When sunny, warm weather lures you outside, it can be hard to keep up with your house cleaning. Although your spring cleaning helps set the stage for a more organized home this summer, cleaning is still a necessary evil. However, you can make it less tiresome by trying to keep on top of the mess.
In this article, we will share nine tips from our team at Maid4Condos, who offer deep cleaning services in Toronto, so you can spend less time indoors and more time enjoying those fleeting months of summer.
1. Clean the ceiling fan
Over the winter, your ceiling fan is a major dust collector. The first time you flip the switch on when the weather is sweltering, you’re going to release a cascade of dusty mess. Before that happens, grab yourself a stool or ladder and tackle the dust with this smart little trick:
- Grab an old pillowcase.
- Spray the inside with a nice-smelling all-purpose cleaner.
- Pull the case over the blades one at a time.
- As you pull it off, you will remove the dust, which stays in the pillowcase.
Bonus tip: Reverse the direction of the blades to pull warm air up and cooler air down.
2. Clear and clean the fridge
In the summer, your fridge is stocked with more cold beverages and fresh, seasonal produce. Get ready for barbecue season by clearing out old jars of random condiments, way-too-old leftovers, and anything that smells or looks past its best-before date. Place the remaining food in a cooler and follow these cleaning tips:
- Clean off the shelves with a damp, clean cloth and a toxic-free, all-purpose kitchen cleaner.
- If the shelves are removable, wash them in the sink with warm water and dish detergent, then rinse and dry them.
- Pull out the drawers, shake them out, and wash them in the sink, making sure they are completely dry.
- Lay paper towels in the drawers and put them back in the fridge.
- Organize your food and jars as you put them away so you can find everything easily.
Your fridge will then be clean, and you can keep it that way by wiping any drips you notice right away.
3. Tackle your balcony/outdoor area
If you have an outdoor space, get it ready for summer through the following steps:
- Get out your porch furniture and wipe it all down with an all-purpose cleaner.
- Use a broom to remove spider webs from the area above windows or in corners of the balcony if you live in an apartment.
- Sweep up and remove debris.
You now have a tidy spot to sip your coffee, enjoy a cool drink with friends, or just chill.
4. Wipe down kitchen cabinets
A good wipe-down of the kitchen cabinets creates a clean slate for the summer. Follow these steps:
- Fill your sink with warm water and dish detergent.
- Dip a clean cloth into the sink, wring it out, and then wipe down the cabinets.
- Use an eraser sponge to tackle stubborn stains.
- If your cabinets are made of wood, follow up with a clean, dry cloth to remove moisture.
Throughout the summer, watch for drips and remove them right away to keep your cupboards clean.
5. Speed clean your bathroom
The added humidity in the summer increases the risk of mould and mildew growth in the bathroom. To help prevent this, speed clean your bathroom with these tips:
- Keep a squeegee in your shower and wipe down the walls after you take a shower.
- Spray the shower with a foaming shower scrubber that removes limescale and soap scum at least once a week. This will keep the walls clean and the shower smelling fresh.
- Give the toilet bowl a daily swish of your toilet brush.
- Add a drop of toilet bowl cleaner to the bowl once a week and let it sit until the next flush.
- Keep on top of extra-stinky toilet bowl messes as they happen instead of letting them cake on. Don’t forget to scrub the area under the rim of the bowl.
- Place a container of fresh-smelling cleaning wipes in the bathroom so you can wipe up your counter, tap, and sink after use.
- Give the mirror and faucets a weekly clean with your choice of bathroom cleaners.
- Wash the floors with a wet mop weekly.
Bonus tip: If you have an outdoor space with sun exposure, lay out your bath mats and shower curtain in the sun for a natural refresh while you relax with a cocktail or iced coffee.
6. Give window treatments a good cleaning
Soft window treatments like curtains are major stink and dust magnets. Take them down and give them a good shake outside to remove dust. Clean your curtains if they are machine washable. If not, toss them in the dryer on low with a fresh-smelling dryer sheet.
Although blinds don’t absorb odours, they do collect dust. Use a static duster to dust off the individual slats.
7. Dust air vents
In the season of air conditioners, you want that cool air to fill your home with as little dust and debris as possible:
- Clean your vents to remove dust and debris.
- If you have vents or returns higher up on the wall, you can use a broom or extender duster to remove the dust.
- For extra-grimy vents in the kitchen, you might need to use a cloth and warm, soapy water to scrub away the mess.
8. Invest in a wet mop
Wet mops keep the floors clean in a snap. They are perfect for all floor surfaces and far less cumbersome than lugging around a mop and bucket! Wet mops are available with disposable pads or washable microfibre cloths.
Make sure your wet mop cleaner is safe for use on your floor type. If not, fill a spritzer with these homemade cleaners based on your floor type:
- Linoleum/vinyl: Fill a spritzer with a gallon of water and your choice of:
- 1 tablespoon baby shampoo
- 1/2 teaspoon eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner
- 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
- Wood/laminate: Spritz the floors with a small amount of 1 part distilled vinegar to 30 parts water, and be sure to follow up with a dry, clean cloth.
- Stone/tile: Hot water tends to be the best for these floor types, as most cleaners, including vinegar mixtures, can damage the finish.
Have a no-shoes policy to keep the floors cleaner.
9. Clean as you go
Keep on top of the mess, and clean as you go:
- Put dirty clothes in the laundry basket instead of the floor.
- If you take something out, put it back where you got it from.
- Stick to our bathroom cleaning tips to avoid major bathroom messes.
- Dust a different surface in your home quickly every day.
- Sweep the kitchen floors after dinner.
- Put things like old newspapers, flyers, junk mail, etc. in the recycle bin.
While you can’t stop cleaning altogether in the summer months, these fast and easy cleaning tips will help keep your home spic and span.
Contact the Cleaning Professionals
If you’re too busy worshipping the sun in the summer months, Maid4Condos provides deep cleaning services in Toronto, ideal for cutting down on your summer cleaning tasks. You can call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online for more information.
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