels and avoid mixing cleaners, as certain combinations can be hazardous. For example, bleach and ammonia create chlorine gas, which is fatal if inhaled. Prioritize your safety and follow guidelines closely.
Simplifying Home Cleaning: Practical Tips for a Tidy Space
1. Embrace the 15-Minute Rule
Feeling too drained for a lengthy cleaning session after work? Try a daily 15-minute cleaning spree instead. Set your phone timer, tackle clutter, load the dishwasher, and tidy up coats and shoes. Some folks prefer rotating tasks each night, like changing sheets or cleaning the kitchen floor.
2. Manage Your Mail
Is your table buried under mail stacks? Deal with it daily to avoid a daunting pile-up. While watching TV or waiting for dinner, sort mail into junk, bills, and important documents. Recycle junk mail, keep bills on your desk, and file important documents.
Cut down on junk mail by opting for digital statements and paying a small fee to reduce unwanted mail.
3. Leverage Technology
Make cleaning easier with modern tools. Consider a robotic vacuum that works on various floors, even while you’re away. Control it remotely via your smartphone. Invest in self-cleaning blenders and HEPA air filters to minimize manual cleaning efforts and keep your space fresh.
4. Tackle Hidden Areas
A superficial clean won’t cut it. Move furniture, dust baseboards and blinds, and vacuum behind the refrigerator. Don’t neglect the exterior of the toilet and other overlooked spots like toothbrush holders, identified as one of the germiest areas in a home. Regularly clean these frequently overlooked items:
- Kitchen sponge/dish rag
- Kitchen sink
- Pet bowl
- Coffee maker reservoir
- Kitchen and bathroom faucet handles
- Pet toys
- Countertops
- Stove knobs
- Cutting boards
5. Act Swiftly on Spills
Address spills immediately to prevent them from becoming stubborn stains. It’s much easier to wipe away a spill in the refrigerator or attend to carpet mishaps promptly than deal with hardened messes later.
6. Invest in a Roomy Hamper
Avoid laundry overflow by opting for an extra-large hamper that can handle a week’s worth of dirty clothes. If space is tight, use a laundry bag or a king-size pillowcase to corral your laundry.
7. Optimize with a Cleaning Caddy
Eliminate the hassle of searching for cleaning supplies by using a cleaning caddy. Select a size that accommodates your frequently used products or consider separate caddies for bathroom and kitchen cleaning.
8. Start Cleaning Early on Weekends
Allocate a dedicated hour or two on Saturday mornings for cleaning to ensure you have the rest of the weekend for leisure activities. Procrastinating cleaning tasks only makes them more daunting.
9. Create a Cleaning Schedule
Avoid overlooking details by establishing a comprehensive cleaning schedule for every room in your apartment. Note the frequency for each task, such as daily, weekly, monthly, or even annually, to stay organized.
Example Bedroom Cleaning Schedule:
- Put away clothing and shoes (every day)
- Make bed (every day)
- Change sheets (once a week)
- Empty trashcan (once a week)
- Dust (once a week)
- Vacuum or clean floors (once a week)
- Wash blankets (once a month)
- Clean baseboards, trim, and windows (once a month)
10. Clean from Top to Bottom
Avoid creating additional work by starting cleaning tasks from the top down. Tackle high areas first, like dusting the ceiling fan or cleaning the top of the refrigerator, before addressing lower surfaces.
11. Deep Clean Biannually
Twice a year, engage in a deep cleaning session to maintain freshness:
- Dust and wash ceilings, baseboards, walls, lamps, and light bulbs.
- Clean the interiors of appliances and cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Wash windows, curtains, blinds, and steam clean carpets.
- Scrub shower and sliding door tracks with an old toothbrush.
- Declutter your closet and donate or discard unused clothing.
- Wash and freshen up bedding items, including dust ruffles, quilts, comforters, blankets, and duvets.
- Remove dirt and grime from the range hood and kitchen cabinet exteriors.
