Many people start the New Year with several goals set. If one of your goals is to keep your house cleaner, you may need help deciding where to begin. But the best part about having these goals is that you have plenty of time to pursue them.
Instead of tackling a large house cleaning project, such as decluttering your garage or attic, begin by creating attainable maintenance goals. For example, making your bed every day will give you the courage to continue your cleaning journey for the next 12 months and beyond. However, soon after the New Year has come and gone for a few months, the goals tend to slack off until they are not archived or even attempted. There are some simple and easy things that you may add to your routines to achieve the cleaning goal you’ve started and continue to achieve successfully.
Make a Cleaning Checklist for Your Home
Making a home cleaning checklist will help you organize everything that must be done around the house. When you have set days for tasks, you are less inclined to squeeze everything into one weekend when you fall behind. The checklist can keep you on track and help you build a cleaning routine that is easy to maintain. The best objective is to be consistent in chipping away at the goal. If you are consistent, then it will make an impact. As you continue and time goes on, you will be able to see the difference and get closer to achieving your goal.
List your cleaning goals, including deep cleaning jobs like freshening baseboards and showerheads. Once you’ve completed your full cleaning list, write ‘D’ for daily, ‘W’ for weekly, ‘M’ for monthly, ‘S’ for seasonal, and ‘H’ for six months. Next, organize each task into its relevant category and record it in a yearly planner.
Clear Out Your Clutter
Many New Year’s resolutions include measures to improve emotional and mental well-being, and cleaning falls within that category. Clutter in the home may frequently bring unneeded worry and anxiety, which is no way to start the new year—putting off several cleaning tasks results in chaos. Setting a New Year’s resolution to declutter will keep your home tidy and comfortable all year.
To efficiently tidy your home, go room by room and inventory your possessions. Which items have been damaged? Which of these do you never use? Get rid of broken toys, ruined cookware, ripped linens, and other objects that are no longer usable. Donate any items still in good condition but not utilized regularly. It may be challenging to part with things, but the reality is, how often do you use the item, and is it necessary to keep it? Some items, we can agree, will never come back in style or will be useless due to technology. Consider donating old technology you know you will never use or need again.
Every Day, Make Your Bed
Although it may appear to be a minor accomplishment, making your bed every day sets the tone for the rest of your day. There’s something special about strolling into this room at any time of day, taking a big breath, and instantly feeling calm. Aside from cleaning your bedding daily, make it a point to wash your linens at least once or twice a week.
Remove Your Clothes
Although it may be tempting to throw unneeded clothing on the floor, this can easily make your home appear more cluttered than it is. Make it a point to put your dresses away after you’ve tried them on, and keep filthy items in a hamper until cleaning day. Even if you have to use a simple laundry basket to hold those clean clothes till the end of the week, correctly folding and storing them will make the space feel orderly and well-kept.
Sort Through Your Closets
Excess cleaning supplies, cosmetic products, never-worn clothes, and other items may quickly accumulate in our closets. Set a goal of cleaning these places every six months to avoid overflow. Go through your clothing and linen closets and donate any broken items or pieces you no longer use. This makes a lot more room for the things you like.
Dishes Should be Cleaned and Put Away Every Night
Nothing beats making breakfast in the morning without looking at yesterday night’s filthy dishes in the sink. Every night, the words are done, and the cooktop is cleaned. Every last object has been placed in its correct position. Aim to clean and put away dishes every evening next year, whether by hand or by rinsing and putting them in the dishwasher.
Refrigerator Deep Cleaning
If your refrigerator is cleaned regularly, it may soon become attractive, from spilling condiments to a buildup of leftovers. Cleaning this area once a month will allow you to take inventory of your supplies and avoid storing spoiled ingredients. Begin by emptying the fridge, checking expiration dates as you go to see what is still edible. Then, clean every surface, including the light fixtures, before reintroducing your food and beverages.
Wipe the Shower Down
While a nightly deep clean of your bathroom is unnecessary (or possible), you can maintain its appearance and feel with a straightforward task: After the shower, wipe it down. After showering, you can prevent water streaks on the walls by having a tiny squeegee nearby.
Clear the Countertops
Built-up grime on counters may make your home appear untidy, from crumbs on your butcher block to mascara residue on your bathroom sink. Make it a habit to wipe off your surfaces every night. Keep sanitizing wipes at the sink to quickly wipe down the faucet, sink, and surfaces between cleanings. This takes only a few seconds and quickly improves the appearance of your property.
Daily Vacuuming
Few people have time to scrub their floors every day, but vacuuming common areas daily helps keep crumbs, pet fur, and filth at bay for longer. Keep a vacuum available as a reminder to complete this activity; you can easily plug it in and go through your home.
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