The end of the year is a great time for reflection – and a great time to clean up your house! As you take stock of the past year, follow these house cleaning tips to get your home ready. From tackling those forgotten spaces to making sure you have the right supplies, let’s jump into what it takes to make this a sparkling start to the new decade.
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Deep Clean Hard-to-Reach Areas
It’s the end of the year and it’s time to give your home a deep cleaning. Deep cleaning your home can often feel overwhelming, but if you focus on hard-to-reach areas like window panes, baseboards and blinds, you’ll find that it is manageable.
One place in particular that can benefit from a deep clean is window panes. Start by removing any existing dust and wipe down the window, using a mixture of vinegar and water. Make sure to scrub along the edges thoroughly for all dirt and debris. Next, add a small amount of washing soda to the mixture for extra strength and use paper towels or soft rags to wipe away any remaining dirt or grime from the entire surface of your windows.
Along with window panes, be sure to give special attention to baseboards and blinds as these places are often overlooked during regular cleaning – especially inside the house! Begin with clearing dust from nearby furniture with a duster or vacuum before wiping down each individual board or slat with an all-purpose cleaner. Once complete, rinse off any excess cleaner with a damp cloth as well as polish them off with furniture oil while they are still wet for extra shine.
Finally, don’t forget about those hard-to-reach areas like air vents, registers, and behind appliances that may have been neglected throughout the year! It’s important to thoroughly clean these to prevent any dust buildup in-home air systems which could impact air quality within your home environment. Gently remove excess dirt using vacuum cleaners or electric brushes before running an all-purpose cleaner on surfaces like walls covering lighting fixtures near ceiling vents. Obviously, due to their height, these areas may require additional resources like ladders so make sure you have someone assisting whenever possible!
Deep cleaning hard-to-reach areas occasionally throughout the year will ensure that your entire home is sparkling clean at all times – even if it could be considered “out of sight”.
Declutter and Organize Your Kitchen
The kitchen is the center of any home and it’s easy for things to get cluttered quickly. Take a few hours to declutter your kitchen before the end of the year. Start by purging unused dishes, utensils, and appliances that you haven’t used in a while. Eliminating the extra items will make organizing your kitchen easier and more efficient.
Next, clean out any expired food from your pantry and refrigerator. This will also greatly reduce clutter as well as make food fresher for when you do go grocery shopping. Other things that can be easily removed and stored elsewhere (or thrown away) are excess spices, herbs and condiments that have passed their expiration date or no longer taste good.
Reorganizing should be your next step and can involve two tasks: categorizing items by usage frequency and grouping them by the convenience of use. Begin with categorical reorganization by moving packaged nonperishable foods together in one area of the pantry or cupboard, possibly in identified baskets or Tupperware containers if desired to further bring order to this area; likewise, collect perishable foods together into one designated zone either on shelves or in crispers (such as fruits). In both instances, keep often-used items closer at hand while relegating less-used items slightly further away – while still maintaining logical groupings – all designed for ease of use when preparing meals throughout the year!
Wash Windows and Mirrors
Between the cold weather and indoor activities such as baking, cooking, and all those holiday parties, it’s easy for windows and mirrors to get a little dull. Give them a fresh start for the New Year by giving them a good wash before the end of winter.
Start by dusting off window sills, baseboards, frames and curtains in order to get rid of cobwebs and accumulated dirt. Then mix an ammonia-based cleaning solution with warm water in a spray bottle – one part ammonia to four parts water should do the trick. Spray the mixture onto the surface of your windows or mirrors and leave it for up to five minutes before wiping it away with a squeegee or tender microfiber cloth. Dry with a clean absorbent cloth or paper towel to leave your windows squeaky clean.
Be sure to check if your window manufacturer has any special requirements before you clean or use any kind of commercial plant cleansers. When cleaning exterior surfaces like storm windows on upper stories use soft brushes that are made especially for this purpose as opposed to hard bristled brushes which can scratch glass surfaces.
For finished wood frames, use only manufacturer-approved polishes, as some chemical ingredients in traditional cleaners can damage finishes over time. Finally, keep some distilled white vinegar on hand so you don’t have to run out when fingerprints start popping up between now and New Year’s!
Tackle Laundry and Ironing
At the end of the year, laundry and ironing can easily become another task to add to your ever-growing list. However, a few tips can help you break down these tasks and get them done quickly.
sorting the clothes is an essential step when tackling laundry. Sort your clothing items into groups, for instance whites and darks, colored t-shirts and gym gear, delicate items like lingerie and hand-washable dishes. This helps to ensure that all dirt is washed off before storing away clean items in your wardrobe or closet. Sorting also helps reduce wrinkled clothes because you’ll be able to take each category straight out of the dryer.
You should also consider investing in a good iron rather than relying on an old one that doesn’t do a great job. A good device will make the task of getting things ready for storage much easier as it can quickly heat up garments without damaging any fabrics or leaving any patches around buttons or zips that most steam irons may leave behind. Choosing an upgraded model also ensures you have features such as adjustable steam control so that wrinkles can be removed with ease from both heavy fabrics such as denim or wool prices as well as delicate fabrics like silk blouses or chiffon skirts which sadly often withstand hot steaming irons.
Even with all these tips on hand, washing and ironing can be one of most time-consuming tasks at home — but not if you plan ahead! Start small by organizing clothes into specific baskets/bins so they don’t pile up; this will save time later when it comes to folding and separating for laundering purposes. Finally, review how long dryer settings are lasting for each type of fabrics — shorter drying times mean fewer wrinkles! By taking these steps into account you won’t have to worry about mountains of unfolded clothing at the end of the year ever again!
Donate Unused Items
At the end of the year, it’s a good time to go through your home and get rid of items you no longer have use for. If it’s in working condition, consider donating it to a charity or someone in need. Not only will you clear space and make room for new items, but you will also be helping those in need by providing them with something they would otherwise not have access to.
When deciding what items to donate, ask yourself if these things are truly needed or if they serve a purpose beyond simply taking up space in your home. You may find that there are some things that could be used by someone else in better condition than what is currently present in your home.
Donating does not have to be limited to just physical items either; consider donating food, services or resources as well. If you don’t need something and know someone who would benefit from it, why not pass it on?
Determine what charities or organizations would accept the items that you no longer need and drop them off at their designated donation location. When donating goods such as clothes or furniture, make sure that the pieces are clean, presentable and ready for use by whoever may receive them next.
Donations at the end of the year can help to redefine how we think about giving back and making sure that those less fortunate than ourselves receive assistance when needed most.
Create a Maintenance Schedule
Creating a maintenance schedule is key to preventing major home repairs and cleaning out clutter. Many homeowners set aside a few days each year to check on their home’s structural elements, plumbing, and systems while identifying any necessary updates or repairs, as well as addressing all that dust that accumulates throughout the year.
Starting with the interior of your home, make sure walls, ceilings, and floors are clean. Check these surfaces for dirt marks or scuff marks from furniture moving around. A regular cleaning schedule combined with careful attention to these surfaces will save you much time later in the year if you don’t have to scrub them for extended periods of time during your annual cleaning ritual.
Continue by inspecting light fixtures and other electrical equipment such as switches, outlets, extension cords and smoke detectors for any signs of damage or malfunctioning components. It is recommended that this be done every six months in order to catch any issues early before they become problematic for your household. In addition to looking over electrical components, also make an effort to check appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers — clean out their filters and scrub around the edges so they stay fresh throughout the years.
Finally, review the exterior of your home — walk around your property looking at windowsills and screens for debris or tears; check hose spigots on outdoor faucets; inspect paver stones on walkways that may need repairing; check outdoor walls and trim boards for fading paint; sweep porches; etcetera. Make sure any exposed wood is properly sealed with a weatherproof sealant so it doesn’t sustain water damage throughout the winter season if not resealed yearly. If you are able perform more complex repairs (such as roof work), consult professional contractors rather than depending upon yourself when safety may be an issue.
Overall creating a maintenance schedule throughout the end of the year is beneficial in preventing future large-scale expenses while tidying up your home before successful moving into the new year!
Hire a Cleaning Company
At the end of each year, you might find yourself cleaning up from house guests, gathering decorations, and generally tidying up your home. While the season is a time for family and friends, there’s no denying that it also can create a mess to tackle. If you feel like this task is intimidating or overwhelming, consider hiring a professional cleaning company to help you finish off the year with a clean slate.
A professional cleaning team provides a variety of services, including deep cleanings that target hard-to-reach areas like vents and baseboards; carpet cleaning; and window washing. Most companies use green methods such as vacuum cleaners fitted with HEPA filters and natural detergents that are safe for humans and pets. Not only will they save valuable time in tackling these messy tasks but they can also save you from potentially hazardous contaminants from previous years in your home.
When looking for a cleaning company, ask several questions about their policies on yard waste disposal, chemical safety, proper vetting practices for employees, etc., to make sure that the services provided meet your specific needs. Be sure to confirm their rates ahead of time so there are no unpleasant surprises once the work is completed. With careful research and an experienced team on your side, you’ll be able to enjoy an end-of-the-year cleanup without added stress!
Conclusion
In conclusion, cleaning up your house to close out the year can be a huge undertaking, but it is a worthwhile task. Setting yourself up for success by such as making checklists, creating short-term and long-term goals, and delegating tasks can help make the process of life more manageable. It’s also important to remember that you need to remain positive throughout the process. Celebrating your successes on the way will also help keep you motivated and have a beautifully organized home by year’s end.
Taking care of your housekeeping at the end of the year is an opportunity for you to create an orderly environment that can bring about positive change and allow you to get ready for all of the activities ahead in the New Year. With some focus, organization, and dedication, you will be able to wrap up all of your housekeeping chores with ease!