How to Clean the House (with Pictures)

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How to Clean the House (with Pictures)
How to Clean the House (with Pictures)

Video: How to Clean the House (with Pictures)

Video: How to Clean the House (with Pictures)
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Cleaning or tidying up the house seems simple, but many people don't know exactly what to do. For example: how do you clean the toilet? And the kitchen? If that's your case, don't worry! Read the tips in this article to know where to start and what to do until you leave your living space tinkling.

Steps

Part 1 of 6: Formulating a plan

Clean a House Step 1
Clean a House Step 1

Step 1. Decide what "level" of housekeeping you want and how much time you have

Be honest with yourself to make the whole process easier and more convenient.

  • If possible, clean from top to bottom. It's no use wiping the floor with a rag or vacuuming and cleaning the walls and furniture afterwards - the dirt will just accumulate. If you don't have a lot of time, start at the least messy spots and finish at the most critical.
  • If your day to day is busy, tidy up a little of the house each day so you don't accumulate functions and set aside only one or two days a month to do a general cleaning (unless more people live in the space, of course).
  • Keep an eye on areas of the kitchen where there is accumulation of grease and other residues that need more constant treatment, such as the counter, sink, cabinets, hood, etc. Don't forget about the highest points, which still attract insects and dust.
Clean a House Step 2
Clean a House Step 2

Step 2. Make a to-do list and think of an order

Determine which rooms you want to clean first and last (usually start at the back and end at the entrance to the house). This helps speed up the process and decreases the workload, even more so if there is more than one person helping.

  • You can follow the order of the rooms in the house for cleaning so that you don't have to work when putting together the list.
  • Arrange to vacuum, broom, and mop all rooms at once (even so the products don't dry out).
Clean a House Step 3
Clean a House Step 3

Step 3. Try delegating functions

You don't have to clean the house yourself if you live with other people! Taking the lead in cleaning up is one thing, but it's much better to share the tasks with more people.

Delegate roles according to age. For example: your young children can make the beds, your teenagers can wash the bathroom or the yard, and so on. Also, be fair - after all, cleaning the toilet is not the same thing as clearing the kitchen table. Think of everything and organize your plans according to the season

Part 2 of 6: Cleaning the bathroom

Clean a House Step 4
Clean a House Step 4

Step 1. Clean the toilet.

How disgusting! Nobody likes to clean the toilet, so it's normal to want to finish the task soon. Wear rubber gloves (which you don't use for anything else) to avoid contact with dirt and bacteria, and sponge the surface with hot water to wash away impurities. Then let the water take effect for a while.

  • Then, squirt some toilet cleaner into the toilet, wait a minute, and scrub. Finally, trigger the unload.
  • When you are finished cleaning the inside of the toilet, return to the outside surface of the toilet, spray on a disinfectant and spread it with a dry cloth or paper towel.
Clean a House Step 5
Clean a House Step 5

Step 2. Clean the shower stall or bathtub.

The shower stall and the bathtub get very dirty over time. You will need a specific cleaning product and a brush with bristles, as well as a lot of strength in your arms. As a last resort, use a dish detergent to remove impurities and finish with an antibacterial product.

Put automotive wax on the box so it stays clean longer (except on the floor). For the box glass itself, dilute ½ cup of ammonia and 8 drops of dishwashing detergent in 4 L of water

Clean a House Step 6
Clean a House Step 6

Step 3. Clean the sink

You can use a variety of materials to clean a bathroom sink, but find out if the product you have is suitable before applying. Let it act against bacteria and mold for a minute, then scrub the spot with a thick sponge. When it gets shiny, rinse it off with warm water and dry it with a cloth or paper towel.

If the stains from the sink don't come off, you may have to brush them hard. Use the same one you used in the box

Clean a House Step 7
Clean a House Step 7

Step 4. Clean the mirror

You can even wipe the mirror with a window cleaner, but it doesn't clean the surface - it just shines. It is better to use soap and water, especially if the situation is tense. Do the following:

  • First, clean the mirror with a solution of hot or lukewarm water, dishwashing detergent and a cloth or sponge. This mixture of ingredients is very effective for mirrors, glass, ceramic and metal surfaces - as it leaves no streaks. Finally, wipe the spot with a dry, lint-free cloth or paper towel.
  • If you prefer a more sustainable method, wipe the surface with a solution of vinegar and water, dry it with a lint-free cloth and finish by wiping a few sheets of newspaper. Make an effort to clean the place for real.
  • Alternatively, spray a window cleaner onto a sheet of paper towel and wipe the surface. This product forms a kind of barrier against dust and other impurities. When finished, run old sheets of newspaper in place to remove any remaining stains.

Part 3 of 6: Cleaning the kitchen

Clean a House Step 8
Clean a House Step 8

Step 1. Place the dishes in the washer

When used well, the washer greatly reduces manual labor. For this, leave to turn on the equipment when it is full of dishes.

  • Leave pans and other large items that don't fit in the washer to wash by hand.
  • Dishwasher soap is abrasive and wears out parts in less time. So don't put old china and other fragile utensils in it.
Clean a House Step 9
Clean a House Step 9

Step 2. Wash dishes by hand.

It's much easier to wash the dishes right after use - as you'll never have to strain to get rid of the mess. Wet a sponge or brush in hot water, squirt in some dishwashing detergent, scrub both sides, and rinse well with more hot water.

Do not fill the sink with water and immerse the dishes to wash. This water becomes contaminated with impurities, grease, food particles and millions of germs. It is much better to wet the parts under the faucet, scrub and dry

Clean a House Step 10
Clean a House Step 10

Step 3. Dry the dishes

If you don't dry the dishes, the items may have water stains or attract bacteria. After washing, always dry each item before placing it on the drying rack.

Wait for the brush, sponge or tea towel to dry before using again. These items also accumulate germs

Clean a House Step 11
Clean a House Step 11

Step 4. Clean the oven and microwave

Here's another task that nobody really likes to do and that, therefore, ends up being neglected many times. However, using a clean oven or microwave makes all the difference and even the kitchen smells much nicer, as there is no food residue lying around in the corners. See the details:

  • See if the oven has a self-cleaning option. If so, it's already halfway there. In this case, remove the shelves and immerse them in soapy water, complete the automatic cleaning cycle, collect the ashes that remain at the bottom and wipe with a cloth dampened with a suitable product. If not, remove the shelves and immerse them in soapy water, spray a cleaning solution inside the oven, wait a while, and wipe the appliance with a sponge or scraper.
  • For the microwave, you can use a bowl of vinegar, lemon and water, dishwashing detergent or a glass cleaner. Put everything in the oven, turn it on for a few minutes, then wipe the inside with a cloth to remove any remaining particles.
  • You can follow the bathroom sink tips to clean your kitchen sink. There's no secret.
Clean a House Step 12
Clean a House Step 12

Step 5. Organize the closets

After finishing the tense part, move on to the lockers (if you feel you need to). Think of an intuitive and sensible system.

  • Sometimes it's easier to take everything out of the cabinets and put them back in right away rather than trying to clear the full shelves.
  • Clean the inside of cabinets after emptying everything. You can use any method that helps to remove dirt (wiping a wet or dry cloth, for example).
  • Put everything back on the shelves: the bowls with the bowls, the glasses with the glasses, the bowls with the bowls, and so on. Think about what's most affordable.
  • Leave the most unnecessary items last and discard what you no longer use. Comb the cabinets with a fine-tooth comb.

Part 4 of 6: Cleaning the room

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Clean a House Step 13

Step 1. Organize the mess

Once again, arrange everything from top to bottom. The first step of organizing is to start with the small things: the papers scattered in the corners, the dirty clothes on the floor, the wrapping of the gift you received… Give everything a direction and only then start to really tidy up.

When you're organizing the rooms in the house, always carry a plastic bag in your hand and leave the laundry basket close by so you don't have to make several trips

Clean a House Step 14
Clean a House Step 14

Step 2. Make the bed

Making the bed may seem pointless - after all, you'll be lying in it later anyway - but it does go a long way towards the overall organization of the room. Don't leave the sheets and blankets upside down for a day.

You have to wash the bed linen from time to time, including the pillowcases and blanket. Jumping into bed at the end of the day is great, but everything has to be pretty clean

Clean a House Step 15
Clean a House Step 15

Step 3. Organize your wardrobe.

The ideal is to organize your wardrobe every day, but things get out of hand from time to time. Make a mental map of your closet: where are the pants, shirts, accessories and your underwear? Then move on to organizing the items you use the most.

Use a fine-tooth comb in your wardrobe and decide what you can donate or throw away (no longer fit, torn clothes, etc.). You will likely find several items that you can pass on

Clean a House Step 16
Clean a House Step 16

Step 4. Use a broom, vacuum or mop in the room

Then spray the space with a perfume. Shelves, crevices and even the space under the bed are real magnets for dirt. Therefore, you can vacuum or mop all corners of the room to clean well.

  • Be careful when cleaning certain spots, such as near electrical outlets and curtains. In these cases, use a hair dryer to remove dust.
  • When finished, spray the room with a lemon or lavender flavoring.

Part 5 of 6: Cleaning up general circulation areas

Clean a House Step 17
Clean a House Step 17

Step 1. Clean the floor

It all depends on the type of floor you have at home: wood, ceramic, linoleum, tiles (the most common in Brazil) etc. Which method is right for you?

  • The most effective method of cleaning out dust and other impurities is to vacuum the floor - even more so if you have pets with fur at home.
  • You can also use a microfiber mop if the floor is tile or wood or a dirt extractor if it has carpet. The result is longer lasting than with the vacuum cleaner itself.
Clean a House Step 18
Clean a House Step 18

Step 2. Mop the floor.

There are a few alternative methods to the mop, but none of them outperform the classic option in terms of effectiveness. Scrub the floor in the kitchen and other areas to keep everything clean and tinkling. When it comes to textured tiles and floors, nothing else takes the dirt out of microscopic cracks.

There are numerous mop options on the market, from those made with cloths to those made with a sponge. You only need to exert a little force for the result to be brilliant. Use hot water and a suitable cleaning product (after reading the label)

Clean a House Step 19
Clean a House Step 19

Step 3. Learn how to kill fleas (if you have pets)

The best defense against flea infestations is to vacuum and avoid carpets and other fluffy materials, which attract these pests. If you have pets at home, vacuum every day to contain the problem.

Sprinkle sodium borate on the carpet after vacuuming to kill fleas without having to resort to poisons. This solution is practically permanent. Buy borate from the cleaning section of any supermarket

Clean a House Step 20
Clean a House Step 20

Step 4. Mop furniture

The air we breathe always contains mites - and if they weren't microscopic, you can be sure you'd want to mop everything all the time! These microorganisms cause sneezing, coughing and asthma attacks. Also use the vacuum and mop.

If you don't have a duster, wipe the furniture surfaces with a damp cloth. Make continuous movements so as not to leave any points behind and follow the same direction over and over again. If possible, buy a flavored product for cleaning furniture

Clean a House Step 21
Clean a House Step 21

Step 5. Shine the wooden furniture

Like window cleaners, furniture polishes are not for real cleaning. Anyway, they still work. Remember once again to read the labels and buy something that is made specifically for you.

  • You can clean some furniture with the solution from step 2 of this method. Just don't forget to dry the surface soon.
  • Then apply the recommended volume of product and spread in the right direction so as not to attract more dust.
Clean a House Step 22
Clean a House Step 22

Step 6. Use all-purpose cleaners sparingly

Generally speaking, all-purpose cleaners are not all that versatile. Read labels carefully before shopping to see if you're making the right choice so you don't end up ruining your furniture.

Also, do not mix cleaning products. It's dangerous. Use one at a time and follow the label directions

Clean a House Step 23
Clean a House Step 23

Step 7. Organize the rest of the mess in the bedrooms

After cleaning the surfaces and floor, you only need to pay attention to a few final details: fluff the pillows, arrange the covers and organize everything in the room (as if you were about to receive visitors). If there's still a lot of mess left, put everything in a large box and stick a tag on it so you don't forget.

When you're really done, spray your room with a freshener and take a look around: is there anything left to do? Oil the door hinges? Clean the walls? Change the lamp?

Part 6 of 6: Finishing Cleaning

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Clean a House Step 24

Step 1. Don't forget to clean the outside of the house

A lot of people don't clean their yard, garage and the like, but these parts of the house are also important. Collect the leaves that fall from the trees to avoid accumulations and collect all the garbage so the situation doesn't get tense. Take care of your vegetable garden (if you have one) and other points.

  • Don't you have any tools to help you collect trash and leaves from the trees? Improvise with a regular broom.
  • Cut weeds to avoid problems in the garden or land.
Clean a House Step 25
Clean a House Step 25

Step 2. Put the clothes in the machine or wash everything by hand.

The pile of dirty clothes piling up in your bedroom needs a direction. Follow the generic instructions below to use the washing machine:

  • First, start filling the machine with water at the ideal temperature and level.
  • Then add the appropriate amount of laundry detergent while the water runs out.
  • If you use fabric softener, add it too at the start of the wash so you don't have to wait until the rinse cycle. In this case, use the fabric softener together with the detergent and only then put on the clothes.
Clean a House Step 26
Clean a House Step 26

Step 3. Dry clothes

The way you transfer clothes to the dryer directly affects the outcome of the process. After the end of the washing cycle, shake the pieces to remove wrinkles and only then place everything in the dryer. On the other hand, it's much better to hang your clothes on the clothesline.

Take warm clothes out of the dryer and feel their soft texture

Clean a House Step 27
Clean a House Step 27

Step 4. Walk around the house and see if any final adjustments are still missing

The to-do list is long, but it doesn't have to be tiring. See other examples:

  • Take the trash out of the house.
  • Clean the kitchen table.
  • Change the bedding.
  • Clean the walls.
  • Clean the fridge.

Tips

  • Clean the inside of the refrigerator with baking soda to get rid of bad odors.
  • Many people like to use crumpled sheets of newspaper to spread window cleaner on windows.
  • Do not mix the sponge with the dishes while it dries, as it will be full of bacteria and germs. If you have a washer at home, put it on a cycle - but change the attachment regularly. Don't forget to rinse everything in hot water and wring it out afterwards. Sterilize the damp sponge for one minute in the microwave. Be careful not to cause a fire!
  • It's much easier and fun to clean the house when you have help from friends or relatives.
  • Use old socks and shirts as rags to save money.
  • Start cleaning in the living room, as this is usually the first room visitors access when they arrive at the house.
  • Remove anything beyond the expiration date from the refrigerator.
  • Buy an ostrich feather duster.
  • Depending on the case, you can change the arrangement of the bed and furniture in the room to facilitate cleaning.
  • Clean the higher areas first as dust and other debris will fall to the floor.

Notices

  • Some cleaning products are harmful to the skin and can damage certain types of floors. Always read the label; you'll save money and avoid making silly mistakes. If in doubt, test in a discreet area.
  • Moisten the sponge before placing it in the microwave and be careful not to burn yourself with it!
  • Do not mix different cleaning products. You could end up creating a dangerous chemical by-product. Use one at a time and follow the label directions.

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