The new year is nearly here! If you’re like most people, you’re likely making new year’s resolutions with the aim to improve yourself or achieve your goals. Whether it’s losing weight, saving money, or learning something new, we’ve all made new year’s resolutions! This time, why not include a couple of cleaning resolutions to your list?
You may not have given it much thought before, but keeping a clean home or workplace has many benefits to your health and relationships. At home, a tidy and organised living space can help boost your mood. Think of how great you feel when you see your home clean and clutter-free! At the office, many studies have proven that a clean workplace can boost staff morale and productivity. When it comes to our health, a clean home and workplace can reduce our chances of being exposed to harmful allergens and viruses.
For these reasons, we believe that cleaning resolutions are worth making. To help you stick to your cleaning resolutions this new year, we’ve made a list of easy to implement changes that can help you successfully maintain a clean and healthy home or workplace all year round.
If possible, go paperless
Bills delivered through post can add to the clutter at home. If possible, switch to an online option wherein your bills are sent to your email. Not only can this reduce your clutter, it’s eco-friendly too. But if there are mails or subscriptions that you can only get via post, file it in a tray instead of leaving them on the counter or tabletops. When opening the mail, do it over a wastebasket or recycle bin so that anything unwanted is quickly thrown away.
Invest in baskets
Baskets in varying sizes can be used to store toys, magazines, keys, remote controls, unopened mail and other everyday items that tend pile up around the house. Aside from their practical use, they come in various designs and materials, making them a decorative piece for your house too!
For the workplace, make sure you have trays and pencil holders on your table. Label your trays and file your papers accordingly to these labels. Pens, paper clips, and other office items can go into the pencil holders. You’ll find that an organised work space can be very motivating.
Vacuum regularly
Vacuuming can’t replace professional carpet cleaning, but it does help in keeping the carpet clean in between cleaning services. If you have children and pets in your home, vacuuming twice weekly is recommended. Need to do a quick vacuuming job? A small, hand-held cordless vacuum can make a clean-up in a snap.
In addition to regular vacuuming, make sure you schedule a professional steam carpet cleaning twice a year, or more frequently depending on your lifestyle and traffic generally experienced by your carpet. Why steam carpet cleaning? Learn the amazing benefits of steam carpet cleaning in this article: Top 5 Reasons for a regular Steam Carpet Clean.
Remove shower scum as you go
A regular shower cleaner can keep shower and tub surfaces free of soap scum, mildew stains and hard-water deposits. This doesn’t have to be a long and difficult job. You can do the cleaning right after a shower, using products you already have at home. All you need is a spray bottle, dishwashing liquid and white vinegar.
Measure out equal amounts of the dishwashing liquid and white vinegar and place them in the spray bottle. Spray liberally around your tub and shower. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes to an hour, then scrub (if needed) and rinse well. It may smell really strongly of vinegar right after spraying it, but the smell dissipates fairly quickly. The reason why this mixture works so well is that white vinegar can eliminate odour, dissolve tough deposits, and remove stains. Cleaning the shower regularly can help prevent deposits and stains from building up. Cleaning can be a breeze without those nasty build-ups!
Shower and tub surfaces may be easy to clean, but tiled surfaces may pose another problem. Overtime, unsightly mould can accumulate and stick deep in the grout, making them difficult to clean despite regular DIY tile cleaning efforts. If this is the case, don’t hesitate to book a professional tile and grout cleaning service to have your tiled surfaces thoroughly cleaned.
Make the bed
Sounds simple enough right? But many of us might be guilty of not making our own beds in the morning! Have the discipline to make your bed as soon as you get up. This sets the mood of being organised and tidy throughout the day. And remind the members of your household to do the same thing – each person should make their own beds every morning.
To make it easier, replace fussy bedspreads with doonas. Doonas can make bed-making easier. For washing, just pop off the cover and launder. It’s faster and easier than washing a bulky comforter.
Do a nightly “sweep”
Just before bedtime, do a walk-through. Put newspapers in the recycle bin, toss out the junk mail, put dishes in the dishwasher, hang up jumpers and towels, and put away anything that wandered out during the day. Doing a 10-minute sweep of the house can make a big difference. Imagine how great you’ll feel in the morning seeing your home organised as a result of your nightly sweep!
In the office, may sure your desk is organised before you leave work for the day. File your papers, put your office supplies in their baskets, and make sure your desktop is turned off. Returning to an organised, tidy desk the next day makes you feel calm and collected, as opposed to being overwhelmed.
Keep it simple
Your cleaning resolutions don’t need to be big or complicated. Small, simple changes are easier to stick to and doing them regularly can make a big difference in the cleanliness of your home or work space. Encourage your family members and colleagues to follow these resolutions too, when possible. Cleaning can become fun and more efficient when done as a team effort.
If you should need help in more difficult and extensive jobs such as carpet or tile cleaning, get in touch with us at Wizard. We offer professional steam carpet cleaning, as well as tile and grout cleaning, and upholstery cleaning. Call us on 0438 554 830 and we’ll be happy to assist you!