The summer has ended – okay so there is 10 more days till the official start of Autumn but for the most part, we are all shifting into a new season.
Who can resist the urge to refresh and clean the house after a long summer? A chance to start cleaning out BEFORE the holiday craziness hits us, right? For many, we have had the air conditioning running non-stop for what seems like forever. It is a great opportunity to open the windows, let in the fresh air and start fresh. I mean, let’s be honest, how many of us really did much cleaning during the lazy days of summer?
Here are some tips to make fall cleaning easier and more effective.
1. Start with the closet. As we switch out the summer clothes and move in the fall/winter clothes, it is a great opportunity to purge what we don’t wear. You would be surprised at how many clothes and accessories are piled up on the closet. Rather than keep unnecessary things around, follow this rule: If an article of clothing hasn’t been worn for at least a year, it’s time to get rid of it.
2. Fall cleaning means cleaning from the top to the bottom. As people clean, dust and grime floats through the air and settles on furniture and flooring. To keep the areas that were just cleaned free of residue while working, dust the tops first, then the bottoms. Clean floors the very last.
3. Go through kitchen utensils and dishes while fall cleaning. A lot of clutter can build up in the kitchen over the course of a year. It is a perfect time to match the Tupperware bottoms and lids, then toss the lids that there is no bottom.
4. Go through the linen closet and discard shabby towels or linens. Turn them into dish towels, cleaning rags or get rid of them entirely. If bed sheets have lost the elastic around the corners, it’s time to let them go.
5. Organize the pantry. Put things in groupings together, such as dry or canned goods. This helps everyone keep track of just what groceries are really needed, and can prevent duplicate buy due to pantry disorganization. Make sure you check the expiration dates too. If you stock your pantry with staples that you use a lot, make sure you rotate them so you use the oldest first.
6. Rearrange the furniture. I actually LOVE this part of fall cleaning. Now, if you don’t have a lot of space, a simple change of the wall hangings, or arrange the end tables differently can make a difference. Those little things can add a sense of freshness to a room, and can inspire a sense of fun to the fall cleaning. Wash the curtains in the room and add a plant or a focal decorative point.
7. When the housework is done, scrub all the floors completely. If it is carpet, shampoo it. If it is linoleum or wood flooring, get in the corners and scour and mop. This is also the time to use a floor polish or shining product on the floors. At the end of the work, the house will be left gleaming and everything will be organized and in easy reach.
These small tips can make a house an oasis of comfort. What are your best tips for Fall cleaning, share them with us!
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 