As much as I strive for and enjoy the “finer things”, I’m not afraid to get down and dirty either. Why? Because nobody cleans like a Virgo. Call it borderline hypochondria or call it the Virgo in me, whatever you call it just go find these places in your home and clean them at least periodically if not every time.
I will also be the first to admit that my space can look very messy when my creative pursuits takes hold and I’m mid session in a painting piece, so I get the “creative madhouse” look, but this isn’t about that. This is about the hidden dirty stuff that houses dust monsters. And nobody likes monsters.
Vacuum fabric upholstery. Meaning on your couch, the mattress; window treatments and bed frame if it’s material. It’s appalling how much dirt can actually accumulate but the proof is in the pudding. Use the long flattened extention and get in there. Don’t forget the cracks.
Up high or down low. Just because it’s not at eye level doesn’t mean it’s not there. So grab your step ladder and clean your light fixtures, dust upper shelves and clean out the back of your cupboards. Oppositely, make sure to get under the bed, under raised furniture and behind planks that move. Lay down on the ground if you have to, and get an eye level look at your counters. Amazing what you will find you’ve missed this way. It’s not enough to mop around furniture or shovel dirt under the rug. That is only ok in cartoons. If I’m around you’ll risk a lynching.
Filters. They need replacing. It’s amazing how little importance people put on these things but their functionality is entirely lost if it’s not done on time. You may have a water filter in your fridge or externally attached to your faucet that will need yearly replacement. Some shower heads take filters when they run out, then there are air purifiers and humidifiers, vacuums shop vacs, AC & furnace (skip this it you live in a condo as it is usually done for you). Set a reminder in your calendar each time you replace it.
Vents. The grossest monsters hide here. Take a look at at the vent in your bathroom or laundry room and if it’s grey looking it’s time to clean it. That is dirt and not the colour of your vent. Floor vents need love too so don’t forget them!
Inside and behind appliances. That’s right, inside of your oven needs regular cleaning and not once it’s accumulated a one inch black film on the bottom; finish off by lining the bottom with aluminum foil and you will spare yourself the elbow grease later. Simply replace the lining when you go to clean. Fridge should be emptied once a week too of old food. You may feel like you are wasting stuff sometimes but it’s better than eating bacteria ridden expired food and condiments.
Light switches and knobs. You use these regularly, clean or wipe them down often too.
Behind the toilet. I’m disgusted to even clean the toilet but check behind yours and tell me if there isn’t a grey dust film on the bottom of the back. Similarly the toilet bowl cleaner has to be cleaned periodically, alongside the inside of your vacuum. Much hair and other things can get trapped there, lessening the suction on strand at a time. Washer and dryer components also accumulate stuck on detergent or dirt, so clean the cleaning stuff.
Tip 1: Compatmentalism is your friend. Start on one task and finish that before moving on to the next. It’s easier on your mind if you think it’s just the one thing you need to do for now. Like the laundry, or the kitchen area only. Go from the left side of the room to the right, and top to bottom, instead of going back and forth. Floors last. I like to throw things all over it til then.
Tip 2: Promptness is also a cool cat. Cleaning messes, dishes or paintbrushes right away will spare you triple the time later to remove crusted on grime, food or paint. Just rinse and shove it in the dishwasher already. As for pets, we don’t have any because I feel like I would need to clean hair all day long if we did, but I assume you would need to vacuum daily if this is the case. Floors are my least favourite activity so for this reason amongst others we will forgo the pets for now.
Tip 3: Organization is your best friend. If you know where everything is you won’t loose your mind looking for it later, only to give up because you couldn’t find something. Spend a few hours when you organize a room and make sure you take a mental image of where all of your things are. Less used items can be stored in storage or up high, items most often used can come to the forefront or out on the counter if it’s daily use. Keep things together too- tp, Kleenex stock and wrapping paper should be kept all in one place, next to tape and ribbon.
Any final bits can taken care of by windex – under glass surfaces, mirrors and picture edges. And while I realize some people get cleaners, it’s still good to keep the above in mind incase these are missed. It’s your home and you don’t want to wallow in filth.