5 MUST TRY SPRING CLEANING HACKS
Winter is here so why not use this “slow” time to benefit you and your family?
By BAIBA GRINBERGA
Seasonal tidy-ups around the house are most commonly associated with Spring, after all I am sure we’ve all heard the term “spring cleaning”. However, just because Spring is not upon us just yet, and the cold, wet, winter weather has set in for the next 3 months, doesn’t mean that a quick, “winter clean” won’t be the best thing that you do for your family. With winter illnesses such as the common cold and flu, having a quick “winter clean” around your home, could not only save you time and money, but could also assist on keeping your family happy and healthy over winter. Here are our 5 must try winter cleaning hacks, to get your home in shape. If you need any help please get in touch with us as we offer spring cleaning as part of our services.
A quick and easy spring clean of your oven
Winter is the best time of the year for baking nice warm and healthy meals. But before you grab the casserole dishes out and embark on a baking day, give your oven some love, and treat it to a thorough clean. Whilst this sounds like a massive, time consuming job, it doesn’t have to be. Instead of using abrasive and toxic chemicals, get your oven sparkling using a more natural cleaning solution of baking soda and water. Combine both ingredients in a bowl, apply liberally to the inside and outside of your oven, and let it sit for at least an hour. Once you have let it rest, use a sponge to scrub away and residue, and follow up with a damp sponge, and your oven will be all set and ready to make amazing winter treats.
Pantry organization – now is the time!
With all the winter baking on the horizon now your oven is clean, spending an hour or two sorting out your pantry, will make cooking a whole lot easier. You may even find some hidden ingredients in the back that you forgot about. We find the best way to start any pantry clean is to remove everything from it. Place everything on your kitchen bench or dining table. Use a damp cloth to wipe all the shelves, and wipe over your cannisters. Place any open ingredients is airtight containers to ensure longevity. Another way to ensure all ingredients are rotated and visible, is to use things like Lazy Susan’s and can racks which helps all household members to see all ingredients available and use up the products with the earliest use by date first.
“Instead of using abrasive and toxic chemicals, get your oven sparkling using a more natural cleaning solution of baking soda and water. “
Microwaves – one cup is all it takes!
Whilst you are still cleaning up the kitchen area, perhaps consider paying your microwave 5 minutes of attention, with our quick and easy cleaning hack. Microwaves are undoubtedly one of the most neglected appliances in the home, and I am sure most of us are guilty of being responsible for the odd microwave reheat explosion every now and then. For the fastest microwave clean, place a cup of white vinegar in the microwave on high for 2 minutes. The vinegar and the heat will loosen the stains, and you can then wipe down with a damp cloth. A pray bottle with some vinegar which you can apply to the exterior of the appliance, followed by a quick wipe down, will also remove any dirty finger marks or stains which may be present. Another tip is to place your microwave plate in your dishwasher, which will thoroughly disinfect it.
Toothbrushes – swap it out and disinfect
The change in season is a great reminder to switch out your family’s toothbrushes. But don’t forget, that’s only half the job. With all the winter viruses floating around, winter is also a perfect time to disinfect your toothbrush holders. One of the quickest and easiest ways to achieve this, is to use your dishwasher. Simply gather up all toothbrush holders from your bathrooms, place on the top shelf of your dishwasher, and run it through on a normal cycle.
Ceiling fans – give them a thorough wipe down
I am sure there will be some people confused by this, shouldn’t ceiling fans be in the summer house cleaning tip? Well yes, you should do it then as well, however, using your ceiling fans on a low setting is a hugely affective way to distribute heat throughout your home. Before you start up your heater for the season, grab a step ladder and a microfibre cloth and carefully wipe down each of the blade on each fan within your home. This will ensure that no dust float around, and you can enjoy a nice warm house without creating a mess, every time you turn a fan on.
Whilst Winter seems like an unlikely season to get into through cleaning mode, spending a couple of hours giving your home a winter clean, using our winter hacks above, will ensure your family remains happy and healthy over the colder months, so you can spend more time doing the things you love, indoors, with your family.