Your Clean House Checklist

Your Living and Dining Room

  • Remove and clean artwork.
  • Clean the walls and floors. Be sure to clean behind and under furniture as well.
  • Wipe down window frames and glass panes.
  • Clean or reupholster fabric chairs and sofas. If there’s pet hair, wear rubber gloves and run your hands over the surface to pick up fur.
  • Vacuum and clean carpets as well as under them.
  • Wipe down your TV and set-top boxes.
  • Tidy up cables.
  • If you have a leather sofa, gently massage it from bottom to top to reshape the cushions and minimise wrinkles. Clean your leather sofa with a damp cloth then follow up with a leather conditioner.

 

 

Your Kitchen

Even with light cooking, this space tends to get dirty fast, and since kitchens generally tend to be on the smaller side, they get cluttered and messy quickly too. To prevent you from being overwhelmed, we’ve broken down this area into more manageable parts.

  

COUNTERTOPS, WALLS AND APPLIANCES

  • Spray all countertops and walls with a degreasing product (a vinegar solution would work fine with a bit more scrubbing if you prefer a natural alternative). Leave on for a few minutes then wipe down with a damp cloth, until no soapy residue remains.
  • Be sure to wipe under appliances as well.
  • Don’t forget to clean your appliances as per product instructions.
  • Store, sell or give away appliances you don’t use anymore.

 

FRIDGES, PANTRY AND CUPBOARDS

  • Take everything out so you can assess what you have. Throw away any food that’s expired and set aside things that can be sold or given away.
  • Use a cutlery tray to sort your utensils.
  • Place your most-used crockery on a rack that’s easily accessible.
  • Store pots and pans closest to the stove where they’ll be used.

 

OVEN AND STOVE

  • Take out all the racks in the oven and clean them.
  • Brush out any trapped debris in the oven and on the stove.
  • Use your oven’s cleaning mode if it has one. Alternatively make a baking soda paste by mixing half a cup of baking soda with a few
  • tablespoonfuls of water, spread the mixture around the oven, leave it to dry for half a day, then spray on some vinegar. The paste will bubble up. Use a damp cloth to wipe off all the foam. This cleaning trick works on the stove as well.

 

KITCHEN HOOD

  • Clean off the dust and oil that has accumulated on the hood. Remove the filters and wash them in hot water to dissolve the
  • grease. You may find that soaking the filters for a bit makes it easier for a degreaser or regular dish soap to remove the grime.

 

SINK

  • Toss sponges that are more than a week old.
  • Clean the sink.
  • Clear the drain catcher.
  • Descale the sink and tap with vinegar or a descaling product.

 

Your Bedroom

  • Flipping mattresses every six months helps to extend their lifespan, but do note that not all mattresses can be flipped. If you’re able to, turn the mattress over and rotate it at the same time.
  • Bed linen should be washed weekly with hot water.
  • If your big blankets and pillows can be washed, take them to a dry cleaning service to get them washed properly. Alternatively, invest in washing and drying machine that can handle large loads.
  • Clean all rugs, carpets and lamps.
  • Clear out and organise your side tables.
  • Find a storage spot for all the belongings that always end up on the floor or on a chair.

  

Your Bathroom

  • Clear cloudy limescale off bathroom fittings, the bathtub, sink and shower stall. You can use vinegar for regular build-up, but for stubborn stains, you may want to use dedicated descaling products.
  • Replace your shower curtain or, if washable, put it in the wash.
  • Use an all-purpose cleaning product to get tiles shiny again. Replace the grout if it is badly stained or breaking down.
  • Wash towels and bathroom rugs every week (but separately!).
  • Clear the hair catcher.
  • Clean and wash down the bathtub.
  • Scrub the shower door.
  • Clean off any mildew, mould and pink stains in the bathroom.
  • Clear out your medicine cabinet and shelves, toss anything you don’t need anymore, then put the most frequently used products in the front



    READ MORE: CITY LIVING MAGAZINE   |   FOLLOW US: Facebook    |   SHOP NOW:  Gain City