Is the annual autumn cleaning just around the corner? For most people, cleaning is a real challenge because this tedious task has to be done regularly. Spring/winter and autumn cleaning are particularly unpopular. With such a major clean, it is important to proceed systematically, otherwise you will quickly lose patience.
The first step to cleanliness
To be able to clean thoroughly, it is important to first create the necessary Order. If things are in your way, you are quickly inclined to simply clean around them. To avoid this, proper organization of your things is very important. For example, a few storage baskets can help. From small drawer cabinets to large boxes for children's toys, for example, you can almost always find something suitable. To save space, these boxes can also be easily stowed under the bed or in the closet.
The right equipment
The right cleaning supplies are essential for the house cleaning to be a success. You don't need any special extra equipment. Items such as a floor mop, vacuum cleaner, duster, dustpan and hand brush, cloths and rags, cleaning sponges, a hand scrubber, and a bucket of lukewarm water for dusting and mopping the floor are sufficient. Various cleaning agents are also a must. These include, for example, all-purpose cleaners for tiles, surfaces, and almost all floors, toilet cleaners, and scouring cream for stubborn dirt. Limescale deposits, for example, can be easily removed with citric acid.
And off you go!
Getting motivated to tidy up is one thing. But where do you start dusting? There is one important rule when cleaning the house: always clean from top to bottom. First, cupboards, shelves, lamps, and work surfaces are dusted before you tackle the floor – after all, you don't want to mop twice. When you are planning your autumn/spring or winter cleaning, it is important that everything runs in an orderly fashion to avoid cleaning twice and to get as much clean as possible in the shortest possible time. A previously created cleaning plan could be helpful here. At the beginning, take a trash bag and a laundry basket and go through the whole house to collect everything that is not in its place. In this way, you not only tidy up, but also collect trash and laundry at the same time. This makes dusting easier later! When cleaning, start with the largest room, because then most of the work is already done. This is usually the living room. The kitchen is often the biggest challenge, because dirty dishes and leftovers from the last meal pile up there. Therefore, you should tackle this next. Once these two rooms are done, the rest almost takes care of itself, because the biggest part is finished. All that remains is the bedroom, bathroom, and hallway.
The hallway should be vacuumed and mopped last, because dirt quickly collects here again due to constant movement between rooms. For the bedroom, the rule is: don't just stow everything in the closet and hope that you can close the closet door faster than the things can fall out again! Even if that sounds tempting and the room looks tidy afterwards, you should take enough time to clean the drawers and cupboards as well. However, this can be postponed to the next day with a clear conscience. Also, do not neglect proper ventilation so that the indoor air improves and you sleep better at night.
Note: If you let the cleaning agents soak in for a few minutes, the dirt is easier to remove. It is also important to ventilate the house well while cleaning because of the emerging cleaning agent fumes and the stirred-up dust. The house should have a calm and peaceful atmosphere. And don't forget: everything (almost) goes better with music.
