One of the most popular excuses we like to use to avoid cleaning is: “I don’t have time.” Traditional large-scale cleaning is not only a useful activity, but also an extremely effective method of getting your home hygienically clean. To make cleaning easier for you, you will find a helpful checklist of the most important steps below.
You should plan several hours for a thorough spring cleaning – even better would be a few days so that you can work through your cleaning plan systematically and step by step. If you choose a different room every day, you can divide the work more easily and you won’t lose interest in cleaning as quickly. Alternatively, you can divide the rooms between your family so that everyone has something to do and takes part in the spring cleaning. Either way, it always makes sense to create a plan about who should do what and when. Then you won’t lose track and save yourself from having to do duplicate work steps. Before you get down to business, it makes sense to check your cleaning supplies. These are the most important utensils:
1. Clean up the apartment
Before you can even begin the major cleaning, it is advisable to clear all surfaces that need to be cleaned – from the floor to shelves to tables and window sills. Take the opportunity to ask yourself whether you want to keep each item lying around. This gives you the opportunity to clear out, store, throw away or even donate everything that you no longer need as part of your spring cleaning: magazines, clothing, toys, paperwork, decorations, etc.
2. Clean windows
As the nights get shorter and the days get longer, the first rays of sunshine reveal every dirty secret – especially on the windows and curtains. While the fabric curtains can be cleaned in the washing machine, the glass panels require a little more effort. Here you can either remove the dirt by hand with water, detergent and a cloth, or you can use a window vacuum cleaner – for example from the Kärcher brand. The device cleans the windows effortlessly for you, leaving no streaks or drips.
3. Dust
After you have cleared all surfaces, you should remove coarse dust from them – otherwise all the dust will immediately spread over all surfaces again after cleaning. If you use a damp duster for dusting, the dirt will stick to it better. Alternatively, you can also use a feather duster, for example to remove dust from the plants. Make sure to always remove the dust from top to bottom, otherwise the dust will trickle down onto the already cleaned surfaces.
4. Vacuum the floor
If you have followed the first three steps, it is the floor’s turn: Carefully vacuum any coverings, including all cracks, corners and ledges. All smooth floors (including laminate and tiles) are then additionally wiped with a damp cloth – sensitive real wood floors can be cleaned with a special wood care product for parquet floors. You can then treat any noticeable stains on the carpets with an upholstery cleaner. Or you can use a steam cleaner, e.g. from Vileda.
5. Clean furniture
Dusting the shelves isn’t the end of the story, as there is still a variety of furniture that you can clean inside and out – such as tables and chairs, dressers and wardrobes. Before you start cleaning, you should first clear out the furniture and, in the process, sort out anything that you no longer have any use for. Then wipe the inventory with a damp cloth and let it dry thoroughly. You can also wash upholstery covers.
6. Clean the bathroom
Sooner or later it’s time to go to the bathroom – a place where germs and bacteria sprout. Here, special attention is paid to the fittings and the toilet, but the shower and/or the bathtub also need to be cleaned thoroughly. And the tiles. It is best to use an abrasive cleaner for stubborn areas, an all-purpose cleaner for the tiles (in combination with a scrubber), a limescale remover for limescale edges and a mold remover to prevent fungal spores. Then throw away the rags you used.
7. Clean the kitchen
Last but not least is the kitchen: First clean all the cupboards, ideally from the outside and inside. To do this, you have to clear out all the food once again – and in the process, sort out everything that has already expired for a long time. Then clean all work surfaces and tiles, depending on the degree of dirt, with a normal all-purpose cleaner or a more aggressive cleaning agent, such as a degreaser. Then it’s finally the turn of the last trouble spots, such as the refrigerator, the stove, the oven, the microwave and the extractor hood.
If you’ve followed all seven steps in a row, you should be very proud of yourself. The apartment should now be completely clean, cleared out and hygienically clean. In addition, after spring cleaning you have peace of mind until the next major cleaning – in 2021 at the latest. Until then you can put your feet up, but of course the regular basic cleaning must still be carried out.
This article contains so-called affiliate links. Further information are available here.
