Cleaning Routine Archives - The Motherly Heap

Spring Clean Your Kitchen: Spring Clean Series

Jordan N. — Wed, 18 May 2022 23:15:11 +0000

The warmer weather is the perfect time to do some much-needed spring cleaning. The days are getting longer, and the weather is finally warming up – it must be time for a kitchen spring clean! This year, don’t just focus on your house’s interior – give your kitchen a good scrubbing. Take this opportunity to purge all the old, unused items and give your space a fresh start. So get those cleaning supplies out, and let’s get on with it! Here are some tips to help make the process a little bit easier and to help get you started. This post may contain affiliate links; if you purchase from any links provided – I may earn a commission at no cost to you. In addition, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the complete disclosure here. 28 Ways To Deep Clean Your Kitchen This Spring: 1. Throw away broken kitchen appliances and expired items: spices, sauces, and other kitchen staples. It’s time to clear out expired things around your kitchen. You may think it’s still okay to use sauces beyond their date, but you don’t want to compromise your family’s health. Spices are one of the many everyday things not replaced as they should be. I mean, they’re dry. But spices aren’t going to last that long. After that, ground spices may lose their scent, and you’ll know when to say goodbye. Whole spices can last a bit longer as well as some dried herbs. So when you’re not getting the taste you expected in your cuisine, maybe it’s time to replenish the spice rack. 2. Keep sets of gadgets and things you use daily nearby. Then, store them around the area where you use them. When you know you’re going to be using the toaster every morning or blender every day, then have them on the counter if space is available—no need to put them back and forth from storage below or above where you use them. Unless you bake daily, you may want to store the stand mixer somewhere you can hide it when not being used. But, if you prefer to display any particular kitchen gadget, by all means, do what you need to. 3. Do vacuum any cobwebs from the ceiling. Let’s not forget our ceilings around the kitchen. It will need some tender loving cleaning if you have a space between the ceiling and the upper cabinets. 4. Wipe down any light fixtures and replace the bulbs. Having light fixtures in the kitchen can add to your cleaning checklist. Don’t neglect them, primarily if dust quickly collects on them. You’ll be preparing your food daily, and having dust above you won’t do any good. Buy new bulbs when lights are dimmed or dull, or replace bulbs that won’t turn on. 5. Dust and wipe clean all cabinets and drawers. The kitchen cabinets tend to get grease on the surface. The drawers are not an exemption either. If not taken care of quickly, handprints can even live there for a long time. Choose the cleaning agents to clean off your cabinets and drawers, paying attention to the type of paint and materials. As for my kitchen cabinets, I only use plain water with my microfiber cloth. Then I make sure I dry the surfaces immediately. Finally, wipe down any metal fixtures or styled handles with a dry cloth. I painted them last year with a Valspar cabinet and furniture paint (Enamel). That paint was a game-changer for me – it’s quick to clean my cabinets and drawers. I get my all-purpose cleaner if there’s a tough spot to take off using just the water. But I’ve never had to use any cleaner ever since I painted the cabinets. 6. Clear out items from the top of the refrigerator. If you have items over the top of your refrigerator, maybe it’s time to look at them to see if they need to stay there. It may not be an option for you if you’re saving space to store items, but as much as possible, it’s better not to put any perishable or edible items on the top of the fridge. 7. Tackle the inside of the refrigerator. So we are talking about what’s in the refrigerator. Is it time to purge? Before we can clean the fridge, it’s best to take everything out and discard items beyond consumption. You can take the shelves and wash them by the sink or grab a basin with your cleaning agent and a wipe cloth. Then, organize the items back in the fridge with bins as needed. 8. Deep clean the microwave. Reheating food in the microwave can create splatter that will last until they are cleaned out. You can easily deep clean your microwave with three kitchen items you can mix inside a measuring cup or even a mug. You can mix equal parts of water and vinegar and then add a tablespoon of dish soap into a clean measuring cup. Please place it in the middle of your microwave and heat it for 2 minutes. Then you can wipe down the entire microwave and clean including the filter below. 9. Deep clean your kitchen oven and stovetop. Like any other kitchen appliance, you have to be very careful about using any cleaning agents concerning the material of the appliance that you’re cleaning. Do follow the direction for cleaning your oven and your stove. If you have an oven like what we have in our house, you can also open up the glass door of your oven and clean it inside. Be very careful when putting it back together and ensure they are adequately secured. 10. Empty crumb trays from bread toasters or air fryers. When you have toasters and an air fryer in your kitchen, check if the crumb trays are removable, and they usually are, so make sure that you clear them as you go or clear them once a week; it’s really up to you. 11. Throw away used oil from the deep fryer. Deep frying in the kitchen can be grimy. Aside from the oil splatters that happen as you cook, cleaning is much more challenging. Replace your frying oil regularly. Check for any unstrained food items floating. 12. Wipe down all appliances displayed on the counters. Kitchen appliances on the counters can become dusty, and they might also have grease on them. So don’t forget to wipe them down as you clean your kitchen. Use water and a clean cloth to get rid of dust. But as for the grime, choose your cleaning solution. 13. Clear the clutter off your counters. Where do we start with kitchen clutter on all the counter spaces? I recommend getting a clutter bin for everything that doesn’t need to be in the kitchen. Don’t worry about sorting things out now; focus on corraling items and getting them out of the kitchen. For any kitchen items, you can place them on top of your table. Then, sort them as soon as you’re done cleaning. 14. Clean the kitchen walls, windows, and doors. The kitchen is the most used area in the house, if not the first, maybe the second. So it’s only typical for the kitchen walls, backsplash, windows, and doors to get dirty more than the rest of the house. Again, use a cleaning agent appropriate for the area you are cleaning. RELATED POSTS: Spring Clean Your Bedroom: Spring Clean Series Spring Clean Your Bathroom: Spring Clean Series Clean These 5 Kitchen Items: Don’t Skip Them Cleaning Routine for a Stay-At-Home Mom That You Actually Can Stick To 15. Tackle the sink and garbage disposal. Most homemakers clean the sink after using it or even at the end of the day. Having a clean sink makes me feel good. I feel accomplished when the sink is cleared and clean. Don’t forget about the garbage disposal – it can quickly smell bad when food and other stuff are not taken care of. Check out how to easily clean the garbage disposal and maintain it. 16. Clean out the kitchen trash can. Clear the trash as you go through your day. Now and then, use a cleaning and disinfectant spray to tackle the trash can. 17. Vacuum or sweep the whole kitchen floor. Do you prefer to sweep or vacuum the kitchen floor? I am both. When there’s a lot to clean up, I grab the vacuum, and on the other hand, if it’s just a tiny spot, I use my broom to clear it out. Do you know what helps me the most during my clean-up, and I need to do something else? My Roomba, yes! She’s my cleaning buddy – always ready to vacuum the kitchen floor. 18. Mop the floor or sanitize. Once you did the vacuuming and sweeping, mopped the floor next. There are a lot of mopping systems that you can buy in-store or online. But what matters most is what works for you and your house. So, grab the mop system to help you be an efficient cleaner. 19. Clean the baseboard, including under the lower kitchen cabinets. Now we’ve gone to the baseboard. First, check out the baseboard area under the lower kitchen cabinets. Those are the spots that easily get neglected during your daily cleaning. Spring cleaning can be the perfect time to give them the necessary attention. You can use a microfiber cloth to clean your baseboard or a duster with an extension to prevent back pain. Bonus tip: use a dryer sheet and run it across all kitchen baseboards. The sheet will help lessen the dust collected in the area, and it’ll be easy to clean up next time. 20. Deep clean dishwasher. How often do you deep clean your dishwasher? Every week? Every month? Quarterly? The answer will depend on your daily usage, manufacturer instruction, and other reasons requiring you to deep clean your dishwasher. Not only deep clean the inside but also wipe down the outside of the dishwasher. Springtime is easy to remember to do this task and frequently added to your spring clean your kitchen list afterward. 21. Clear out expired things and stock up the pantry. Scratch off your grocery list and update your inventory. When it comes to your pantry, it’s always helpful to have the ingredients and items you need to be available daily. Update your pantry list as you clear the things off the space. 22. Organize all kitchen drawers and cupboards. Now that the cleaning part is done, it’s time to organize everything in your kitchen. Check out this video on organizing kitchen cupboards and drawers. Organizing your kitchen can be part of your spring clean checklist too. 23. Tackle things under the kitchen sink cabinet. What’s going on under your kitchen sink cabinet? Why is it so hard to keep this area organized? Time to clear out necessary items that are stored under the sink cabinet. You can also vacuum the inside of the cabinet. Once that’s done, gather your bins, buckets, and organizers to place all kitchen cleaning agents, cloths, cleaning tools, etc. 24. Store away all kitchen items not being used daily. This particular step matches item number two above. It doesn’t need to be on the counters when you don’t use a specific kitchen gadget. Instead, give them a good home where it’s easy to take them out as you need them. 25. Double-check the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Fire can happen at any home at any time of the day. So every spring, let’s double-check our alarms: the smoke and carbon monoxide system. Use high-quality batteries, so you don’t have to change them frequently. Our changing seasons: we usually switch them during spring and fall. 26. Everyone must know where the fire extinguisher is and check the expiration date. It’s great for everyone to know where the fire extinguisher is stored. However, adults should only use portable fire extinguishers. However, an important reminder is to...

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Spring Clean Your Bathroom: Spring Clean Series

Jordan N. — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 19:42:20 +0000

Again it’s that time of year to give your house a good spring cleaning! Horray for spring clean – start with your bathroom by getting rid of all the clutter and cobwebs. Are you feeling guilty every time you walk into your bathroom because it’s such a mess? Well, don’t worry, you’re not alone! A lot of people have trouble keeping their bathrooms clean. I’ve got you covered if you’re looking for some help getting started. Today we’ll be focusing on how to clean your bathroom quickly and easily. So grab your supplies and get ready to tackle this dreaded task! Spring is officially here, so it’s time for everyone’s least favorite chore: cleaning the bathroom from top to bottom. So read on for these steps to clean your bathroom like a champ. This post may contain affiliate links; if you purchase from any of the links provided – I may earn a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the complete disclosure here. How to spring clean your bathroom! Grab a big trash bag and bins Chunk everything that’s expired – hair, body, and bathroom products. If you like to keep spare or extras of each, save it to a minimum. Put bathroom products in a bin to coral them till you are done cleaning. Sort bathroom products out later when it’s time to organize. For now, they need a temporary home so you can clean without the clutter. Get your cleaning supply nearby where you are cleaning When it’s easy for you to grab what you need as you clean, the convenience of a cleaning caddy is a must—one basket for all your cleaning essentials in one place. You don’t want cleaning spray bottles lying around as you clean. Having a one-stop carry-all for what you need makes it more manageable to do the cleaning. Use proper protection and ventilation while cleaning Always protect yourself first when cleaning. You don’t want to feel dizzy when you’re in the middle of the cleaning spree. Take the time to keep yourself safe as you clean around. Vent out the air. Use a mask and even eye goggles. Use gloves for hand and skin protection. Take breaks when you’re cleaning. Sometimes, you’re in the clean deep zone and skip breaks. Clean your bathroom counters and sinks Counters get dirty quickly, and the sink may also suffer from toothpaste stains. Scrub those stains away with your cleaning products. Be very careful with what cleaning agent you use for your sink and counters because some cleaning products may ruin them if they aren’t for them. Always double-check the cleaning instructions and warnings printed on your cleaning products. We don’t want any ruined marbles, granites, quartz, etc. Too pricey to replace that. Deep clean the shower and tub Do you deep clean your shower right after you use them? Are you the type to deep clean it once a week? Whichever your stand in cleaning your shower, it’s always helpful when you give enough time to scrub down the soap scums around it. And it can be tough. It can be time-consuming. I’ve been there. But, if you’re wondering, I’m the latter type of cleaner when it comes to my shower. Use the shower spray solution for your shower walls and door. There are natural cleaning solutions, and commercial agents don’t need much scrubbing effort from you. Pick what you prefer. Remember, the shower floor is as important as the walls and doors. The grout – keep grout clean and prevent molding – grout cleaning method. But the tub is a different talk. Tackle the cleaning as soon as you’re done soaking or using it. You don’t want extra water stagnant inside the tub. Or, if you love bath oils, those oils need to be off the tub surface. It’s the same thing with tub; use the appropriate supply and products to clean your tub. If you have a shower curtain with a liner, drop them in the washer and get them air dry. RELATED POST: Cleaning Routine for a Stay-At-Home Mom That You Actually Can Stick To Dust the toilet, cabinets, and shelves Hello, dusting! Does your bathroom suffer a lot of collected dust? Grab your favorite duster or microfiber cloth to clean the dust off your cabinets and shelves. You may need some bottle sprays for accumulated dust or stains on the cabinets. It’s perfectly safe to use water and get rid of the dirtied space. However, some stains may need more potent products to get it off. So now, check the finish of your cabinets and shelves before using any chemicals on them. Polish all mirrors and chrome fixtures to get them looking brand new Mirrors with handprints? Yes! Toothpaste splatters? Yes, tell me about it. Time to clean your bathroom mirror Please take off the debris first; it easily peeled off. Then, use a cloth with alcohol to scrub the debris away from the mirror. If you have a high-quality mirror cleaning spray, use it. If you prefer to make your own, combine ½ cup water, ½ cup white vinegar, and one tablespoon cornstarch. Turn on the bathroom vents. Put on a mask. Spray cleaning solution on the mirror. Use a microfiber cloth on your mirror for a streak-free clean or a crumpled newspaper. I still remember cleaning my childhood house mirrors using crumpled newspapers. To this day, I know it works if other wipes aren’t available. Make the pattern: edge to edge and top to bottom. Doing this will cover every inch of the mirror and all sides for cleaning. Inspect the mirror for anything missed. For the bathroom fixtures Check the material of your bathroom fixtures. You DO NOT want to use a cleaning agent that will erode or ruin your fixtures. Only use the appropriate cleaner for your faucet, showerheads, cabinet handles, and other fixtures. When there are mineral deposits, it may be time to grab the cleaning staples to address the gunks. Always make sure you dry after cleaning. It will help decrease streaks, prevent molds and enhance the sparkle effect. Cleaning the bathroom floors Vacuum or Sweep the floors Before you do the floor – time to look up! Vacuum the corners of the ceiling. That’s right! Look up to the corners of the shower stall, above the mirror, and other hubs you see around your bathroom. I hope all the clutter and products to keep/throw away are contained or gone. It will be easier to take care of the floor when the areas are cleared first. So grab your vacuum and hit every nook and crannies of the entire bathroom. Don’t forget the space behind the toilet bowl, the trash can, and the back of a towel cabinet (not mounted or built-in). Mopping your bathroom floors You can use a cleaning solution on your mop system. You can also use a cleaning spray bottle with your DIY or commercial-made solutions as you mop the floor. Again, use the correct cleaning agents for the type of floor you have. Freshen up the toilet bowl Do you have a favorite cleaning tool for toilet bowls? Preference for toilet bowl cleaning depends on what type of cleaning you do. Some use a traditional toilet scrub with cleaning solutions. Some use the ready-made attach the cleaning pods to the toilet cleaning tool. The goal is to clean under the insides of a toilet bowl. To clean — the splatters, the dark stains, and all of the above. The steps in cleaning your toilet bowl will depend on your chosen solutions. Read the fine print of proper and safe handling of the cleaning solutions. P.S. if your toilet has a bidet attachment, CLEAN the sprayer! Don’t forget that dirt, grime, and poo splatters may also stick. Scrub and clean the toilet bidet Bathroom Baseboards Keeping up with the dust includes your baseboards. Time to give them some TLC. They haven’t been tended to for a while. Spring cleaning your bathroom will provide them with the deserving time your baseboards need. When you vacuum the floor early on, I hope you include your baseboards. If not, you can grab your microfiber cloth, wet and squeeze, then wipe the boards one way. Be careful with any chip paints or dried-out stains. You may need more scrubbing to get the stains off. When all is clean, use a dryer sheet (laundry dryer sheet) and run it across the baseboards. This method will prevent the dust from collecting more on the surface. It will be an easy clean-up next time. Keep the trash can smelling fresh till the subsequent cleanup How do you keep the bathroom trash can clean? Do a deep clean every week. Wash the trash can on your tub; if there is no tub – turn on the shower (bonus if you have a removable showerhead). Give your trash can a good shower and cleaning. For daily cleaning, use disinfecting wipes to clean the top and sides of the trash cans. You can pick up unscented trash bags to refill the can. However, if you aren’t sensitive or allergic to scents – you can use Scented Trash Bags! Thanks to the heavens for these. Life-saver for everyday use and contains any odors – poo or pee wipes! Organizing the bathroom Now, all bathroom corners, top to bottom, are clean. So it’s time to house back the things you put in those bins. Then, organize your items, so everything has its place. You’ve already decluttered first before you even started cleaning. It’ll be easier to put the items back to where they belong and not see clutter. Who likes organizing in chaos? Organizing when the space is clean is the next best thing! This last part is when you organize from top to bottom. So do the shelves, the shower products, etc. Then move on to the countertops and finally the bathroom sink. Easy Spring Cleaning Tips for Bathrooms Spring cleaning tops the number one to-do list in any household. And with the arrival of spring comes the annual tradition of cleaning your house from top to bottom. Let’s cut the overwhelm once and for all when it comes to cleaning your bathroom this spring. Be strategic with your cleaning, prepare what you need, keep track of your nook and crannies, and be cautious of the cleaning agents you use on each surface. But never fear – following the bathroom cleaning tips above will make this process quick and easy! Are you ready to tackle and deep clean your bathroom this spring? Leave a comment about your favorite products to use in the bathroom.

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Cleaning Routine for a Stay-At-Home Mom That You Actually Can Stick To

Jordan N. — Fri, 28 May 2021 22:34:37 +0000

As a stay-at-home mom, managing the household with a disorganized cleaning routine can get stressful and exhausting. I believe that every mom has a routine that suits her life and schedule. One mom equals a cleaning schedule that works specifically for her homemaking. Although the time opportunity to use in my homemaking has extended now that I’m a stay-at-home homemaker, I actually feel that an efficient cleaning routine will get me the most bang for my time! After deciding to stay at home last year, I had to reset my cleaning schedule. This time it’s different from the cleaning routine I followed back when I was a full-time working mama. Staying organized with the tasks each day is a priority. Using a checklist can aid you in tracking each cleaning goal. For some moms, cleaning is therapeutic. For the most, it’s a never-ending loop. Whichever group you belong to, I want you to know I understand if you ever felt trapped in the cycle of cleaning. Regardless if you’re a working or a stay-at-home mom, it all comes down to the same denominator – CLEANING is a must in every home. Everything falls into place when you have a clean house, and you get to spend more beautiful time with the people in your home. You reap the benefits of having a clear mind because the house isn’t cluttered. Your stress level decreases because you have more time to enjoy your family besides doing chores all the time. Your children will remember the time you get to play more and do family activities. My husband has his cleaning routine as well, even if he works full-time. In homemaking, I truly believe in the word partnership. That includes teaming up to keep the home running and family cared for. The responsibility to manage the home doesn’t fall only on moms but also on dads. I’m grateful for what my husband does to help me at home. It’s a lot easier and smoother every day when we both do our fair share of chores. Time has gone when only the wife is expected to pitch in. Welcome to the new homemaking era! Without further ado, I’m sharing what my cleaning routine looks like as a stay-at-home mom. There’ll be an opportunity for you to download the FREE Cleaning Routine Checklists at the end of this post. Are you ready to run with me in this cleaning schedule? Let’s go! Stay-at-home Mom Cleaning Routine: My Weekly Cleaning Routine: I divided my Cleaning Zones into days of the week; so I don’t go hopping every room and zero in my cleaning responsibilities. Each day of the week pretty much explains what is on the to-do list. Bathroom: Monday Kitchen: Tuesday Living Room: Wednesday **I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Read more details on this disclosure.** Check these E-Cloth Rugs to add to your cleaning supply. Look into the variety of packs or specific sets for your cleaning needs. Dining Area: Thursday Bedrooms: Friday Laundry: Saturday Pantry/Fridge: Sunday P.S. Noticed why I put the bathroom on Monday and the kitchen on Tuesday? These are high-traffic areas in the house that can get chaotic every week. Tackle them on the first 2 days of the week, so it’s out of the way. Daily Cleaning Hacks: In my everyday homemaking, I do these 5 daily tasks to keep everything streamlined as much as possible and not get stressed. These menial tasks changed my cleaning habits and helped me get peace of mind. As far as these daily tasks, it doesn’t take me long to finish them. They are tasks that only take as short as 3 minutes to 10 minutes. What better way to get things done quickly than with a short burst of easily achievable chores. Mama, find your daily rhythm in your home management. Your tasks depend on what you definitely need to be completed in no time. These are my daily chores: Cleaning Hack: Quick pick-ups save the day! It doesn’t take long to bring things back to where they belong. Who hasn’t done anything like when you’re walking down the hallway and see a couple of toys; you pick them up and drop them into the toy bin nearby. Quick, right? You might also like: Homemaking – The Ultimate Overview for Today’s New Homemakers Spring Clean Your Bathroom: Spring Clean Series Gift Ideas for Homemakers for Kitchen Use My Monthly Cleaning Tasks: Now, these cleaning tasks can be done monthly and anytime there’s downtime between your weeks. Warning: DO NOT do these tasks all in ONE DAY. Space it out in weeks, or combine two tasks ONLY if you’re up to it. Keep track of when these tasks were completed. Using a cleaning checklist will help you get reminded of when they’re next due to be done. Additional Quarterly Cleaning Chores: There you have it. A rundown of my Stay-At-Home Mom: Cleaning Routine. This system helps me get my home in order. If you want to tackle your mattress with a good deep cleaning, check out this article below. Recommended Post: How to Deep Clean Your Mattress Quickly and Easily by Goodhousekeeping.com Final Thoughts on sticking to a Cleaning Schedule: Get yourself organized in your cleaning routine. Mama, it doesn’t have to be exhausting all the time. Some days you’ll complete your to-do cleaning list; some days are missed. That’s okay too. The above cleaning routine is what’s working for me, being a stay-at-home mom. A challenge for you, try it out for a month and see if it’s a good fit for you. Tweak the days to your preference. However, if you have your cleaning rhythm already and it’s working for you – stick to it. Check out the FREE – Cleaning Routine Sheets. This will help you streamline your cleaning schedule at home. Stay on top of your daily chores, keep every room in your home clean, and be reminded to do the monthly tasks specific to your homemaking. Get the Cleaning Routine! Signup for news and special offers! You can unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy. Subscribe Loading… Thank you! Download your Blank Cleaning Routine Checklist! You have successfully joined our subscriber list. How do you keep your home clean? Do you follow a strict cleaning routine? If so, please share a cleaning hack that’s life-changing for you. Share this post. Pin this post on your Pinterest board and follow me on Pinterest.

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