Spring is officially here! Time to give your house a good ‘deep’ cleaning to help clear out the germs and bacteria that has accrued over the winter.
Home Cleaning Fun Facts:
- Kitchen sinks have more germs than toilets.
- You can use your dishwasher to clean other items- toys, combs, or sponges!
- Cleaning for 2 hours can burn more than 200 calories.
- The average women cleans 12,896 hours in her lifetime; the average man only 6,448!
- Roughly 70-80% of dust particles are made-up of dead skin cells.
Studies show that most people spend a large majority of the time indoors and this air can be 4-5 times or more polluted than the outdoors. Our homes build-up dirt and a variety of indoor allergens, such as dust mites, pet dander, molds, and pollens that can effect our health. The result can increase allergy symptoms such as stuffy nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, scratchy throat, and wheezing or coughing. Cleaning your house can help ease these symptoms.
Spring cleaning is about hitting areas, you don’t normally clean from week to week. You don’t have to do it all in one day, but if you just do a few items and one room every week for the next couple months, then you’ll be feeling fresher, healthier and have it all done in no time to enjoy the summer.
Try these tips to make it easier and hit all the areas you need:
- Clean in an organized, efficient manner working from the top down (ceiling to walls to floors). This avoids retracing steps and areas that you will have to re-clean!
- Clean items you don’t normally clean or think to clean: mattress covers, shower curtains, dishwashers, fireplace, chopping boards, washing machine-dryer, kitchen sponges, fridge and freezer, oven hoods/vents, drapery-blinds, ceiling fans/lights, kids toys!
- Keep clean air circulating. Use HEPA filters on your vacuum and furnace and replace them. Clean exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms. Don’t over-scent your home with candles or sprays that could intensify an allergic reaction.
- Try using non-toxic cleaning products. These can be cheaper, safer, and just as effective to use: white vinegar, baking soda, lemons, liquid soap, hot water, essential oils, old wool for dusting, newspapers, microfiber cloths and more! Just Google ‘non-toxic cleaning’ for lots more great tips and products.
- De-clutter your life! Clean out closets and storage areas to gather up old clothes, toys, items you haven’t used in a year or two and give them to a charity for tax benefits, sell on Facebook, or organize for a summer yard sale!
Cleaning is not most people’s favorite thing to do, but taking a little time to hit these spring clean items does feel better. So start recruiting your family to pitch-in and you’ll soon be enjoying the feel of a fresh clean house, maybe some extra money, and ready to enjoy more great weather to come!