All about general cleaning

Anyone likes it when his house is clean and comfortable. Most people do a light cleaning every couple of days by folding scattered items, washing dishes, dusting and vacuuming. However, spring cleaning is something completely different, and it is done in a different way. We will analyze the features of this event in the article.

General cleaning of an apartment, house, cottage, summer residence is a measure aimed at the complete cleaning of the home. This is the removal of everything that has accumulated over a long period in cupboards, bedside tables, kitchen cabinets, in the closet, on the mezzanine. It allows you to sort through all the contents of the home, sort it, understand what is no longer needed and has outlived itself.

Besides, general cleaning allows you to disinfect the premises, if necessary. The cleaning process includes not only washing floors, cleaning carpets, washing, removing dust, but also treating walls and ceilings.

Generally, general cleaning is carried out every six months. Many people choose the beginning of autumn or spring for this event, while others prefer to clean up before the holidays: Happy Easter, New Year and others. Unfortunately, most people decide to do spring cleaning only once a year, but this is absolutely not enough. And two times will not be enough for those who have animals at home or are allergic, asthmatic.

To clean your home properly, you need to prepare a few things.

• Clothes for yourself. This is important because you can get dirty with something or tear your clothes by getting caught on something while cleaning. Clean up in what you do not mind throwing away in case of something.
• Rubber gloves. Necessarily needed, since you will have to work with water and chemical compounds.
• Microfiber cloths. They are excellent helpers for the hostess. With their help, you can easily wipe any surface without leaving behind lint and streaks.
• Broom and scoop. It's not about sweeping the entire apartment like the good old days. However, for some areas such accessories may still be required.
• Vacuum cleaner. Without this unit, it is impossible to carry out general cleaning in our time. A steam cleaner can also be a useful tool if you have one in your home.
• A set of brushes. Suitable for cleaning dirty surfaces and plumbing.

In addition to the above, you need to buy cleaning products:

• upholstered and ordinary furniture;
• mirror surfaces;
• plumbers;
• kitchens (microwave ovens, ovens);
• floor.

Deciding on a general cleaning is not always easy. After all, the complex includes many activities. It will be much easier to get started if you create an action plan for yourself. Walk through each room with a notebook and pen and write down everything that needs to be done. The cleaning procedure for individual rooms always starts at the top. That is, first of all, it is the ceiling, cornices, curtains, then everything else. If you have difficulties with compiling the list, you can take a step-by-step plan from the Internet. For example, here's an option.

Before you start cleaning a specific area, you need to do a few general things.

• Open windows. If cleaning is done in the spring or summer or early fall, keep your windows open throughout the entire process. If it is cold outside, open the windows one by one in those rooms in which you are not currently.
• Inspect the house and collect any soiled laundry in it. These are bedding, tablecloths, blankets, all kinds of napkins. Take them to a separate room or put them to wash right away.
• Remove any debris visible to the eye: old newspapers, pieces of paper, empty packaging, etc. Pack and place temporarily in the hallway.
• Collect all contaminated dishes and put it in the sink or in the dishwasher, if this unit is present in the house.

Now you can go to the individual areas of the room. Let's consider what the correct algorithm of actions includes.

These include the bedrooms and living room. First, let's take a step-by-step plan for the bedroom.

• Vacuum up any dust from the ceiling, paying special attention to the corners. Then wipe the curtain rods, chandelier, shades. Also, cleaning any rooms includes washing windows. This item is common to the entire room, so we will not mention it every time in the future.
• After cleaning the window and ceiling area, take care of decor items. Take off the paintings, remove figurines, figurines, frames from the shelves. Move the flowers to another room. Dust is wiped off the scenery, washed, if possible. Flowers are sprayed for freshness.
• Next, the most difficult stage begins - cleaning the bed. It includes not only washing the bed linen, but also cleaning the mattress. To remove stains and possible unpleasant odors, sprinkle baking soda with a few drops of aromatic oil on the mattress. After 2 hours, wipe the mattress with a sponge and leave to dry completely. Vacuum the remaining baking soda.
• Before cleaning the mattress, it is worth looking under the bed itself. If it is close to the floor, you will have to remove the mattress - for this it is worth taking an assistant, since some models weigh up to 70 kg. Clean the inner space of the bed from dust and cobwebs, small debris.
• While the mattress is drying, remove the dust from the room. Wipe down all surfaces, don't forget the skirting boards. Vacuum and clean upholstered furniture, if any, with a special cleaner. Remove carpets, clean outdoors while rolling. Vacuum well and mop the floor.
• Now you can put back the carpet, decor items and home flowers.

Cleaning of children's bedrooms is done according to the same principle: with washing windows, cleaning surfaces and decor, and a mattress. However, in this room, use a mild and harmless cleaning agent and rinse thoroughly. Too dusty toys should be sent to the wash, the rest should be placed on the shelves in order. Don't be afraid to involve your child in the process. If you approach the question correctly, you can turn a boring action into an exciting quest. Don't forget to reward your kid for their efforts. You can make a small gift, offer sweets, or spend time together for something entertaining.

When it comes to cleaning the living room, the steps are a lot like cleaning a bedroom. Here, too, you will have to pay attention to curtains, ceilings, windows. You need to clean the carpets, vacuum, mop the floor, and dust all items. Do not forget about upholstered furniture. First it must be vacuumed and then covered with a special cleaning agent. At the end, you have to vacuum it again. Also, in the living room, attention is paid to mirrors, a coffee table, and a TV. All this should be put in order.

For many, cleaning the kitchen is the most unpleasant thing, because cleaning surfaces from grease is not so easy to cope with. Nevertheless, you have to do it. In addition to the basic cleaning steps that we listed earlier (dust, windows, etc.), the following rules should be included in cleaning the kitchen.

• Cleaning dishes. It is best to wash everything to get rid of possible contaminants that we do not notice in our daily life. If there is a dishwasher, great, one point is solved by itself. If not, the dishes are washed by hand. In case of heavy contamination, you can pre-soak it. After washing, wipe and put in place.
• Cleaning the stove and oven. Here special means marked "Antizhir" will come to the rescue. It is worth buying a liquid or gel-like product from a trusted manufacturer, albeit not cheap. But it will save time, and you do not have to "pump up your hands", removing drops of fat from the stove. The composition is applied in advance. The time is indicated in the instructions.
• Microwave cleaning. To quickly remove dirt from such a stove, you can use products specially designed for this. Sprays for removing fat from microwaves are now on sale. It will go away even faster if you leave a plate of hot water in a closed stove for a short time.
• Washing surfaces. It is especially difficult to clean the area around the stove as well as the hood. But with the means "Antizhir" the process will be faster, the main thing is to wash them off well.
• Washing the refrigerator. This is another important point. Switch off the unit and remove the food. Then wash the device thoroughly, remembering to defrost the freezer. To speed up this process, place a fan in front of the freezer. In an hour there will be only water left.
• Revision of lockers. Go through the cabinets and inspect your stocks of cereals and spices for expiration dates and bugs. Throw away the unnecessary. The cabinets are also worth washing, as is the trash can.

You can clean up here faster than in other rooms. Get things done first. Clean and store off-season items and shoes. Store only clean items. Before loading the shelves with them, you need to wash the cabinets. Then you should pay attention to the mirror. After cleaning it, carefully fold the accessories: keys, umbrellas, etc.

Wipe off dust on furniture and baseboards, lamps. Be sure to wipe the hangers, shelves. Then you can go to the door, wiping it on both sides, and also treating the door handle with an antiseptic. The rug is also washable. In the end, all that remains is to vacuum and clean the floor.

Bathroom cleaning is usually done very last. It is important to consider the following points here.

• Cleaning of lockers. See if everything is in order in the lockers. Go through cosmetics and care products, maybe something has already deteriorated. Wash the lockers.
• Cleaning the walls. Here we are talking not so much about washing the walls, but about cleaning the tile joints, which very quickly become dirty and become dark due to the fungus. It is best to clean them with a toothbrush and a suitable product. If it does not work out, you will have to invite specialists who can scrape off the fungus and rub the seams again. Next, the walls are washed with a regular sponge. Also pay attention to the ceiling.
• Plumbing processing. Now there are many tools that can quickly clean plumbing. They should be applied in advance so that they have time to dissolve the dirt. Then all that remains is to rinse the item. So you can quickly clean the surface of the taps, toilet, washbasin, bath.
• Washing the floor. This is the final step in cleaning the bathroom.

It should also be noted that hair clogs often occur in the bathroom. The same can happen in the kitchen, only there it will be tea leaves, food leftovers. Sooner or later, any drain becomes clogged, even if well looked after. Solving the problem is easy. Stores now sell products specifically for pipe cleaning. They are poured into the drain, poured a little with water, wait for the time indicated in the instructions, and then washed off with good pressure. However, there is one nuance that the hostesses noticed. According to reviews, the result will be much better if you fill in half of the product and immediately pour boiling water into the drain. Then pour in another half and also pour in water.

Post-construction cleaning is different from the usual general cleaning, but not particularly. It is even lighter in some way. You need to collect construction waste first. Then inspect the remnants of building materials, it may be too early to throw out some. Determine a place for them in the apartment. Next, treat the walls, baseboards, and the floor. The floor will have to be washed several times, as the whitewash is difficult to clean. Then move on to cleaning the windows. Then you can already place items in the room.

If the repair was carried out in the kitchen, then it was necessary to take care of the stove in advance, covering it with something. It will be difficult to wash off the remnants of building materials later. Also, after repairs, pieces of sealant or glue are often left. They can be easily removed using a spatula. Then you can rub the tile with a solution of water and a couple of drops of ammonia, this will give it a shine. The cement (dried) is removed with a regular sponge and the surface is treated with water and a little vinegar.

Now let's look at some tips from cleaning workers and housewives who have been cleaning for years.

• As you work, you can use a plan to keep track of the time you spent cleaning an area. Firstly, it motivates, because you can clearly see the reduction of the list. And secondly, it will help next time.
• When cleaning a two-story suburban space, always start at the top. If you are cleaning an apartment, start from the farthest zones.
• To keep the process from looking boring, try to imagine how many calories you will burn. A spring cleaning will save you a lot more energy than a regular gym trip. Work to music, you can also attract loved ones and distribute responsibilities between them.
• Do not wait for one thing to be completed. For example, you put "Antizhir" on the stove. Do not stand and wait, wash the dishes or disassemble the cabinet.
• When cleaning floors, they are always treated twice.The first time a special agent is used, which is diluted in water, the second is washed with a pure liquid.
• The ceiling can only be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. If you do want to wash it, make sure it is waterproof.
• Remember the basic rule of general cleaning: first we do everything "dry" (wipe the dust dry, vacuum cleaner), and then only wet cleaning follows.
• When processing walls, you can also use a vacuum cleaner, because it will take a very long time to clean them with your hands. If you have a model with an aquafilter, great. In any case, the vacuum cleaner should be set to the weakest mode.

After cleaning, do not litter the apartment again. Make it a rule to set aside about a quarter of an hour before bedtime to arrange the scattered things and wash the dishes, do not put it off until tomorrow. You should not collect trash that accumulates dust in itself and lies aimlessly in the bowels of cabinets. Remember that if you have not used an item for several years, most likely you simply do not need it. Throw it away or give it to those in need. If the item is broken and you bought a new one, throw the old one away.