7 Things You Should Clean Every Week

There are certain areas in our home that need regular maintenance, otherwise, they build up dirt, grime and even get damaged. If you want to have a healthy and clean home, you need to set up a cleaning schedule and take care of those areas every week.

To make things easier, we’ve created a list of items and areas people often forget to clean regularly, as well as helpful tips on how to maintain them clean.

1. Kitchen Appliances

They may not look especially dirty at first glance, but they surely hide some left food bits and grime. To prepare for the cleaning you will need to unplug the appliance and empty the crumb tray. If it is a toaster or an oven – remove the racks and put them in soapy water. Remove the knobs and also let them sit in soapy water. Then clean the interior and exterior.

2. Carpet and Rugs

Winter can be rough on our floors and especially on the carpets and rugs with all the snow, mud and more we bring from outside. Experts from Fantastic Cleaners Australia recommend deep cleaning the carpet at least once a year, but with proper care, your flooring will always look clean. You should first start by vacuuming both sides and the floor underneath. Then tackle the stains individually and clean them according to your carpet or rug material. Test on an inconspicuous part of the fabric with the cleaning solutions you are intending to use. Let it air dry.

3. Knobs, Handles and Switches

Most of you didn’t even think of cleaning these germy places but the handles of the microwave, fridge, oven, faucet, doorknobs, light switches are touched multiple times a day, sometimes with not the cleanest hands. You can easily wipe them with a disinfectant cloth to remove the dirt, grime and germs.

4. Toilets

Cleaning the toilet is a chore that some people postpone for too long, but it is highly important to keep the toilets clean. A dirty toilet will smell bad and can easily be a ground for breeding bacteria. It is not a pleasant task, but if you do it now you will save yourself from headaches later. You can clean the toilet in no time using only rubber gloves, brush, toilet bowl cleaner, toothbrush, all-purpose cleaner and paper towels.

• Spray the toilet from top to bottom with the all-purpose cleaner
• Then put the bowl cleaner under the rim
• Take the paper towels and start wiping the toilet from top to the bottom. Change the paper towel often
• Use the toothbrush to clean the hard to reach areas
• Clean the bowl with the brush, flush the water and hold the brush inside the bowl. To dry the brush off put it between the seat for a minute or two and then you can put it back into the bowl container

5. Bathtub and Shower

If your bathroom hasn’t been cleaned in a while, then it is high time you did it. You will need tub and tile cleaner, double-sided sponge, baking soda, old toothbrush, salt, vinegar, microfiber cloths.

• Remove everything that can stand in your way while cleaning – soap bars, sponges, bottles, etc.
• Firstly you will want to rinse the showerhead. If you can remove it from the wall, then put it in a bowl filled with vinegar and leave it overnight, then clean the holes with old toothbrush. If however you can’t remove it from the wall cover the shower faucet with a bag filled with vinegar and secure it with a rubber band. Repeat the same process as with the bowl.
• Clean the shower curtain by putting it in salted water for a few hours. Let it air dry and hang again.
• Spray the tiles and tub with your favourite cleaner and let the detergent sit for 5 minutes.
• Take the sponge and start cleaning clockwise

6. Bathroom Surfaces

The bathroom is considered one of the dirtiest places in our homes. The surfaces there are made of various materials and for that are cleaned in different ways-

• Enamel – be very cautious when cleaning this type of surface, make sure you have bought the proper cleaning solution and it is safe for enamel. Avoid using acid-based cleaners, in time the coat of the enamel can wear thin.
• Porcelain – it wears slowly and can stand abrasives. Be careful with the plughole as it can discolour if more strong cleaners are used and left to pool
• Cast iron/steel– this is easy to maintain, they both get a top of enamel, so take notice how you will be cleaning this type of surface
• Acrylic – easily scratches from abrasive cleaners. Use a liquid cleaner or mild cream cleanser. Easily builds up soap on the acrylic surface. Be mindful and try not to drop sharp items
• Ceramic tiles – withstand most of the all-purpose cleaners. Rinse well and dry with a smooth cloth
• Glass/toughened plastic– gets easily coated with soap scum. The easiest way to clean is with shower spray while the surface is still wet. Another way is using glass cleaner

7. Dusty Furniture

The dust that builds in our homes doesn’t just damage our health but also the furniture. It is worth our time to regularly clean the house from dust mites as they are invisible to the naked eye, but they feed on skin flakes and can be found in our mattresses, carpets, pillows, upholstery, clothes, stuffed toys, etc. Being exposed to dust can cause asthma symptoms in people who had never before exhibited that. It is important to dust out the entire house regularly.

Conclusion

If so far you are pleased with the cleanliness in your home, but you want to take off your shoulders some of these daily/weekly/monthly cleaning burdens, then you must engage in this cleaning activity either your family or a local cleaning company. Having a clean home can sometimes mean you won’t be able to fully enjoy your free time.