Cleaning, the old nemesis. You’re rushing around, trying to prepare your home in Henderson for guests and notice the outlets are dusty — how does that even happen? If you find yourself struggling to keep your house spick and span and only noticing something needs cleaning when it really needs cleaning then this blog is for you. The best way to keep your home clean? A schedule.
The things you don’t even think about scrubbing along with everyday cleaning tasks are combined with links on how to best clean them and how often you should clean them. Don’t miss the downloadable cleaning schedule link at the bottom. Grab your rubber gloves, ‘cuz here we go:
Some Recommended Tools for Your Cleaning Arsenal
- Microfiber cleaning cloths. We especially love these, because they come in fun colors and one mod pattern option.
- You’ll see baking soda and vinegar often in this article. That’s because it is a non-toxic way to get your Henderson home clean.
- Make this simple, non-toxic DIY disinfectant to feel like the green Martha Stewart of Inspirada.
Every Day
- Disinfect sinks — especially your kitchen sink — each day by wiping it down with a clean rag and some disinfectant.
- Do your dishes and laundry. Don’t forget to place the brush you use to clean your dishes and kitchen stopper in the dishwasher each load to sanitize.
- Wipe down your kitchen table and countertops with a cleaning cloth and a disinfectant spray.
Every Week
- Sweep, vacuum, and mop floors. When mopping, make sure you’re taking different cleaning approaches for your various flooring types. Use this guide for instructions to correctly clean your hard-floor surfaces.
- Make your mirrors and facets shine. Learn the secret to a streak-free mirror through this guide.
- Disinfect bathroom countertops, sinks, and toilets. On the subject of cleaning your toilet, you’re probably doing it wrong. Here’s how to best clean your toilet. Scrub your bathtub and shower, use this unique cleaning method to save your back.
- In the kitchen, you should wipe down your appliances with soapy water and wipe clean with a dry microfiber cloth. Go through your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry to discard expired food. Sanitize your sponges — but not your metal sponges — by microwaving for 30 seconds.
- Wash your bedroom sheets, towels, and any blankets you use often. Use this method for getting the whitest sheets and towels.
- Here’s an area you probably don’t think about cleaning: your pipes. Do some preventative care for your pipes by using vinegar, baking soda, and boiling water. Maintaining your pipes will help you fight clogs and maintain the overall health of your plumbing system. Using similar ingredients and approach, you can disinfect and clean your kitchen sink and garbage disposal.
Every Month
- This is the time for dusting your house. Use microfiber cloths to clean all light fixtures — don’t forget the bulbs as well —, blinds, art, ceiling fan blades, and anything else that gets dusty.
- Vacuum your dryer duct and air vents. Dryer duct cleaning will help you to avoid house fires — lint is a common culprit of fires — and help your machine run efficiently.
- Don’t put the vacuum away just yet, every month you should be cleaning your vacuum too. Each vacuum is a little different, do a Google search for the best way to clean yours.
- Clean your washing machine — front loading and top loading guides. You should do this more often if you’re washing bacteria-ridden items like cloth diapers and household cleaning rags for messes that require sanitation. In those situations, make sure you’re using disinfection methods with those loads. If you don’t want to use bleach, try these options.
- De-scale your dishwasher. This is an important step to do, considering the hard water we have here in Las Vegas. Not only will your dishes come out cleaner, but your dishwasher will love the de-scaling effects of vinegar. Use this vinegar and baking soda method.
- Give the outside of cabinets a good cleaning. If you cook frequently, you may want to do this more often in the kitchen.
- Baseboards need love too. You have many options, we prefer the tried and true soapy water and cloth method.
- Vacuum your couch and seating areas. You may need to do this more if you have pets.
Every 3 Months
- Wash your pillows and duvet. Adding tennis balls to the dryer helps them dry faster.
- Wipe down and disinfect your fridge and freezer. Clean your kitchen range hood.
- Get the areas you don’t think about: behind and on top of appliances and furniture and under the bed.
- Wash your shower curtain and liner.
- De-scale your coffee maker — bonus: your morning cup of joe will taste better.
- Clean your microwave.
- Clean off your patio and outdoor furniture. Make sure you’re also doing this task after every dust storm.
Every 6 Months
- Clean your mattress. Use this guide for instructions. As a forewarning, this process is recommended to take 24 hours, so it may be best to plan the cleaning around an overnight stay or use the guest bedroom.
- Clean the inside of your oven.
- You should also clean the inside of all cabinets. If you find you have crumbs inside the cabinets, vacuum first before wiping down.
- Clean your glass windows on the outside and inside. Don’t forget to clean the screens, they’re often culprits for holding allergens like dust. Also, clean the track by sprinkling some baking soda on it. Add some vinegar and let it sit for a few minutes, letting the bubbles do the work. Use a clean rag or toothbrush to wipe clean. Lastly, clean your curtains and window coverings.
Once a Year
- Deep clean your rugs and carpets. You’ll need to rent a steam cleaner.
- Give the grout throughout your Henderson home a deep clean and reapply a sealer.
- Clear your gutters.
- If you have a fireplace, make sure you clean the chimney — or hire someone to do it — and your fireplace. This guide is helpful for tackling the fireplace. You can also clean the chimney yourself, without getting on your roof, with this method.
- This one may seem a bit scary, but it’s the secret to an efficient dryer: open your dryer up and vacuum around the drum. Here’s how to clean and here’s how to open your dryer.
Your home in Henderson has never been cleaner. Now that you’ve put in all that work, treat yourself to a trip to the park.